the lawn to biodegrade or compost it for a rich natural fertilizer for your plants and garden. THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOU
Official Town Newsletter for the Residents of Brownsburg
If you’ve driven along N. Green Street lately, you know that a plan years in the making is finally coming together. Construction is well underway on the mixed use development projects on the site of the old St. Malachy church and school. The public-private partnerships between the Town and developers will transform the area into a pedestrian-friendly economic center. Our goal is to create a vibrant downtown atmosphere with new and much-needed commercial, residential and retail options. The investments totalling more than $80 million will include office suites and a co-working space, luxury apartments, retail spaces, restaurants and a parking garage. We have worked on a master plan for the 10.5-acre area since the property was purchased in 2011. We wanted to establish a nexus — a central gathering point — in the north downtown to bring people into our community. The Town’s initial $2.4 million investment in the property purchase along with economic development incentives for those developments will be multiplied many times over. Additionally, the projects will aid in construction of infrastructure including underground stormwater detention, a new centrally-located Arbuckle Acres Park entrance, and parking. The property still includes an option for a possible future recreation center. Across the street, construction of the Brownsburg Town Center on the east side of Green Street is underway. To improve traffic in the area, the Town will be reconstructing N. Green Street between Main and 56th with a center turn lane and pedestrian/bike trails. We will also extend Enderly Avenue between N. Green and Grant streets to ease east-west travel. Read more about the mixed-use developments inside this issue. We’re excited for the future and hope you are too!
CONNECT WITH US! Town of Brownsburg
@BrownsburgIN
NEXT RESIDENT ACADEMY APPLICATIONS OPEN SOON Planning is underway for the next Town of Brownsburg Resident Academy. Designed to help residents learn about municipal operations and how services are delivered, the six-session program includes a mix of instruction and hands-on interaction with Town departments. Resident Academy sessions will be held in various Town facilities, allowing for tours and an up-close view of day-to-day responsibilities and operations. Participants will learn about the budget process and its limitations and how their tax dollars are used to deliver municipal services and programs — from administration and parks to public works and public safety. Applications will be available later this fall with courses beginning in early 2018. If you’re interested, watch for Resident Academy registration information on the website, www.brownsburg.org, and Town Twitter and Facebook pages.
In This Issue
FROM THE TOWN MANAGER’S OFFICE
Fall 2017
Citizen Survey Results
2
New Bicentennial Trail
2
2018 Budget Process
3
Downtown Development
4
Brownsburg Parks Updates 5 CSO Notice 6 Fall Leaf Pickup
7
Town Calendar
8
RESIDENTS RATE QUALITY OF LIFE HIGH
RESIDENTS MAY APPLY FOR BOARDS & COMMISSIONS SEATS
Brownsburg Town Council was recently presented the results of the 2017 Citizen Survey, which asked a random sample of 1,500 residents to rate a variety of factors impacting our community’s livability. The Town has been conducting this biennial survey since 2011 to get residents’ feedback that can help local officials identify areas for improvement and make decisions about the services the municipality provides to its residents in the future.
Have you ever considered serving in a leadership position in the community? The Town of Brownsburg has several boards and commissions that offer residents the opportunity to take part in the decisions that impact our town’s future.
Respondents were given multiple-choice questions asking to rate items such as public safety, ease of travel, recreation, employment and shopping opportunities, and services provided by the municipality. The survey is an opportunity, in addition to public meetings, for residents to have a voice in the planning and prioritizing of services that the Town provides. Answers let us know how residents feel about living here, how they perceive the value of Town services, and what is important to them as we plan for the future.
Town Council typically meets in December to conduct interviews with applicants and announces their appointments in January. Town of Brownsburg boards and commissions meetings are held regularly at Town Hall, 61 N. Green Street, and are open to the public. Live video of the meetings is streamed on the internet and archived on the Town’s website.
Applications open each November for terms that begin in January. Seats will be available on the Advisory Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Redevelopment Commission, Park Board and Police Commission. Find the qualifications and descriptions of each board’s roles and responsibilies on the website, www.brownsburg. org under Town Officials/Boards and Commissions.
TOWNS PARTNER ON BICENTENNIAL TRAIL The Towns of Brownsburg and Avon are partnering on the Bicentennial Trail connecting both towns’ trail systems between County Road 200N in Avon and the B&O Trail in Brownsburg.
More than 400 municipalities across the nation have used the scientific survey, which is conducted by the National Research Center. The Town can draw comparisons with other similar jurisdictions and see how ratings compare to national benchmarks. This year’s survey had a 29 percent response rate (423 surveys completed and returned) with typical response rates ranging from 25 to 40 percent nationally. Quality of life, safety, and affordability received particularly high ratings, similar to previous years’ survey results. Nine in ten respondents rated Brownsburg as a good or excellent place to live. Most reported that they consider it a good place to both raise children and to retire. Brownsburg’s K-12 education, cost of living, housing affordability, and housing options all ranked higher than the national benchmark. Police and crime prevention also ranked higher than national benchmarks. More than 90 percent gave positive ratings for the overall feeling of safety in Brownsburg, and nearly all said they feel safe in their neighborhoods as well as in the downtown and commercial areas. A report of the full survey results are on the website, www.brownsburg.org.
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The two municipalities are sharing the construction costs to improve access for pedestrian and non-motorized travel from Dan Jones Road at US 36 to the B&O Trail. The one-mile section connecting the Avon and Brownsburg trail systems was one of 80 projects around the state selected as a Legacy Project by the Indiana Bicentennial Commission. Construction is essentially complete and officials will celebrate the Bicentennial Trail opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony this fall.
TOWN COUNCIL CONSIDERS 2018 BUDGET The process to approve the next annual Town budget starts not long after the previous year’s budget is adopted. The budget process, which spans about an 8-month period, involves careful review between the Town Manager’s Office and all department heads, holding a special Town Council budget meeting for Council input, then adopting the budget over the course of a public hearing and three readings by the Town Council. The hearing and all Council meetings are noticed and open to the public. The adopted budgets are then filed electronically with Indiana’s Department of Local Government Finance. As of October 2017, the proposed 2017 budget totals about $51.6M across over 30 funds. The primary funds are the General, Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Funds, which combine for over $20M, or about 40% of all budgeted funds. Some of the other larger funds include Motor Vehicle Highway, Economic Redevelopment, Fire Territory, and Food & Beverage Funds. Brownsburg continues to experience both commercial and residential growth, which leads to an increase in the Town’s overall assessed value. With a responsible combination of both commercial and residential growth, the tax that generates funds that in turn provide the necessary services can be spread out over a broader base. The below graph reveals the inverse relationship between the growing assessed value of the Town and the corporate property tax rate.
operating funds. The remaining 78% is distributed to other agencies such as the fire territory, county, library, township, and school district. Property taxes typically do not fund utilities; utilities are primarily funded by user fees/charges.
FUND
BUDGET DESCRIPTION
PROPOSED 2017 BUDGET
101
General Fund Budget
$9,691,629
201
MVH Fund Budget
$2,528,829
318
Building Debt Fund Budget - Fire
$334,500
319
Building Debt Fund Budget - Municipal
$1,182,500
320
General Obligation Bond 2015
$229,800
321
General Obligation Bond 2016
$236,100
402
CCD Fund Budget
$464,309
TOTAL
$14,667,667
The above table summarizes the portion of the 2018 proposed Town budget funded by the aforementioned collection of property tax revenue. The below pie chart summarizes the specific use of these revenues as an amount and percentage of the overall property tax revenue. The Town continues to strive to find new ways to save and maximize taxpayer dollars while continuing to provide quality service and achieve progress in our many areas of focus.
The proposed 2018 General Fund budget is a balanced budget. Planned expenses are generally less than projected revenues, particularly for recurring operational expenses. For some funds, healthy fund balances allow expenditures to exceed revenues in a given year when approved. In this way, the Town can save for several years for a specific purpose or project and reduce the need to finance debt for a major project and assume the associated interest costs. The portion of the budget derived by property tax revenue includes the General Fund, Motor Vehicle Highway (MVH) Fund, Building Debt Funds, General Obligation Bond debt service funds, and the Cumulative Capital Development (CCD) Fund. Approximately 22% of the annual property tax paid by a homeowner goes to the Town of Brownsburg to fund these
Once the 2018 budget is adopted, copies will be available on the Town’s website, www. brownsburg.org, with hard copies available in the Town Manager’s Office and in the Clerk Treasurer’s Office. Staff are happy to answer questions about the budget anytime.
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MIXED USE PROJECTS TRANSFORM DOWNTOWN
WWTP EARNS MORE AWARDS
Construction is well underway on the largest private development project in Brownsburg’s history on the site of the old St. Malachy church and school on N. Green Street. The $80 million public/ private partnership will transform the property into a mixed-use complex with apartments, retail space, restaurants and a parking garage.
The Town of Brownsburg wastewater treatment plant was recently recognized by the Indiana Water Environment Association (IWEA) with two awards for excellence.
Indianapolis-based Envoy Inc. is constructing a $4.8 million, 28,000 square-foot office building. The two-story Elevate Office Suites will include 115 individual suites, conference rooms, and a co-working space. Adjacent to the Elevate Office Suites, Flaherty & Collins’ $40 million, four-story project will include more than 200 luxury urban living apartments. Dubbed The Arbuckle due to its location, the 391,502 square-foot development will have first floor retail space and a 400 space parking garage. Paragon Development will construct a retail/office project south of the Flaherty & Collins development with approximately 18,000 square feet of retail on the first floor and 17,000 square feet of office space on the second. On the east side of Green Street, Scannell Properties has started to build its $30 million Brownsburg Town Center. The four-story development will have 11,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor and 170 luxury apartments above. The project will include a 212-space parking garage, which is being financed by the Town. As a part of the downtown development master plan, the Town will make improvements to the surrounding infrastructure, including connectivity for pedestrians and bicycles. Construction has started on Arbuckle Commons, a new centrally-located entrance to Arbuckle Acres Park. The redesign of N. Green Street will include a dedicated left-turn lane, sidewalks and bike paths. Plans are also underway to extend Enderly Avenue between Green and Grant streets for better east-west travel.
Want to be among the first to hear what the Town is planning? Get e-newsletters delivered straight to your inbox every month! Sign up at www.brownsburg.org.
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The IWEA presented Brownsburg’s plant with the Excellence in Safety and Laboratory Excellence at its annual conference for the state’s water quality professionals. Butch Barger leads the team on performing the various laboratory activities as well as cross trains co-workers to insure that the sampling and testing are being completed accurately. Matt Huckstep leads the safety program insuring that each of us have a safe environment to work as well as the proper personal safety equipment to wear protecting employees from daily hazards. The Excellence in Safety and Laboratory Excellence recognize treatment facilities that exceeds the expectations in promoting and recognizing the importance of safety and good laboratory practices in the workplace. This is the 18th time that the Brownsburg plant has received the safety award and it has earned the lab excellence recognition 13 times.
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Small Business Saturday is just around the corner. The Town of Brownsburg will again serve as a Shop Small community champion on Saturday, November 25 to help connect shoppers with locally-owned small businesses. Local businesses will be invited to join the Shop Small promotion with Small Business Saturday specials and sales. Shoppers will be able to pick up a shopping passport and get a punch or stamp at each participating business for a chance to win a grand prize made up of merchandise and gift certificates. Founded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday® is a day to celebrate the small businesses that help support their neighborhoods and is held every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Follow @BrownsburgIN on Twitter and like Town of Brownsburg on Facebook for Brownsburg Small Business Saturday details as they unfold.
TRANBARGER NAMED DIRECTOR AT BROWNSBURG PARKS After interviewing candidates from across the country to fill the vacant director’s position, the Brownsburg Park Board found the right fit for the job in its own backyard. On September 21, the Board appointed Travis Tranbarger Director of Parks and Recreation. While all of the finalists were strong candidates, the Board found that Tranbarger did a great job of managing the parks department and keeping the Park Board in the loop on issues and progress while serving as interim director since mid-August. The Board was impressed by his level of commitment and convinced that he was unquestionably the best person for the job. Tranbarger, who has been with Brownsburg Parks for seven years, plans to increase community engagement as the park system continues to develop. Prior to being named interim director, Tranbarger had served four years as assistant director and three years as recreation superintendent. Before joining Brownsburg Parks, he worked at Indy Parks’ Brookside Park. Tranbarger is a graduate of Ball State University, where he studied sports administration and business management.
WILLIAMS PARK NOW INCLUDES NEW OUTDOOR CLASSROOM Students, scout troops – even businesses interesting in hosting team-building exercises – will find the newest addition to Williams Park a tremendous asset. Construction on the first phase of an Outdoor Classroom is underway, with a stage and seating across the street from the Alpha Shelter. When the project is finished, visitors will find a playground, pollinator garden and rain garden. The Outdoor Classroom will be available to schools, home-school groups, churches – everyone who sees the benefit of giving kids’ hands-on nature instruction in a beautiful outdoor setting. The first Brownsburg Parks program at the classroom will be the Winter Animals Hike at 10 a.m. on November 11. The free event is open to all ages. Participants will hike along the Maple Ridge Trail to see how animals survive in winter conditions. The program will be facilitated by a Naturalist from the Hendricks County Parks and Recreation.
CHANGES HAPPENING AT THE WILLIAMS PARK ROUNDABOUT For years, the focal point of Williams Park has been the three attached gazebos in the park entrance roundabout. However, time and weather have taken a toll on these wooden structures and the condition of the gazebos were rapidly declining. That’s why Brownsburg Parks recently took down the gazebos. In 2013, the Town of Brownsburg, the Parks Department and the Fire Territory began discussions to replace the gazebos with a 9/11 memorial. In the spring, that decision was changed. The 9/11 memorial now will be located on the west side of Green Street in the new Arbuckle Commons. So what will take the gazebos’ place? Within the next few weeks, Brownsburg Parks staff will begin meeting with an advisory panel made up of residents who will contribute ideas to help landscape architects develop design concepts for the site. These concepts will be presented to the Park Board for input. The public also will be able to provide input during this meeting. Below is the timeline for the site enhancement work: September: Gazebos come down. October - December: Landscape architects will work with Parks staff and advisory panel members to create several designs. December - January: Landscape architects will develop two schematic designs using the feedback provided by Parks staff and advisory panel members. The designs will be presented to the Park Board and the public at the Park Board’s January meeting. January - February: Landscape architects will work with Parks staff and advisory panel members to blend the two designs into one using feedback from the Park Board and the public. Spring - Summer 2018: Construction of the new design begins. To keep up with this project, visit the website www.brownsburgparks.com and click on Park Projects under the Parks tab. To offer ideas for the site, email your thoughts to
[email protected].
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COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW PUBLIC NOTICE The Town of Brownsburg, as part of the combined sewer overflow (CSO) notification program, hereby states that the potential for a combined sewer overflow into White Lick Creek during, and immediately following, any rain event or snow melt exists throughout the year. People who swim, wade in, or ingest the water contained in White Lick Creek at any time may become ill. Wastewater discharges are disinfected during the months of April through October. All individuals should remain clear of White Lick Creek during the winter months regardless of the weather. The overflow discharges are located downstream of Arbuckle Acres, but upstream of Williams Park. Individuals with property along White Lick Creek between Brownsburg and Plainfield may request a warning sign be posted along the creek bank of their property. For additional information or warning signs call 317-852-1114. Combined Sewer Overflows 2016 Events
2017 Events
2016 Total Gallons per month
January
0
0
0
February
0
0
0
March
0
0
0
April
0
2
10,362,000
May
0
2
20,360,000
June
2
1
795,800
July
1
1
10,675,000
August
0
0
0
Month
Personnel continue to clean and televise sanitary and storm pipes throughout the community. These activities allow the capacity of the system to be at its maximum level and allows for personnel to find abnormalities that need to be addressed. We find various abnormalities such as partially crushed pipes and holes that can either cause blockages or allow ground water into the piping system. If you suspect an issue in your neighborhood, please contact the town so that it can be investigated.
CALL STORMWATER HOTLINE TO REPORT ILLICIT DISCHARGE It is illegal to deposit, dump or otherwise permit substances, chemicals, or other materials in the Town storm sewer system. Materials prohibited include but are not limited to: • petroleum products • fertilizer • paint • concrete • grass clippings • car wash water • pool water Call the Stormwater Hotline at 317-852-1121 if you see someone depositing materials in the storm sewer, pond, stream, or creek. All calls are confidential.
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TOWN WORKS TO PROTECT ITS DRINKING WATER The Town of Brownsburg has developed a Wellhead Protection (WHP) Plan, which was approved by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) in November 2002. Since then, the Local Planning Team has met annually to update the Plan and implement management strategies to protect our drinking water source. The WHP Local Planning Team held its annual meeting on June 22, 2017. The WHP Program focuses on public awareness, education, spill prevention and reporting. A complete copy of the WHP Plan is available for public viewing at the Brownsburg Town Hall, Department of Development Services, located at 61 North Green Street, Brownsburg, Indiana.
SOME FLUSHABLE ITEMS MAY DAMAGE THE SEWER SYSTEM Did you know that many items labeled “flushable” don’t completely dissolve like toilet paper does? The water you flush goes through the pipes and sewers to our wastewater treatment plant. So-called flushable items may go down the drain, but they can clog sewer lines and cause backups. Flushing the wrong thing down the toilet can create problems for the Town’s wastewater treatment system. And, maybe even worse for you, it can damage your household plumbing and cause raw sewage overflows into homes, businesses and local waterways. Don’t flush: Baby wipes, facial wipes, cleaning wipes Disposable diapers Feminine hygiene products Dental floss, cotton balls/swabs, band-aids Condoms Dead fish Underwear Paper towels Kitty litter Even though baby wipes, facial tissue, cat litter and other items may be labeled as flushable, they should go in the trash, and not get flushed.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CURBSIDE LEAF PICKUP FOR PROPER YARD WASTE DISPOSAL
THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR WATER UTILITY BILL
The Street Department starts free curbside leaf pickup in mid-October. Just like the summertime limb pickup, the route runs through neighborhoods on Monday through Wednesday, every other week.
1. Be green: Save paper and time by signing up for e-billing and automatic payments for your Brownsburg water utility bill. No more looking for that postcard in the mail or making last-minute trips to the customer service window at Town Hall! The forms for these convenient services are on www.brownsburg. org under the Utility Department.
Thursday and Friday are make-up days in the case that weather or other factors delay the regular schedule. When a holiday falls on Monday, the route will begin on Tuesday. You don’t have to call to set up this service. Just put leaves in recyclable, paper bags out behind the curb for pick-up during your neighborhood’s route. Make sure the bag is closed securely and is light enough for one person to lift. Want to know what day the Street Department comes to your neighborhood? View the Route 1 and Route 2 schedules on www.brownsburg.org under Town Departments/Street Department/Limb and Leaf Pickup. Do not put sticks, limbs, shrubs, dirt, trash, or other items in the leaf bags, please. Dispose of those types of yard waste through November at the Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District’s recycling center at 90 Mardale Drive. Or, check with your trash service to see if they collect bagged yard waste with your weekly trash pick-up. Proper yard waste disposal is more than just a good idea, it’s the law. Brownsburg Municipal Code prohibits dumping or discharging into the storm drain and makes it illegal for anyone to put organic waste into the sidewalks and streets. You may not realize that yard debris like grass clippings, leaves and shrubbery trimmings are a significant source of stormwater pollution. Yard waste carries fertilizers and pesticides into our waterways, causing nutrient pollution and depleting oxygen that aquatic life need to survive. Leaves and grass clippings can clog culverts, storm drains and pipes, causing flooding. Taking advantage of the free curbside service makes it easy and convenient for residents to properly dispose of leaves. Here are a few other tips to help you prevent yard waste pollution: •
• •
Don’t blow grass or pile leaves on the sidewalk or in the street where they can blow or wash into the storm drains. Aim your mower away from paved areas. Use a leaf blower or broom to move clippings into the yard, NOT into the street. Don’t dump grass clippings or other yard waste in a swale, ditch or creek. Recycle grass clippings as a natural fertilizer. Leave them on the lawn to biodegrade or compost it for a rich natural fertilizer for your plants and garden.
2. No translator needed: Don’t have a clue what all those service abbreviations mean? Your bill includes fees for water (W) usage, sewer (S), stormwater (STW), and public fire protection (PFP). 3. Paying doesn’t have to be painful: The Town offers a variety of easy ways to pay your bill. Use cash, check or money order at the utility office inside Town Hall, the drive-up window off Adams Street, and the 24-hour payment slot at the drive-up. Enroll in ACH to have the payment automatically deducted from your checking account or mail a check to Brownsburg Utilities, 61 N. Green Street. Call the utility office to pay with your credit card or use it online with our third party vendor who collects a $4.95 processing fee.
TIPS FOR SNOW PLOW SEASON Winter will be here before we know it! The Street Department would like you to keep some things in mind during snow plow season. Try not to park on the street, so plows can get as much snow cleared as possible. Wait until the street is plowed before you clear your driveway. This avoids having the snow plowed back into the space you just cleared. When you clear your drive, please do not pile the snow in the street. This may create an unsafe situation and the Town may have to return and push that same snow back into your driveway. An excessive amount of snow requires the Town to plow streets more than once during the same snow event. Keep this in mind when you clear your drive before it stops snowing. If a plow causes damage to the yard or mailbox at your residence or business, call 317-852-1113 so we can repair it.
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Town of Brownsburg 61 N. Green Street Brownsburg, IN 46112
TOWN OF BROWNSBURG CONTACTS AND HOURS All Town Offices are open Monday - Friday
C A L E N DA R
General Information: 852-1120 Brownsburg Parks: 858-4172 Water Department: 852-1138
www.brownsburg.org
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Street Department: 852-1113 Utility Department: 852-1102 Devpmt. Services: 852-1128
6:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
October
December
9 10 12 18 19 23 26
7 Town Council, 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall 11 Board of Zoning Appeals, 7 p.m. at Town Hall 12 Police Commission, 6 p.m. at Town Hall 13 Park Board, 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall 21 Town Council, 7 p.m. at Town Hall 20 Economic Dev. Comm., 5 p.m. at Town Hall 25 & 26 Town Offices Closed for Christmas 27 Plan Commission, 6 p.m. at Town Hall
Town Offices Closed for Columbus Day Police Commission, 6 p.m. at Town Hall Town Council, 7 p.m. at Town Hall Economic Dev. Comm., 5 p.m. at Town Hall Park Board, 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall Plan Commission, 6 p.m. at Town Hall Town Council, 7 p.m. at Town Hall
November 6 Let’s Give Food Drive Begins, Town Hall 8 Park Board, 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall 14 Police Commission, 6 p.m. at Town Hall 10 Town Offices Closed for Veterans Day 13 Board of Zoning Appeals, 7 p.m. at Town Hall 15 Economic Dev. Comm., 5 p.m. at Town Hall 16 Town Council, 7 p.m. at Town Hall 23-24 Town Offices Closed for Thanksgiving 27 Plan Commission, 6 p.m. at Town Hall
LET’S GIVE!
NOVEMBER 6 THROUGH 22
