Columbus has approved an agreement with a language interpreter and translation company that will assist individuals at different city departments.
The Columbus Board of Works on Tuesday approved a one-year agreement with Language Line Services Inc., which will be translate and speak to customers as needed.
The cost of the service will be based on per-minute use and will be paid monthly from the city’s Board of Works fund, said Aida Ramirez, director of the city’s Human Rights Commission.
The service will be available at the first of the year with the Columbus Police Department being the first city department to utilize it, Ramirez said.
When an individual who speaks a different language walks into a department, the city will call a designated number for Language Line Services Inc. and get someone on the phone who will be able to translate as needed, Ramirez said.
“We want to make sure they have an adequate understanding,” Ramirez said.
An individual will then be able to speak to someone directly — likely using a speakerphone, but that will be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the need for confidentiality, she said.
Ramirez said the city is using the service based on a federal requirement that indicates any municipality using federal funds must serve individuals who speak different languages. She hopes to have it in place across all city departments within the first quarter of 2019, she said.
Currently, the city relies on community partners such as Su Casa and other agencies that have employees or volunters who are multi-lingual, she said.
“As this community grows, we are finding a need for other languages,” Ramirez said.
