MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS – 2004
What has the City done this year? City Staff busy in 2004. List of accomplishments show how your tax dollar is working for you.
Administrative Services
· Installation of radio read meters on large industrial/commercial accounts. This program will improve efficiency and safety.
· Development of a new utility bill that replaces the postcard design with an 8-1/2 x 11 bill. The new bill provides more utility information, allows for message to be sent to the customer on the bill as well as provides a greater degree of privacy.
· Completed a water and sewer rate study. This resulted in the creation of a rate model. The model was used to develop the 2004-2005 water and sewer budget.
· Began process of notifying petitioner, in writing, of action taken at City Council meetings.
Engineering
· Construction was completed on the Northwest and Southwest Booster Pump Stations and the newly elevated water tank at Davidson Park.
· Installation of the Danbrook and Western Loop Sanitary Sewer Outfalls was substantially completed.
· Construction of public infrastructure commenced on several new large residential and commercial developments.
· Contracts were approved for the installation of water and sewer improvements in the Glen Raven annexation area.
· Modifications were made to the timing of traffic signals to enhance traffic flow.
Finance and Risk Management
· Transitioned all employees to direct deposit of payroll, reflecting a savings to the City.
· Developed a new investment policy, subsequently adopted by City Council, to position the City for more flexibility and enhanced investment earnings in the future.
· Developed an information bid process for printing needs Citywide. This process accomplished two things: considerable savings on printing needs while still keeping well over 95% of the business with local vendors.
· Set up on-line buying process with office supply vendors to allow purchase of needed office supplies and equipment, with end user ability to place orders directly, subject to approval after Purchasing’s review of supply room stock and budget availability.
· Aided in the development of the City’s first Economic Development Policy, subsequently adopted in final form by City Council in January 2004.
Fire
· No fire death in Burlington since January 2002.
· Completion of the Plymovent Vehicle Exhaust System Project (Grant).
· Prepared for ISO Inspection to be held in February 2005.
· Vehicle maintenance operational change.
· Implementation of fire alarm ordinance.
Human Resources
· Provided blood panels and interpretive consultations to 111 full-time employees.
· Provides health education and chronic disease management education to 25 employees whose condition was discovered during the employee health fair or through blood panels provided by the occupational health clinic.
· The occupational health clinic had average of over 50 office visits from employees and retirees per week.
· The Wellness Council conducted a successful spring exercise program in which over 200 employees participated.
· The Wellness Council held its 13th annual health fair which featured 50 vendors with over 300 employees and retirees attending.
· The Wellness Council provided mammography screening for 31 female employees and/or spouses of male employees.
· Conducted annual physical examinations on every firefighter and police office in the City.
· Conducted respiratory fit testing on 116 employees.
· Provided TB testing on 138 employees.
· Conducted 12 fire extinguishers classes in which 178 employees participated.
· Provided hazardous communication training to 305 employees.
Provided training to employees in the following areas:
. Blood borne Pathogen Training – 10 divisions in the City with a total of 182 employees trained
. CPR Training – Six divisions within the City with 111 employees receiving training
. First Aid – Seven classes held – 102 employees trained
. Blood borne Pathogen/TB Training – 13 classes held – 181 employees
Information Technology
Implemented new City Website with added features.
Researched software for Enterprise Financial and Building inspections software
Trained employees from every department on MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and Access
Upgraded numerous software packages, including:
· Security software to prevent viruses, spyware, hackers, Trojan horses, etc.
· Operating system software upgrade for Main Financial software
. Garage Fleet software
. Gateway computers from 98 to XP
Upgraded 3 locations from dial-up connections to high speed data network (DSL/VPNs)
· Animal Shelter
· Training Center
· Fire Station 5
Planning and Community Development
· Completed the Glen Raven annexation. This area comprised approximately 288 acres and contained 247 residential parcels, 13 commercial parcels, and 6 industrial parcels. The area has an estimated population of 664 persons.
· Approved several major conditional commercial rezonings including Burlington Market Place (825,000 sq. ft.), University Commons (374,000 sq. ft.), and the East Burlington Wal-Mart (203,000 sq. ft.).
· Processed numerous smaller annexation including State Employees Credit Union, University Commons, and Abbington Place Townhouse Development.
· Assisted with the auction and successful sale of the former Western Electric Plant from the US Government to a private developer.
· Worked with NCDOT to provide for the successful opening of University Drive and the new interchange at Interstate 85/40.
· Provided technical review for several major residential projects including Mackintosh on the Lake and Springwood at the Park.
Police
· Construction and staffing of the Pet Adoption Center which to date has increased adoptions nearly 40%.
· The culmination of a six-month undercover drug operation in our public high schools resulting in numerous arrests of persons selling drugs to our high school students.
· Development and implementation of our domestic violence response unit and protocol seeking to reduce violent crime.
· Participation in the Piedmont Triad Property Crimes Task Force resulting in the apprehension of numerous professional thieves, apprehension of numerous persons fencing stolen property, and the recovery of thousands of dollars of stolen property.
· Implement of a new eyewitness identification procedure now serving as the model policy recommended by the North Carolina Actual Innocence /Commission. It is our belief that the new procedure may prevent wrongful arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment.
· Development of an in-service training model for all sworn personnel pursuant to newly mandated law enforcement training required by the state. Model is on City Web Page.
· CALEA (Commission for the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies) assessment of the Police Department involving 446 standards resulting in the recommendation for re-accreditation to occur in March 2005.
Public Works
Public Works Administration:
· Completed construction site management for Pet Adoption Center.
· Drafted a Solid Waster Ordinance to be implemented in 2005.
Building Maintenance:
· Constructed 2 picnic/comfort shelters at Springwood Park along with scoreboards and other amenities.
· Constructed Sertoma stage at North Park.
· Repaired/renovated large picnic shelter at Lake Mackintosh damaged by storm.
Equipment Services:
· Performed 6,068 scheduled and non-scheduled maintenance repairs.
· Merged the Fire Maintenance with Equipment Services, resulting in 83 additional pieces of equipment to maintain.
Sanitation:
· Increased street sweeping to 4,113 curb miles.
· Collected over 20,000 tons of solid waste.
· Began solid waste services to Glen Raven – 240 new customers.
· Began audit of recycling accounts.
Street Division:
· Completed a Pavement Condition Survey for City streets.
· Placed an emphasis on crack filling, 31,100 lbs. of material placed.
· Built road at North Park Community Center for Sertoma Club.
· Paved a portion of Burlington Athletic Stadium parking lot.
· Refurbished North Park and Fairchild Park walking tracks.
· Constructed Springwood Park walking track and portion of storm sewer around soccer field.
Traffic Sign and Markings:
· Increased the number of street signs repaired and/or fabricated
· 1,500 repaired/replaced.
· 1,200 new street name signs made and installed.
Cemetery and Grounds:
· Implemented a new leaf disposal site and collections utilizing the SBWWTP compost facility and Anthony Road Landfill.
Recreation and Parks
· Completion and opening of Burlington Springwood Park.
· Establishment of the Legends Concert Series at the Paramount.
· Hosted another ASA National Softball Tournament.
· Cost-cutting measures and promotional actions taken at Indian Valley Golf Course.
· Major facility improvements and upgrades to Davidson Park baseball fields, Burlington Athletic Stadium and Guilford Mackintosh Park and Marina.
Utilities
· Finished sewer line rehabilitation under the interstate and rehabilitated over 1000 feet of the Little Alamance Creek Outfall sewer line south of the interstate.
· Purchased and installed an emergency generator at the J.D. Mackintosh, Jr. Water Treatment Plant for greater reliability.
· Purchased chlorine gas scrubbers for three treatment plants to make them safer in the event of a chlorine gas leak. We are actively installing them now.
· Installed ammonia feed equipment at the two water plants to change from free chlorine disinfection to chloramines disinfection. This will make the residual disinfectant more durable and will help the City comply with the disinfection by-products rule.
· Assisted in implementation of new pressure zone. WASP handled the isolation valves. Other Utilities divisions are involved in operations and maintenance for the new system.