Town of Brownsburg Spring 2014 Newsletter

Official Town Newsletter for the Citizens of Brownsburg Spring 2014

Town Council Appoints New Officials to Boards & Commissions

Brownsburg Town Council elected Gary Hood to continue as president for 2014 and Don Spencer as vice-president and made several new appointments to the municipality’s boards and commissions. Town Councilor Ashley Hobbs will represent the council to the Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership and the Brownsburg Fire Territory Executive Board. Councilman Rob Kendall will serve on the Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District Board and Don Spencer will continue as the council liaison on the Police Commission. The Advisory Plan Commission has two new faces this year, Charles Bischoff and Chris Worley. Jason Gibson, Sean Benham and Joe Dunbar make up the Economic Development Commission. Glenn Nulty was reappointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Cont. on page 3

From the Town Manager’s Office

If you’ve lived in Brownsburg for more than a few years, you’ve seen its phenomenal growth. What was once a small, unkown suburb is now a popular community of choice -- attracting both new residents and businesses -- thanks to its safe neighborhoods, top-quality schools, and high quality of life.

Throughout this newsletter, you’ll read about many of the things that your municipal government has planned this year, but in this space I’d like to share

details about the incredible growth we are seeing right now in housing and commercial development. Here’s just a sampling:

Bailey Park – The Paragus Group is constructing this 66-unit senior housing development on 56th Street at N. Odell. The 11-building neighborhood has a development cost of $5.6 million. Site work has started on the project.Autumn Glen – Ryland Homes is developing this 88-home subdivision on 41 acres on the east side of North CR 600 E. The property will feature homes with values in $300,000 range and include a six-acre community park and multi-use path.Elmwood by Redwood – Redwood Management is leading this apartment project in the West Wynne Farms subdivision with a value upwards of $15 million. The 21-acre, 17-building development will include 126 single-story multi-family units, some marketed toward empty nesters. The development will be a catalyst in attracting retail development to the newly constructed S. Northfield Drive.LaCabreah Apartments – The 11-building multi-family housing development will consist of 240 units located on the north side of CR 300 N in West Wynne Farms. John Force Racing – The 16-time Funny Car champion’s company is constructing a 28,800 square foot building in Eaglepoint Business Park. Just across Southpoint Circle from the JFR team headquarters, the $2.5 million building is expected to house racing teams and other motorsports-related businesses.Lauth Property Group – The Town recently approved a property tax abatement on this 1 million square foot spec building in Eaglepoint Business Park on the corner of 56th Street & E. Northfield Drive. Construction costs are estimated at $36 million with a full build-out value of $50 million. Cont. on page 2

In T

his

Issu

e

The Innovation Zone 2

Taxpayers See Savings 2

N. Green Street Redesign 3

Capital Projects Update 3

Farmers Market 4

Clean-up & Recycling 4

Summer Concerts 5

Parks Planning for Future 5

Employee of the Year 5

CSO Public Notice 6

Limb Pickup Starts 7

Town Calendar 8

Grant Kleinhenz @BrownsburgTM

Town Launches Innovation Zone Marketing Campaign to Attract Early-Stage Growth Companies

With several innovative companies locating in and around Brownsburg over the past decade, local economic development leaders hope a new marketing campaign will build on that success to attract similar companies.

The “Innovation Zone” campaign will target companies that are currently in business incubators or similar start-up spaces and that need additional space and resources to foster the next stage of growth.

Companies that are focused on innovation and new ideas have been drawn to Brownsburg by the business resources, highly skilled workforce, access to Central Indiana, and superior quality of life. BioSafe Engineering, a manufacturer of state-of-the-art equipment for the treatment of medical and bio-hazardous waste, is just one example.

Town leaders would like to see more like them locate here. The Town is particularly interested in landing companies in highly technical sectors, such as medical device developers, bio/pharma firms, internet technology companies, research and development centers, and other areas of life science.

The Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership reports that the 91 percent of Hendricks County’s businesses with fewer than 10 employees account for 46 percent of the jobs. With that in mind, the Town aims to focus on helping entrepreneurs and small, growing companies see that Brownsburg is a great place to grow their businesses.

The multi-channel promotional effort recently launched with the “Innovation Zone” website at www.innovationbrownsburg.com and was covered in the Indiana Business Journal.

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Town of Brownsburg

@BrownsburgIN

CONNECT WITH US!

From the Town Manager, Cont. from page 1

When occupied, Lauth projects it will create from 250 to 1,000 new jobs. Construction is set to start in July if approvals are given by the Town for tax abatement.Brownsburg Meadows – The second phase of the senior community’s $4.5 million expansion includes a 98-room assisted living facility and three independent living structures.Dollar Tree – The bargain store is relocating to a new 9,300 square foot building now under construction on E. Main Street just east of the Dairy Queen This project is valued at $850,000.Cornerstone Industries – The Brownsburg-based industrial flooring manufacturer is consolidating its Patrick Place and Park 100 locations into a new 32,000 square foot building on Motorsports Way valued at $2 million. It is anticipated that up to 30 Cornerstone Flooring employees will work in the new facility with construction starting early in the summer. Lucas Oil Raceway Pavilion – The Plan Commission approved the NHRA’s development plan to construct a 16,000 square foot hospitality pavilion that will serve as a banquet facility at Lucas Oil Raceway. It is expected to open for the 2015 US Nationals.

Do you want to stay in the know about projects like these? Follow me @BrownsburgTM and @BrownsburgIN on Twitter or like us on Facebook and subscribe to our monthly e-news!

Town Efforts Save Taxpayer Dollars

You probably know that Town of Brownsburg property taxpayers will see a rate cut again this year. In fact, the 2014 Town tax rate will be lower than it was in 2011 thanks in part to municipal departments who work to find savings opportunities and work within their budgets. Here are some examples:

CHANGES TO LIABILITY &

WORKERS COMP $60K/YR

SAVED

REFINANCE OF MUNICIPALBUILDINGS

$180K/YR SAVINGS

CHANGES IN EMPLOYEE LIFE

INSURANCE POLICY $7.5K/YR

SAVED

CHANGES TO LONGEVITY PAY

PROGRAM SAVES$1.4 MILLION

OVER 10 YEARS

CONSOLIDATION OF IT SERVICES WITH FIRE TERRITORY

$5K/YR SAVINGS

CHANGE INWELLNESS CLINIC

OFFICE HOURS

$6K/YR SAVINGS

2014 Boards and Commissions, Cont. from page 1

Ray Kotarski and Allan Bolante were reappointed to the Police Commission and Scott Lattimer was reappointed to the Park Board. Joy Vrabec and Michelle Artmeier are new to the Redevelopment Commission to which Rob Kendall, Shane Dunigan and Brad Stutler were reappointed. The Redevelopment Authority is welcoming all new members, Michael Dowden, James Risk and Travis Tschaenn. Sean Benham, Joy Vrabec, Eric Cottongim, Jeffery Newman and Nathan Hagerman make up the new Brownsburg Improvement Committee. Ken McGee and Jeff Ponist were appointed to the Brownsburg Park Impact Fee Board. Don Peoples, Jay Puckett, Lori Young and Jennifer Knox were named to the Northfield at Wynne Farms Advisory Board. Town Council and Brownsburg boards and commissions meetings are held regularly at Town Hall, 61 N. Green Street, and are open to the public. Agendas and supporting materials are published in advance on the Town’s website, www.brownsburg.org, and live video is streamed on the internet.

Capital Projects Improve Local Roads and Utilities

Traffic Signal Preemption: Infrared receptors were installed in 18 traffic signals and emmiters were placed in Brownsburg public safety vehicles in March. The $448,000 project, which allows emergency vehicles to change lights from red to green to improve safety and response time, was 90 percent grant funded.

Northfield Drive South: The new section of Northfield Drive from SR 267 to Hornaday Road will get a top coat of asphalt and have decorative street lights and a multi-use recreation trail installed as soon as the weather allows and will open to traffic later this spring.

East & West Northfield Drive: Work on Northfield East from 56th Street to US 136 and Northfield West from US 136 to White Lick Creek bridge is just getting started, so anticipate periodic road closures. These two projects will add new travel and turn lanes, make intersection improvements, and widen/complete the multi-use path. With MPO funding, the Town is paying for only 20 percent of the $10.3M construction costs.

CR 900E Water Main Loop Project: The Town is designing a water main extension on CR 900E from Motorsports Way north, extending under I-74 and connecting on the northside of the area that will create a loop to the growing northeast side of Town. The $350,000 project will be under construction this summer.

Airport Road Lift Station Upgrade: With growth on the south side of Town near the newly constructed Northfield Drive South, the Town is upgrading the Airport Road Lift Station in order to increase the pumping capacity for wastewater. This upgrade will allow for the construction of nearly 100 residential units in the Lacabreah Apartments located on CR 300N and will improve the collection system for future growth in the area. This project is being funded with a significant contribution from the developer of the apartments and will be a major improvement to the system.

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North Green Street to Undergo Redesign

Now that the Town of Brownsburg has control over its portion of State Road 267, locally known as Green Street, the narrow and highly-congested section between US 136 and 56th Street will undergo a complete redesign to help traffic flow, improve safety, and spur downtown redevelopment.

Town leaders envision a “complete street” concept that will likely include a three-lane road with a median, multi-use trails, decorative lighting and landscaping. Engineering design is underway and the Town is already meeting with impacted residents and business owners for their input.

Compensation of $250,000 from INDOT, a $3.2 million Highway Safety Improvement grant and Tax Increment Financing will be used to pay for the $6.3 million project, which should be under construction sometime in 2016.

Attention Homeowners Associations!

Town of Brownsburg staff representatives are available to discuss Town ordinances, stormwater guidelines, and projects of interest to your neighborhood. Call 858-6029 for information.

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Brownsburg Clean-up and Recycling Events Set for Saturday, April 12

After the brutal winter that Mother Nature hurled on us, you may have thought spring would never arrive. But warmer weather is finally arriving, and we know some of you are more than ready for some spring cleaning.

Mark the calendar for Saturday, April 12 when three local events to help with clean-up and proper disposal of waste will be held to help you rid your neighborhood of litter and make it easy to dispose of typically hard to recycle items.

The Town of Brownsburg is partnering again with Technology Recyclers for the One Stop Drop Off, where residents and businesses will be able to safely dispose of computers, office equipment, appliances, electronics and other items. Documents will also be collected for secure off-site shredding. The One Stop Drop Off will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Brownsburg Fleet Maintenance Facility, 221 S. Mardale Drive. There is a $5 processing fee for glass computer monitors and TVs. A full list of acceptable items is on the Town’s website, www.brownsburg.org.

Households, civic groups, HOAs and other organizations can team up to combat litter in our community during the Hendricks County Partnership for Water Quality’s annual Spring Clean-up on that Saturday. Supplies will be provided for those who want to join together to clean up along local roadways and ditches. Sign up for the Brownsburg area is underway! Find the registration form on the Town website or call Stormwater Coordinator Lisa Christie at 858-6029.

The Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District will host its first Tox-Away Day of the year also on April 12 at Brownsburg High School. Open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the event gives Hendricks County residents an opportunity to properly recycle or dispose of household hazardous wastes, medical sharps, unwanted medicines, tires, appliances, and electronics. Visit http://www.hendrickssolidwaste.com/programs/tox-away-days for more details, including a full list of items accepted at the Tox Away Day.

New Facade Improvement Grant Benefits Existing Businesses

The Town of Brownsburg is launching a new matching grant program that will help businesses located in or adjacent to the Town’s TIF districts make façade improvements.

Utilizing Tax Increment Financing District Funds, the Town will match half of the cost up to $15,000 for exterior improvements such as restoring architectural details, painting, fixing or replacing windows and doors, installing awnings or canopies, and the like.

Applicants must be the property owner or the occupant with written consent of owner and the property must remain primarily commercial and be maintained for a minimum of three years following completion of the façade work. Eligibility requirements and complete guidelines are available in the Town of Brownsburg Economic Development Incentive Policy.

The program will be administered through the newly-appointed Brownsburg Improvement Committee. Call the Town Manager’s office at 852-1120 for more information.

THURSDAYS4 to 7 pm

June — SeptemberTown Hall

presented by

FARMERS MARKET

Shop Local at the Brownsburg Farmers Market

Brownsburg area residents will enjoy locally grown produce, fresh baked goods, and more when the Farmers Market returns this summer. Presented by IU Health West and the Town of Brownsburg, the popular market will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday afternoons on the Town Hall Green.

The market starts June 5 and the season continues through September. Vendors interested in booth space to sell their goods should submit an application at www.brownsburg.org under Community Links/Brownsburg Farmers Market. Sign up for the Farmers Market e-newsletter and like Facebook.com/BrownsburgFarmersMarket for frequent updates.

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Brownsburg Parks Strategically Planning to Meet Community’s Recreation Needs

Last year was a beneficial year for setting the foundation of Brownsburg Parks for the foreseeable future. This year will prove to be an integral part in the development of Brownsburg’s park properties and recreational services. Here are some of the highlights from 2013 and what to expect for 2014.

Brownsburg Parks worked throughout 2013 to develop its new 2014-2018 Strategic Master Plan. Due to be released this spring, this document provides direction to staff on operations for now and into the future including public input on what the community feels are priorities for the parks system for the next 5-10 years.

Last year, Brownsburg Parks added more than eight acres of land to the inventory of the park system. The land will serve as a trailhead, neighborhood park and trail connection. In addition, the Park Board approved to accept land in lieu of impact fees that would increase park land by 40 acres for future development.

Trail connectivity continued to be a top priority in Brownsburg. The Town began the Active Transportation Plan to define the pedestrian and bicycle network throughout the community. Concepts to connect the community north of Interstate 74 via trail to the retail district and subsequently Arbuckle Acres Park were initiated.

The Zone Improvement Plan was updated to collect impact fees for park development including land, trails, playgrounds, restrooms, shelters and tennis courts. This maximizes the resource and assists the Department moving forward with new park development sooner than the original plan.

Brownsburg Parks has many projects slated for 2014. Be sure to follow the progress on www.brownsburgparks.com under Park Projects!

Some future improvements and plans include:

• Updated signage throughout park properties, identifying key features and amenities and their locations.• The summer opening of Brownsburg’s first outdoor aquatic facility, The Water Garden at Williams Park. A splash pad that contains interactive spray and play features.• The future conceptual design for Arbuckle Acres Park incorporating the newly acquired St. Malachy property adjacent to the park.• To begin development of the new community park on the current open Cardinal Property. One of the more noticeable changes this year will be the trail head and parking for the B&O Trail.

Follow us for Brownsburg Parks news

and info!

Brownsburg Rotary Honors Town Employee of the Year

Jonathan Blake has been named the Town of Brownsburg’s 2013 Employee of the Year. Blake was honored by the community and his co-workers at an awards luncheon hosted annually by the Brownsburg Rotary Club.

Employee of the year candidates are nominated by their peers. Blake was nominated for showing a positive attitude and offering solutions for the problems that the Town may face.

His nomination says Blake thrives on

improving services and pushing for ways to improve efficiencies and effectiveness and that his positive attributes show his dedication and commitment to not only his department, but for the Town of Brownsburg as a whole.

Blake is a senior planner in the Planning Department and has been employed with the Town since 2003.

Jonathan Blake

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 852-1114.

The combined sewer overflow storage facility continues to capture the majority of rain events as anticipated. There are discharges occurring on occasion as the result of intense heavy rainfalls. Data is gathered during each event to determine what additional requirements may need to be met.

Ultimately, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) requires that either discharges receive full treatment or a community reduces their discharges to zero.

Brownsburg is continuing to minimize the number and volume of these events by maximizing flows to the treatment plant and moving forward with stormwater separation projects. Additional efforts to minimize the number of overflow events include televising sewer mains and stopping any sources of leaking groundwater or stormwater that are discovered.

Combined Sewer OverflowsMonth 2012

Events2013

Events2013 Total Gallons

per month July 0 1 321,419

August 0 0 0

September 2 0 0

October 0 1 1,779,000

November 0 1 617,600

December 0 2 4,079,000

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“Flushable” Labels Misleading

Like many sewer utilities across the nation, the Brownsburg Wastewater Treatment Department is seeing sewer system backup problems caused by inapropriate items flushed down the toilet.

The water you flush goes through the pipes and sewers to our wastewater treatment plant. Toilet paper quickly dissolves in water, but other items labeled “flushable” don’t completely dissolve.

Baby wipes, facial tissue, cat litter and other items may be labeled as flushable, but they should go in the trash, and not get flushed. As we’ve seen in some local neighborhoods already, they can clog sewer lines and cause expensive damage to your home and the Town of Brownsburg’s pumps and other equipment.

Don’t use the toilet as a trash can! 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.

If you have concerns or other issues, call 852-1120 or use the Town’s website Action Center at www.brownsburg.org.

Call Stormwater Hotline to Report Illicit Discharge

It is unlawful to deposit, discharge, dump or otherwise permit substances, chemicals, or other materials in any storm sewer system within the Town of Brownsburg. Materials prohibited include but are not limited to:

petroleum products fertilizerconcrete pet wastegrass clippings paint car wash water pool water

Call the Stormwater Hotline at 852-1121 if you see someone depositing any of the above materials in the storm sewer system, pond, stream, or creek, or have questions about a possible illicit discharge. All calls are confidential.

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.

Five Things You Should Know About Your Town of Brownsburg Water Utility Bill

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.

2. No translator needed: Don’t have a clue what all those service abbreviations mean? Your bill includes fees for water (W1) usage, sewer (S1), stormwater (STW), public fire protection (PFP) and tax (TX1).

3. Money down the drain: Does your bill seem unusually high? You might have a leak from your toilet, dishwasher or clothes washer. If you can’t find the problem on your own, just call the Utility Department at 852-1102 for assistance.

4. 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.

5. Avoid shut-off: Pay your bill on or before the due date to avoid late fees and delinquent notices. Accounts more than 30 days past due will be disconnected and charged a $40 re-connection fee. Call the utility office to talk about payment arrangements BEFORE the due date; don’t wait until the shut-off date!

Town’s Curbside Limb Pickup Starts April 7

The Town of Brownsburg’s curbside collection for branches and yard trimmings starts Monday, April 7. Residents may stack small branches and limbs in their yard behind the curb edge to take advantage of this free Town service.

The Street Department’s wood chipper circulates through the town Monday through Thursday. Friday is a make-up day in the case that weather or other factors delay the regular schedule. Collection times may vary, so it is recommended that stacks be along the curb by 7 a.m. on the neighborhood’s scheduled recycle day. To see what day the chipper is in your area, download a color-coded route map from the Street Department section of the Town’s website www.brownsburg.org.

This program is for tree material. Residents may take leaves and other matter to the Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District’s yard waste recycling center at 90 Mardale Drive. Visit www.hendrickssolidwaste.com or call 858-8231 for information.

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Helpful Tips for Swimming Pool Owners

Are you getting ready to open your pool for the summer or thinking about installing a new pool? Here are some helpful tips from the Town of Brownsburg Planning & Building Department:

• Call Planning & Building at 852-1128 to obtain permit information prior to planning the construction of a new swimming pool.

• Contact your HOA to check swimming pool requirements in your subdivision before installing a new pool.

• Check to ensure that above ground pools are installed on stable soil.

• The installation of all pools, spas, hot tubs, decking and equipment shall comply with the Indiana Swimming Pool Code.

• For safety, all pools, spas and hot tubs shall be secured by a 5-foot high fence or an approved pool cover.

• All required safety equipment shall comply with the Indiana Swimming Pool Code.

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www.brownsburg.org

61 N. Green StreetBrownsburg, IN 46112

TOWN OF BROWNSBURG CONTACTS AND HOURSAll Town Offices are open Monday - Friday

General Information: 852-1120 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Street Department: 852-1113 6:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.Brownsburg Parks: 858-4172 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Utility Department: 852-1102 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Planning and Building: 852-1128 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Water Department: 852-1138 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Note: Town departments and offices are closed 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. the last Friday of each month. July

4 Town Offices Closed for Independence Day

4 Summer Concert Series, 7:45 p.m. at Town Hall

9 Police Commission, 6 p.m. at Town Hall

10 Town Council, 7 p.m. at Town Hall

13 Summer Concert Series, 5 p.m. at Town Hall

14 Board of Zoning Appeals, 7 p.m. at Town Hall

17 Economic Dev. Comm., 5 p.m. at Town Hall

17 Park Board, 6 p.m. at Town Hall


28 Plan Commission, 6 p.m. at Town Hall

August5 Town Hall Meeting, 7:30 a.m. at Town Hall










May






17 Tox Away Day, 8 to 1 at HC Fairgrounds

22 Rev Rally FanFest, 6-9 p.m. at Town Hall


26 Town Offices Closed for Memorial Day

June3 Town Hall Meeting, 7:30 a.m. at Town Hall

5 Farmers Market Starts, 4 to 7 at Town Hall







