DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2005-2009 

ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT

• Balanced budgets for 4 years and compliance with City’s Fund Balance policy.
• Received CAFR award 4 years.
• Maintained and improved  technology to ensure greater efficiency and less downtime.  Improvements also include better security and better technology and operating efficiencies.
• Improved Public relations to include better and more informative magazine, more timely and informative press releases and  improved web site.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

• Most of the staff are certified or licensed in their respective fields, some of which include International Code Council Certifications, the Municipal Clerks Association, and the Mississippi Board of Architecture-Landscape Architecture.  Several of the staff serve on numerous committees, organizations, and boards including the Mississippi Urban Forest Council, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Mississippi Coordinating Council for Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems, the Building Officials of Mississippi, and the Middle Mississippi Building Officials Association.

Codes and Enforcement

• The Mayor and Board of Aldermen authorized a Code Enforcement Officer position for the Community Development Department.
• The Mayor and Board of Aldermen adopted a Code Enforcement Plan that quickly proved to be an outstanding tool to improve/preserve property values by establishing a process to protect the integrity of our neighborhoods one street at a time.  
• Good progress was realized early, and the Board of Aldermen authorized the Department to hire a second Code Enforcement Officer. 
• Officers opened 2333 cases and closed 2286 cases.  
• Coordinating with members of the Police Department for further assistance, using the process of the Cleaning of Private Property State Statute to clean properties with health and safety hazards, coordinating with Landlords for assistance with tenant-related violations, and issuing citations.
• On January 1, 2007, the Department implemented the City’s management software (INCODE) to track Code Enforcement progress.   INCODE will allow the Department to keep up with the history of violations and re-inspection requirements as well as serve as a tool to communicate the successes of our efforts.  
• Success is the primary target for our Code Enforcement Plan.  The Director and Code Enforcement Officers organized and participated in numerous neighborhood association meetings to inform residents of the most common code violations prior to our inspection of their neighborhood, which allows many to comply without getting a violation notice.  The Officers also have participated in National Night Out and many other events to continue to gain support for the Code Enforcement efforts.  Basic awareness has served the City well in keeping properties maintained and helping people know what a violation is and how to file complaints.
• The Code Enforcement Staff participated in numerous related and unrelated special projects that include the following:
• FEMA Disaster Response Plan Training and Development

1. Neighborhood Stabilization Grant Program Research and Development - HUD/MDA
2. ICC Building Code Training and actively pursuing Certification
3. Spanish Class
4. Geographic Information System Training
5. Do-it Yourself Office Renovations
6. INCODE Training and Development
7. Community Development Cross Training

Permits and Inspections

• The Department managed 1378 Permits with a construction value totaling $450,534,796.00 over the last four years. These Permit numbers equate to 300 new homes and 235 new commercial businesses added to the City of Ridgeland’s tax rolls.
• The Director and City Planner increased their roles in site plan and architectural review to provide more attention to detail, aesthetics, and site planning for each commercial project.
• A plan review fee was established to allow the Department to assist in funding an additional inspector to help keep up with the rapid growth.  This new inspector position allowed the Building Official more opportunity to perform quality reviews of each project needing a permit and, ultimately, led to the dual-role as Assistant Director.
• The 2006 International Building Code was adopted in late 2006, and by late 2008, every inspector within the Department was ICC Certified.  Twenty-five percent or fewer of cities in Mississippi are up to date with the 2006 collection of Codes, and it is very rare for a city of our size to have the level of ICC certifications that we hold.  This ICC Certification ensures that our citizens are getting the highest level of inspections from knowledgeable employees of the City.  This inspection quality leads to better built structures and stronger related property values. Major upgrades to the Community Development Department website were introduced during 2007.  The most frequently requested development-related ordinances, various forms, and various applications were uploaded to the website.  The Department’s section was reorganized into user-friendly format based on the feedback from developers, contractors, and Department Staff.
• The new Inspector position afforded us the opportunity to perform privilege license inspections and implement a grease trap ordinance and inspection process.  The grease trap inspection program adopted at the last Board meeting in 2006 will serve to reduce the number of insurance claims paid by the City of Ridgeland relating to sewer backups in areas near restaurants.  The City also realized an immediate 65% reduction in the costs associated with grease removal from sewer lift stations.

Planning and Zoning

• In 2005, the Department initiated crafting a Tree Ordinance with the assistance of a local Landscape Architect consultant.  At the May 2, 2006 Board Meeting, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen adopted the City’s Official Tree Ordinance that was crafted in a manner that gained the support of the development community.  Buck Abbey, a renowned Landscape Architect and professor at Louisiana State University, has credited Ridgeland as a city that has developed one of the best Tree Ordinances in the Country.  
• From a zoning standpoint, only thirteen properties were granted a rezoning during the last four years, twenty Special Exceptions/Conditional Use requests were granted, and twenty-one Dimensional Variances were granted. 
• In light of the fast-paced development, the Community Development Department recommended to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen making a Zoning Amendment to the C-4 Classification giving the City the mechanism to protect the image of the interstate corridor.  Traditionally, C-4 District allowed for car dealerships, garden centers, and other outside sales uses.  This change allows the City to negotiate with prospective developers about the image of their facility with Renaissance setting the “bar” for future design.
• The Department introduced a major improvement for public access to the City of Ridgeland GIS interface.  The Division took advantage of popular map viewing software, Google Earth, by converting Ridgeland GIS data to Google-supported file formats.  .
• This Division participated in the development of the Northpark Shopping District concept.  A majority of the owners have already complied with the image guidelines of the proposed ordinance.  We continue to monitor the effects of the design guidelines and plan to ultimately make it official by crafting the requirements into an Overlay District.
• This Division participated in the development of the Comprehensive Plan update.  The project grew into a more comprehensive effort at the beginning of 2006 by the effort that went towards the development of the Ridgeland Area Master Plan (RAMP).
• The Community Development Department led the development of the RAMP project.  Efforts of the Director and Mayor landed the City $240,000 in grants to be used toward the development of the Master Plan.  RAMP was projected to cost $400,000 in professional consulting fees, but the project management skills of this Division led to a final cost of $382,779.40 resulting in a budget savings of $17,220.60.   The total cost to the City of Ridgeland for the services totaled $142,779.40.
• RAMP proved to be a success story from the beginning and still is today. Once the Plan was adopted in March of 2008, work began to “attack” the recommendations in order of priority.  One of the first responses to the Plan was by the Mississippi Municipal League who awarded RAMP with the 2008 Municipal Excellence Award in Planning and Economic Development.

Economic Development

• In response to the numerous requests about available real estate, this Division began a project with in-house Staff to develop a database of commercial and industrial spaces in Ridgeland.  Although the database is not yet complete, the project will incorporate not only vacant spaces, but also occupied spaces for the purpose of a business being able to develop a market analysis.
• This Division participated in the Innovation-Led Economic Development Seminar sponsored by the Mississippi Technology Alliance.  The 5-week program was designed to get area economic development professionals to think about economic development strategies during complex economic times as well as increase networking relationships with area professionals.  
• The Economic Development Division continues to work on ways to improve the marketing exposure of opportunities in Ridgeland.  The Department developed a convention display and attended the ICSC Gulf South Conference in January 2008 and plans to take full advantage of various other opportunities as they arise.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

2005 – Dedicated Fire Station #4 located at 567 Highland Colony Blvd.

• Increased response personnel by 15 to cover new area 
• Acquired new aerial apparatus to locate at Fire Station 4
• Acquired new rescue unit to locate at Fire Station 4

2006 – Mayor and Board approved Paramedic Program

• RFD received Assistance to Firefighters Grant for $204,000.00 for purchase of new digital radio equipment, a new breathing air system, and protective clothing for the new personnel.
• RFD received Homeland Security grants used for the purchase of 2 Motorized Zodiac rescue boats 
• Mayor and Board adopted 2006 International Fire Code

2007 – Mayor and Board adopted the National Incident Management System (NIMS)

• RFD received Homeland Security grants used for the purchase of Special Operations Trailer

2008 – Mayor and Board adopted new Fire Department Operating Guidelines 

Emergency Services Delivery

Fire Suppression

• Fire Suppression forces were increased by 36% to staff the new fire station on Highland Colony Parkway. A 75 ft. custom aerial pumping apparatus with a 20 year certification along with a light duty rescue truck was acquired to service this new area as well.

Emergency Medical

• One of the greatest achievements in emergency response (of the last four years) is the development of the Paramedic Program. Medical emergencies account for 80% of our response. This program upgrades our level of response from Basic Life Support to Advanced Life Support when Paramedics are on duty and improves the critical response time by at least 50% for this level of care.

Special Rescue

• Recently a 26 ft. Special Operations trailer, previously acquired through a separate Homeland Security Grant, was remodeled and outfitted to function as a multi-purpose rescue trailer. This unit is easily modified to facilitate dive rescue, high angle rescue, collapse rescue, and hazardous material operations. In addition to quick response capabilities, this trailer also provides a base of operations, command, rehab. and shelter facilities for extended operations. All improvements to this trailer have been accomplished in house, by on duty personnel, as time and money allowed. With some additions, our response time to a special rescue emergency will be cut dramatically.

Water/Dive Rescue

In the last four years the Ridgeland Fire Department Dive Team has grown to 34 members, all meeting Dive Rescue II standards with specialty training in Current Diving, Surface Supplied Air and Dry Suit Diving, Polluted Water or Haz Mat Diving, and Rescue Boat Operations. This qualifies The RFD Dive Team as one of the largest and best trained in the state. In recognition of this, the Ridgeland Fire Dept. Dive Team and the City of Ridgeland have been selected by Dive Rescue International to host the month long 2009 Summer Dive Rescue Instructor Series training classes, beginning in June of this year. Last year RFD was designated as a primary Dive/Water Rescue agency with the Southwest 1 Regional Response Team of the Central MS Task Force, which operates under the direction of the Dept. of Homeland Security.

Training

• The fire threat in the city has been addressed with strong code planning, implementation, and enforcement. The occurrence rate of fire is minimal; however the potential for large scale catastrophic incidents still exists. Training is the essential function of day to day fire department operations and the Mayor and Board have adopted new Fire Department Operating Guidelines that outline the training and promotional requirements for Ridgeland fire personnel. 
• Grants from Homeland Security and the Department of Justice have come as a result of the city’s participation in Central Mississippi Task Fore and Regional Response Team.  Specifically, through these agencies, the following have been certified as:

Additionally 31 personnel have participated in large, full scale, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional training exercises, both within the city and out, with other local, state and federal agencies. These exercises have proven invaluable in gaining experience and understanding of joint command and operational procedures in an incident of this magnitude. Three additional state-wide, multi-agency Homeland Security exercises are scheduled for 2009 with at least 18 personnel committed to participate.

• Participation in state and national certification programs are part of the career path according to adopted guidelines resulting in our department personnel being among the leaders in the state for acquiring fire service certification.

Fire Prevention / Code Enforcement / Fire Investigation

• Over the past four years the City of Ridgeland has adopted the 2006 International Fire Code. Along with the codes the City has maintained ordinances that provide further protection of its citizens. All new apartment residences in the city are now equipped with automatic sprinkler systems as required by ordinance. Other target occupancies are also more stringently protected as a part of these ordinances. 

Fire Protection Class

• The City of Ridgeland is in a Protection Class 5. Our fire service protection system was graded in 2006 by the Mississippi State Rating Bureau. The dedication to providing fire stations, personnel, equipment and training has lowered the deficiency points considerably since our last grading period. Property owners of Ridgeland have approximately half the insurance rate as communities without fire protection.

RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT 

2005 Events & Highlights

• Hosted three youth, high school, and adult soccer tournaments, bringing over 6,000 visitors to Ridgeland.
• Hosted youth baseball tournament, bringing over 2,500 visitors to Ridgeland.
• Hosted eight youth, high school, and collegiate softball tournaments, bringing over 7,500 visitors to Ridgeland.
• Major League Soccer Game – 4,500 spectators.
• M & F Bank Classic Softball Game – Mississippi State vs. University of Mississippi – 1,700 spectators
• Natchez Trace Century Ride – 260 participants
• Heatwave Classic Triathlon – 345 participants
• Celebrate America Balloon Glow – 17,000 spectators
• KidFest! Ridgeland – 4,000 attendees
• Construction of Stadium Soccer Field at Freedom Ridge Park completed – approximate cost of $240,000.00

2005 Awards

• 2005 Mississippi Recreation & Parks Association Special Events Award of Merit – Heatwave Classic Triathlon
• 2005 Mississippi Recreation & Parks Association Professional of the Year – Chris Chance
• 2005 James Ferrell Amateur Softball Association Award of Excellence for Hosting Two of the Highest Rated ASA National Championships

2006 Events & Highlights

• Hosted four youth, high school, and adult soccer tournaments, bringing over 9,000 visitors to Ridgeland.
• Hosted nine youth, high school, collegiate and adult softball tournaments, bringing over 8,500 visitors to Ridgeland.
• Major League Soccer Game – 4,000 spectators.
• M & F Bank Classic Softball Game – Mississippi State vs. University of Mississippi – 1,100 spectators
• Natchez Trace Century Ride – 359 participants
• Heatwave Classic Triathlon – 332 participants
• Celebrate America Balloon Glow – 17,500 spectators
• KidFest! Ridgeland – 4,500 attendees
• Naming Rights to Stadium Soccer Field at Freedom Ridge Park given to M & F Bank $100,000.00 over 4 years. 

2006 Awards

• 2006 Mississippi Recreation & Parks Association Therapeutic Recreation Award of Merit – Lose the Training Wheels Program
• 2006 James Ferrell Amateur Softball Association Award of Excellence for Hosting Two of the Highest Rated ASA National Championships

2007 Events & Highlights

• Hosted three youth, high school, and adult soccer tournaments, bringing over 8,000 visitors to Ridgeland.
• Hosted Amateur Softball Association National Umpire School, 75 umpires from across Southeastern United States.
•  Hosted nine youth, high school, collegiate and adult softball tournaments, bringing over 10,000 visitors to Ridgeland.
• Major League Soccer Game – 4,700 spectators.
• M & F Bank Classic Softball Game – Mississippi State vs. University of Mississippi – 1,100 spectators
• Natchez Trace Century Ride – 391 participants
• Heatwave Classic Triathlon – 289 participants
• Celebrate America Balloon Glow – 18,000 spectators
• KidFest! Ridgeland – 13,444 attendees

2007 Awards

• 2007 Mississippi Recreation & Parks Association Special Events Award of Merit – Major League Soccer Game
• 2007 James Ferrell Amateur Softball Association Award of Excellence for Hosting One of the Highest Rated ASA National Championships
• 2007 Stabilizer Solutions National Complex of the Year – Freedom Ridge Park
• 2007 Amateur Softball Association of America National Complex of the Year – Freedom Ridge Park

2008 Events & Highlights

• Hosted three youth, high school, and adult soccer tournaments, bringing over 6,000 visitors to Ridgeland.
• Hosted Amateur Softball Association National Umpire School, 75 umpires from across Southeastern United States.
• Hosted eleven youth, high school, collegiate and adult softball tournaments, bringing over 14,000 visitors to Ridgeland.
• Major League Soccer Game – 3,250 spectators.
• Hosted U.S. Youth Soccer Girls 17 – 19 Olympic Development Winter Event – top 160 players in U.S. for 4 days.
• M & F Bank Classic Softball Game – Mississippi State vs. University of Mississippi – 1,100 spectators
• U.S. Women’s Softball National Team “Bound 4 Beijing” Tour – Team USA vs. Mississippi State University – 3,500 spectators
• Natchez Trace Century Ride – 354 participants
• Heatwave Classic Triathlon – 313 participants
• Celebrate America Balloon Glow – 20,000 spectators
• KidFest! Ridgeland – 4,241 attendees

2008 Awards

• 2008 James Ferrell Amateur Softball Association Award of Excellence for Hosting One of the Highest Rated ASA National Championships

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Projects:

• Street Overlay (completed)
  • Ridgewood Road
  • Sunnybrook Road
  • Highland Colony Parkway (Segment)
  • Town Center Blvd.
  • Evergreen Street
  • Dinsmor Crossing
  • Richardson Road
  • Nolan Circle
  • Pear Orchard Apartments Road
  • Sunnybrook Road
  • Van Mark Road
  • Town Center Blvd (Pear Orchard to Wheatly)
  • Christine Drive
  • School Street
  • Wheatley Street (Lake Harbor to Nolan Circle)
  • Friday Harbor
  • Bob White Lane
  • Coal Road
  • Ridgeland Avenue
  • Richardson Road
  • Fox Hollow
  • Old Agency Road
  • Autumn Creek Drive
  • Elderberry Court
  • Bayberry Court
  • Idlewoods Lane
  • Pine Brake Circle
  • Shadowood Drive Phase I
  • Old Agency Village Subdivision
  • Beaver Creek Subdivision
  • State Street
  • Wheatley Street
  • Highland Drive
  • Hawthorn Green Subdivision
  • School Street Turn Lane
  • Commercial Drive
  • Madison Drive
  • Trace Ridge Subdivision
  • Deer Run Street
  • Dyess Road
  • Westfield of Dinsmor
  • Sawbridge of Dinsmor
  • Arbor Ridge of Dinsmor
  • Savannah Square of Dinsmor

• Street Projects (Completed)
  • County Line Road Widening
  • Old Canton Road Widening
  • County Line Road Rehabilitation
  • Harbor Drive Road Relocation and Widening
  • Town Center and Pear Orchard Road Traffic Signal
  • Sunnybrook Road and Ridgeland Avenue Traffic Signal
  • Town Center and Pear Orchard Road Traffic Signal
  • Sunnybrook Road and Ridgeland Avenue Traffic Signal
  • McClellan Drive
  • Old Canton Road Rehabilitation (Lake Harbor to County Line Road)

• Traffic Calming
  • East Jackson Street
  • Jessamine
  • Dinsmor Crossing
  • Beaver Creek
  • Trace Ridge Subdivision
  • Old Agency Subdivision
  • Moon Street
  • Trace Ridge Subdivision

• Water/ Sewer  Projects
  • Natchez Trace Water Line
  • City Sewer Rehab Program (Camera and rehab)
  • East Madison County Regional Sewer (Camera and Cleaning)
  • Natchez Trace Water Line
  • Ford Street Sewer
  • City Sewer Rehab Program (Camera and rehab)
  • East Madison County Regional Sewer (Camera and Cleaning)
  • Old Canton Road Tank Rehabilitation
  • West Water Lines at Hickory Road and Arron Lane
  • City Sewer Rehab Program (Camera only)
  • Sewer Line Jackson Street to Century Drive
  • Sunnybrook Sewer from North Wheatley to Sunnybrook Road

• Drainage Projects
  • Longmeadow Ditch
  • Lakeshore Ditch
  • Pine Knoll Ditch
  • Blackthorn Retention Pond Repair
  • Highland Presbyterian Storm Drain
  • Old Agency Road Culvert and Ditch Repair
  • Ponderosa Ditch
  • Salem Square
  • Richardson Road
  • Carlton Park Storm Sewer
  • Wendover Ditch

• Signals
  • Sunnybrook and Steed
  • Ridgeland Avenue Traffic Signal

• Hurricane Katrina Activates
  • Emergency Operations Center
  • Storm Debris
  • Fuel Shortage
  • Missions to Other Cities for Relief

Other Significant Accomplishments

• Conducted an informational brief to the Mayor and Board on infrastructure requirements
•  Served on the Intermodal Transportation Technical Committee and help to facilitate the approval of over 8 million dollars in ISTEA funding for Lake Harbor Drive Widening, Multi-Use Trails  and two traffic signals
• Completed over 5,368 request for services in addition to everyday tasks
• Applied and have received approval for a 2.65 million dollar Katrina CDBG for a new well, tank and water distribution system west of I-55
• Applied for and received over $400,000.00 in grants from FEMA for debris removal
• Applied and received approval for  over $20,000.00 for a household hazardous waste day
• Implemented a new more comprehensive recycling program
• Applied for an additional $8,000,000.00 Katrina Grant for drainage improvements on Culley Basher Creek and $50,000.00 Generator Grant for City Hall
• Managed two earmark (STAG) grants for improvements to East Madison Regional Sewer in the amount of $960,000.00
• Received approval for a $150,000.00 Generator Grant (Katrina 1604 money) for six generators at various sewer lift stations. 
• Applied and received approval for a $15,000.00 Urban Forestry Grant for County Line Road Landscaping
• Received a maximum score of five from the Mississippi State Department of Health Annual inspection of our Water System four of the last five years.
• Applied for and received a $913,000.00 reimbursement from the National Park Service for the construction of Multi Use Trails
• Applied and received approval for a $275,000 grant from Wildlife Fisheries and Parks to extend the multi-use trail over Old Canton Road
• Applied and received approval for over $8,000,000.00 in Federal Funds for the Widening of Old Canton Road and the Signalization of Rice Road and Pear Orchard and Ridgewood Road and Centre Street
• Implemented a new more comprehensive recycling program
• Assisted the Mayor to secure federal funds for County line Road widening
• Implemented a vehicle tracking system
• Planned prepared and executed the emergency response plan for Hurricane Katrina that resulted in no loss of life and no disruption of water or sewer services and minimal inconvenience to traffic flow.
• Utilizing resources available though contractors and City forces mounted one of the largest cleanup efforts in the history of the City of Ridgeland that in the end are at little no cost to the City as a result of federal reimbursement.
• Was the lead agency in the operation of the Emergency Operations Center during Katrina ensuring that resources were managed properly and placed where needed.
• Participated in an After Action Review of the storm before the Mayor and Board to identify lessoned learned and actions to take in preparation of the next disaster.
• Conducted a water meter assessment to determine the number, age, accuracy and manufacturer of meters in preparation for selection of an AMR system.
• Developed landscape specifications for the Old Agency I-55 Interchange
• Utilized the System Control Date Acquisition (SCADA) to monitor flow of sewer for the East Madison County Regional Sewer District saving 20K per year in operational cost.

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