Modernizing Logan County’s Parcel
Logan County, Colorado, is setting an example in the use of geographic information system (GIS) technology to provide its residents, landowners, and businesses with up-to-date land records and property information.
The county spans nearly 1,800 square miles and is home to approximately 22,000 people. The Logan County Assessor’s Office is in charge of managing over 12,000 parcels and providing the public with essential land records, including ownership, value, and use of the land, using geographic information system (GIS) technology.
The Assessor’s Office recognized the need to modernize its systems and improve how it interacts with the public. This drive for innovation led them to implement Sidwell’s Portico—a powerful solution built on Esri’s ArcGIS technology.
Envisioning Better Public Access
After using Esri technology for over a decade, the Logan County Assessor’s Office made the decision to modernize its parcel management using ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Parcel Fabric. Assessor Peggy Michaels set a goal to create a user-friendly interface for county residents to access GIS and land records data while improving office efficiency by reducing foot traffic, phone calls, and overall costs. Michaels and her team searched for a one-stop shop for assessment information—not just maps.
For years, the county’s public apps were map-centric, with search functionality as a secondary feature. Michaels knew they were ready for a solution that prioritized search, encouraging the public to quickly and independently find the information they needed. Reliability and up-to-date data delivery were also key requirements.
Partnering with Sidwell
To meet their needs, Logan County turned to Sidwell, an Esri partner. Sidwell introduced the county to Portico, an intuitive solution under ArcGIS Solutions that is at no additional cost as part of their existing ArcGIS subscription.
Together, the county and Sidwell configured the Portico solution to meet the county’s unique needs.
The Portico Solution
The Portico solution is search-based and serves as a one-stop shop for assessor offices. It is a simple yet powerful solution that provides the public with more than map data— it offers commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software alternatives that require little or no customization.
Conveniently, the Portico solution is device agnostic, which means it works seamlessly across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. Its graphics-rich home page showcases key metrics, including the total assessed value of all the parcels, and provides access to helpful web maps and applications. Despite its robust functionality, the solution is intuitive and simple for the public to use.
Portico’s parcel dashboard highlights parcel details, including current and historical valuation, improvements, and flood zone classification. Another key feature is the configured dashboard showing valuation trends for specific neighborhoods and the county as a whole. Additionally, a property tax calculator allows potential buyers to anticipate what their tax burden would be based on an estimated sale value.
An Assessor’s Office Transformed
Deploying this cutting-edge solution has transformed how the assessor’s office engages with the public while increasing transparency. “Our new [Portico] solution allows for streamlined processes to automate and update our land records information on a consistent basis and provides our constituents with the most accurate and up-to-date information,” said Michaels.
While providing greater efficient customer service, the county is simultaneously cutting overhead costs. “We envision that this solution will minimize our staff’s time spent fielding questions from the public as [residents] are now able to easily find this information on their own,” Michaels added. The public is now able to independently access data from any device at any time, with the assurance that the property information is accurate and up-to-date.
A major benefit is that the county was able to take advantage of its Esri GIS investment and complete its modernization project with ArcGIS Pro, Parcel Fabric, and ArcGIS Online. “Deploying [the Portico solution] is the culmination of our GIS journey and investment to provide the best customer service to our constituents,” said Michaels.
The county is excited to continue to expand its Portico use as Esri releases new capabilities for the solution. Sidwell Vice President Tony Pellettiere said, “As Esri continues to add new functionality to [the Portico solution], our clients continue to benefit.”
A Successful Partnership
Logan County’s partnership with Sidwell and its Portico implementation has been a defining step in modernizing its parcel management system. The user-friendly solution has assisted the county in providing enhanced customer service while cutting costs.
To learn more about how Sidwell’s Portico solution can help your business streamline parcel management, visit https://www.sidwellco.com/solutions/web-solutions/portico/ or email us at info@sidwellco.com.