October City Council Message
By: Mayor Gerri Harbison, Contact this Council member
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A True Heart of Service for Montgomery
Fall is in full swing and as we look forward to many upcoming events here in Montgomery, this month’s column is going to focus on the many departments within our organization that make these events so unique to our City.
Perhaps your first point of interaction with the City Staff is with our Customer Service Department at City Hall. This is where you can receive assistance on matters related to visiting, living and working in Montgomery. Residents can reserve a lodge or park shelter and sign up for the various events and classes offered by the City. Businesses and builders can apply for building and sign permits and get assistance on zoning questions. The department also manages the technology infrastructure of the City to include the web site, e-government services and provides technology support to all City staff. A little known fact about this department is they occasionally must take receipt of human cremated remains. This is due to the fact that the City is responsible for the burial of any indigent resident who dies within the City, which our Administrative Coordinator handles! Bet most of you didn't know that one!
While we are familiar with our Police Department and seeing our officers on patrol and at special events, the department also participates in many specialized regional teams. We currently have two officers assigned to the Hamilton County SWAT team. These officers serve as team leaders as well as specialize in the roles of sniper and explosives. We also have an officer assigned to the Hamilton County Police Association Honor Guard team and an officer assigned to the Drug Abuse Reduction Task Force. Participation in regional teams serves the City by providing highly trained units capable of responding to unusual or high-risk events.
Another highly visible department is our Fire Department. We are used to seeing the fire trucks on their emergency runs but in addition to the fire and emergency services they provide, they also provide child car seat installation education, CPR classes, install address signs at your home to improve visibility in case of an emergency, and will schedule Home Safe inspections for you.
The City Manager’s Office/Administration is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the City and performs a variety of functions, including administration and execution of City Council policy; assistance to City Council in the development of its strategic plan and administration and supervision of all City departments; supervises the Volunteer Program; provides updates on regional, state and federal issues that affect the City of Montgomery; maintains a sound fiscal position for the City through the preparation of the budget; administration of human resources and labor relations; and provision of safety programs to reduce liability exposure while assuring safe employee working environments. This department features a "Lunch with Managers" program. This program provides the opportunity for any city employee to have a one-on-one lunch meeting with the city manager or assistant city manager. By sharing lunch, an early morning breakfast, or even just a cup of coffee, the employee and manager both get a chance to get to know one another a little better and discuss common interests and goals to advance the organization.
The Finance Department/Earning Tax Office provides financial services including earnings tax collection, accounting, and budget preparation. The tax division of the department collects taxes on all earned income (salaries and wages) and net profits on businesses. Payroll for all City employees is processed bi-weekly and all accounts payable is processed bi-weekly alternating from payroll. The department accounts for all financial transactions involving public funds including treasury and debt management. The Tax Office will prepare residents’ Montgomery tax return at no cost! All you have to do is bring in your information. Watch for extended hours in early April!
The Department of Development oversees both Community Development within the City but also administers the Zoning Code as needed. While working to attract new businesses and development, they also make sure that residents and businesses alike are in compliance with our zoning code. Sometimes a very tricky line to walk!
Our Recreation Department is not only responsible for the “fun” things in the City, like Bastille Day and July 4th Festival, but also the concerts in the parks, community pool events and so much more! This department works with the Parks and Recreation Commission to monitor and evaluate the parks system and recommend improvements as needed. Playground Safety Inspections is one lesser-known thing this department does within our community. As in many of our departments, these ladies wear many hats and are also responsible for Community Relations and Communications Coordination for Montgomery.
It is often said the Public Works Department does all the jobs no one else wants to do: digging ditches, plowing snow, opening and closing the graves at Hopewell Cemetery for funerals and cleaning up after events, just to name a few. We often take for granted what a beautiful place Montgomery is to live and work within. These are the folks that work so hard in the background to make that happen!
As you can see, our City employees work in a variety of positions and are very dedicated to maintaining the wonderful quality of life we enjoy here in Montgomery. Next time you pass one in your car or on the street, give them a smile and a hearty wave of thanks for a job well done!