New app allows residents to report city problems

CEDAR RAPIDS - If your neighbor isn't mowing their yard; there's an app for that.

On Thursday, the City of Cedar Rapids announced a new app for iPhones and Androids. The app provides access to city numbers, information and directions.

"If you are within the city limits, you can ask the phone to use its current location and you can get all kinds of information. Like the closest park, closest library, what police district you are in, garbage pick up day, all kinds of information," said Nic Roberts, Chief Information Officer for Cedar Rapids.

The new City of Cedar Rapids smart phone application also allows people to report a problem. Residents can snap a picture on their phone and send it in.

"It gives you the ability to get information directly to city hall. If you see something that you think the city needs to know about, a pot hole, junk car, something that needs to be taken care of," said Roberts.

You can send pictures anonymously or provide your information, so the city can get in touch with you. Cedar Rapids is not only the first in the state to have an app for its city but one of the first in the country.

"With the number of smart phones that are out there we need new and different ways of communicating with our citizens. This is two-way communication and we think its a great idea," said Jeff Pomeranz, Cedar Rapids City Manager.

"We will be looking to put updates on this at least every 6 months to keep it fresh, and when we get community input of what people like to see and how they want to use this," said Roberts.

The app is available for Android phones as of Thursday, developers expect they app to be ready for iPhones within the next week.