Town of Fishers 2005 Annual Report
Dear Councilors and Citizens:
Welcome to our inaugural issue of the Town of Fishers 2005 Annual Operations Report. This report is intended to highlight and inform you of the many successes and accomplishments during the past year.
I think you will be pleased when you view the highlights of 2005. We are very fortunate to live and work in such a wonderful community. I predict that the Town of Fishers will continue to be recognized in the coming years as a desired community to reside or establish a business. Citizens, elected officials, and town employees all deserve credit for making Fishers the 24th Best Place in the Nation to Live!
This report features a number of valuable statistics, program and employee recognitions, grant awards, and infrastructure improvements. However, there are numerous internal accomplishments that cannot be documented but are immensely important from an operation and organization standpoint and need to be considered. Specifically, I am most proud of the following organizational accomplishments: Improved Teamwork, Emphasis on Customer Service, Enhanced Professionalism, Transformation of the Organization's Culture, Technology Advancements, and Increased Employee Involvement and Contributions.
I hope you enjoy this new communication tool and find it beneficial in sharing information about Fishers Town government.
Sincerely,
Gary A. Huff, ICMA-CM
Town Manager
2005 continued what is becoming a trend of significant achievement in the Town of Fishers. Our achievements have not only been highly regarded in central Indiana, but across the nation, as well!
In July 2005, CNN's Money Magazine ranked Fishers as the 24th Best Place to Live in the Nation. Fishers ranked higher than any town or city in Indiana, and was one of only two jurisdictions in the state to crack the magazine's Top 100.
Why Fishers? Money Magazine started its "Great American Towns" search with a list of 1,321 places with the following criteria: a population of 14,000-plus, higher than median income, positive population growth, and real estate appreciation within the past five years. Towns that weren't within 60 miles of a major airport and 30 miles of a major teaching hospital were elminated. Low education scores led to an automatic elimination, while any areas that fell below the 25th percentile in any two of the following: unemployment, income growth, crime, or arts resources. This left 100 on the list which were then ranked weighing economic, education, and safety factors twice as much as arts, leisure, and park space. The top 30 were then ranked on additional education data, environment, housing affordability, taxes, commute times, and job markets.
In addition to being named one of the best places to live in the United States in 2005, Fishers residents had much of which to be proud:
116th Street construction was completed. It began in May of 2002 and, three phases later (from Sand Creek to Olio Road), construction finished in October. Phases I, II, and III earned Excellence in Concrete Pavement Awards from the Indiana Chapter of the American Concrete Pavement Association.
Allisonville Road's final phase of multiyear and multilane improvement was, essentially, completed. The project stretches from 96th Street to approximately a quarter mile north of 116th Street.
Five Fishers Police Officers participated in a Homeland Security emergency deploymentin the Gulf Coast.
The Fishers Fire Department celebrated its 50th Anniversary.
The Fishers Police Department launched a reading program, "Books and Badges."
The Fire Department received a national award for the Water Awareness in Residential Neighborhoods (WARN) program, and
| Fishers Population Trend |
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| Taxable Commercial Permits (in square feet) |
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| Single Family Permits |
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| Multi-Family Permits (by units) |
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| Wastewater Flow (annual average in millions of gallons per day) |
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| Full-Time Employees |
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| 2005 Budget by Department |
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| 2005 Budget by Character |
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| Clerk-Treasurer |
| In 2005 and for the 17th consecutive year, the Town of Fishers has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Governmental Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its 2004 comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.  As the individual primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning CAFR, Fishers Clerk-Treasurer Linda Gaye Cordell also has earned an Award of Financial Reporting Achievement from GFOA.
Fishers' 2004 CAFR was judged by an impartial panel to meet high standards such as the ability to demonstrate a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR. The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 16,000 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. |
| Administration |
2005 brought a fresh face to the Town of Fishers staff. Gary A. Huff, ICMA-CM, became Town Manager of Fishers on March 7, 2005, after having served as Town Manager of Blacksburg, Virginia, for seven years. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Town Manager of Leesburg, Virginia, from March 1996 to November 1998. He earned a Master's Degree from Virginia Tech in 1983 and a Bachelor's Degree from Marshall University in 1977 after having attended Concord College. He also served in the U.S. Army from 1972 through 1974. Huff replaced Mike Booth, a nine-year veteran Town Manager for Fishers. Booth's expertise is currently being utilized as the Town's new Economic and Fiscal Impact Director. In 2005, the Administration Department applied for and received several local and federal grants, including: Federal Transportation Grants: Trails - $250,000; Cyntheanne Road - $1 million; 126th Street - $1.5 million. Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPO): 96th Street Corridor Study - $144,000; Cyntheanne Road Corridor Study - $152,000. Additionally, the Fishers Town Council awarded 10 subdivisions a total of $21,888 in 2005 through Administration's Neighborhood Matching Grant program, which aims to encourage older neighborhoods to maintain "curb appeal" through collaborative financing. Human Resources, a Department within Administration, conducted six committee meetings, six safety-related training sessions, seven building inspections, four informational sessions (including smoking cessation), added a flexible spending account to the Town benefit plan, conducted four blood drives (donating 81 pints of blood in 2005), offered HEP shots, offered flu mist/vaccine, and coordinated an employee outing to an Indianapolis Indians game. The Administration Department also received the Indiana Public Employers' Plan (IPEP) safety award for the calendar year 2004 in October of 2005. The award rewards the prevention of accidents among employees and the cost savings to governmental agencies associated with keeping workers on the job. Fishers is one of 785 governmental entities throughout Indiana whose employees are covered by IPEP. |
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 On the forefront of 2005 Fishers Police Department highlights was Officer Kevin Kobli who was awarded the Fishers Police Department's Chief's Award as well as the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police Police Officer of the Year award. These awards were for Officer Kobli's dedication of friendship to a young boy suffering from leukemia. This friendship began when Officer Kobli was dining on duty at a local restaurant. Although the young man lost the battle, Officer Kobli made certain his last few months were special, including  making the young man an official street partner. The Police Department also kicked off a new outreach program entitled Books and Badges, a program allowing officers to interact with children in a classroom program and demonstrate the importance of reading by sharing a story, and then donating books to the child and/or their classroom or school. In a coordinated response to assist with the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, the Police Department deployed five officers to Camp Indiana in Biloxi, Mississippi for two weeks. These courageous officers assisted local law enforcement with basic law enforcement functions so that the local law enforcement could catch their breath and take care of their own personal matters. Also, in cooperation with the Fire Department, the Police Department now has a police officer also serveing as a paramedic while on patrol. In a truly one-of-a-kind situation for the State of Indiana, Officer Mike Janes maintains his paramedic certification through the Fire Department. In addition, FPD has joined with Hamilton County and Marion County police and fire agencies and received the Urban Area Security Initiative program, also known as the UASI grant. This multi-million dollar grant allows for public safety software that will fully integrate both Hamilton and Marion County public safety agencies. As always, the Police Department continues to seek grant funding to offset costs and is very fortunate to have a citizen volunteer, Mrs. Lori Spillane, to research and apply for the majority of the grant funding. Her dedication to public safety and victim advocacy is monumental. As we enter 2006, The Police Department will be seeking re-accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. This process occurs every three years and this will be our first re-accreditation since our initial accreditation in 2003. We will also implement an updated patrol district plan to better serve the citizens of Fishers. The Police Department currently patrols the Town in four districts. The new plan will divide the Town into eight districts. Also in preparing for the future, The Police Department will upgrade the Forensics Lab with new video imaging equipment. This will allow for the Criminal Investigations Division to obtain more clear evidence to bring about the swift and certain conviction of offenders. And, as always, will recruit, hire, and train new officers. With the growing community it is essential to add to the personnel section of the police department so that we can continue to provide essential law enforcement services. |
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 The Fishers Fire Department prides itself on remaining prepared to mitigate the many emergencies faced on a daily basis with guidance from the Fire Chief, Deputy Chief of Operations, and the three Battalion Chiefs. In 2005, ninety line personnel, divided into three shifts, worked on the Department's five engines, ladder truck, rescue truck, tactical trailer, four ambulances, tanker, two boats, and grass truck. These trucks are strategically located at the Town's five fire stations to maximize the fire protection needs of Fishers residents. Fishers fire fighters made 3,442 runs in 2005, a 13 percent increase over 2004. The EMS division made 1,670 ambulance transports in 2005, a 19 percent increase over 2004 numbers. |
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 The Recreation Division served over 10,000 participants through numerous programs,e activities, and special events - including: Summer Concert Series 4,800 Preschool Programs 576 Summer Camp 869 Youth Programs 978 Teen Programs 248 Family Programs 1,641 Adult Programs 648 Senior Programs 289 The Multi-Purpose Path Design Contract was approved: The contract was a necessary step to the continued expansion of the Town's path system. The contract's focus is on 4 miles of important trail sections and ultimately the remaining 15 miles of paths as identified in the Multi-Purpose Path Plan. The Billericay Park phase II design contract was approved: Design includes community building with S.P.O.R.T.S. offices, playgrounds, splash pad, concession building, baseball field, and additional parking. Design will allow for the diversification of Billericay Park from a baseball complex to a more traditional community park that offers a variety of recreation opportunities. The Hamilton Southeastern High School Softball Complex was acquired: The Softball Complex will become part of the Fishers Park System. It will be subject to improvements in an effort to better serve the youth softball league. It will provide additional recreational space for the community to access and enjoy. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2005 Update was developed and its approval is pending: The plan, once approved, will accomplish three significant goals: It will identify a five-year action plan for park acquisition and development. The Town will be able to retain its eligibility to acquire grants through the State of Indiana Department of Natural Resources for park and trail development. A new park impact fee will be calculated, which will serve as a primary funding source for park and trail acquisition and development. |
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 The Fishers Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) treated an average of 5.3 million gallons of wastewater per day, with a peak daily flow of 12.98 million gallons. The WWTP treated a total of 1,940 million gallons in 2005 at a cost of $0.24/1,000 gallons to convey the wastewater and $0.81/1,000 gallons to treat it. In addition, the plant marketed and distributed 9,679 wet tons of its N-Viro Soil product to Fishers residents and area farmers. The Cheeney Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant was recognized in 2005 by the Indiana Water Environment Association (IWEA) for its continuing "Safety Excellence in Training and Record Keeping." The award was presented to Rick Farnham, Wastewater Treatment Department Director, at the IWEA Annual Conference held November 14-16 in Indianapolis. The IWEA is the Indiana chapter of the Water Environment Federation, the leading professional organization for the wastewater treatment industry in the U.S. Cheeney Creek was one of only twenty Class IV facilities in the state to be singled out by the IWEA Safety Committee for safety excellence. |
| Engineering and Public Works |
 2005 General Information: 6,205 feet sanitary tested and released. 67 sewer locates.
34 new, 3 repairs, 2 re-inspections. 35 expiring maintenance bond inspections. $56.33 average street cost, per square foot. 41,538 feet of asphalt perimeter paths (7.87 miles). 81,998.29 street footage (15.53 miles). |
| Information Technology |
 2005 General Information: Upgraded servers to Win2003. Virtualization of servers for consolidation and enhanced disaster recovery ability.
Implemented an electronic time management system. Implemented a secure wireless and network system to provide mobile computer access for Town employees. Supported implementation of Hamilton County municipal fiber optic network. |
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 The Department of Development continued to strive toward its mission of serving the citizens of Fishers, its elected and appointed officials, and its Boards and Commissions by seeking to provide the highest quality of life possible through responsible and progressive commercial and residential development through planning, zoning, and building service efforts. To view Development's key year-ending statistics, click here. |
