Government Contact
The following list contains details and links to city departments and officials along with their contact information.
City Officials
Clerk Treasurer
In Indiana, all Clerk-Treasurers are elected for a four-year term of office.
The Clerk-Treasurer is the keeper of the municipality’s official public records and is the Chief Financial Officer in the City of Rochester. Specific duties are defined by the Indiana Code and Municipal Code of Ordinances. No other elected municipal duties are as specifically defined by law as the duties of the Clerk-Treasurer.
The Clerk-Treasurer has broad powers to hire and supervise employees and oversee the operation of the municipal budgets, including utilities. The ranking status of the Clerk-Treasurer is on equal level with the City Common Council and Mayor. The only area in which the Clerk-Treasurer does not have complete authority is setting wages and final approval of budgets. The office of the Clerk-Treasurer has evolved dramatically from a bookkeeper and secretary to that of a Chief Financial Officer/Controller combined with Business Manager, Operations Officer, Compliance Officer, People Officer, and Communications Officer whose responsibilities impact not only the financial well-being of local government, but operational well-being and compliance.
Listed on the next tab are some, not all, of the roles and responsibilities of the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office
Administrative Duties
- Serves as the Human Resource Director overseeing all HR related tasks and reporting for local, state, and federal regulations and filings
- Establishes and maintains personnel files for City employees and others and establishes and maintains other employment-related records including employee benefits and pensions
- Responsible for administering, maintaining, and filing all state and federal required reports
- Serves as Clerk for Common Council and Board of Public Works and Safety meetings and any other executive meetings.
- Responsible for maintaining records of Council and Board proceedings, as well as, all ordinances, resolutions and directives created
- Serves as the financial secretary to the City Redevelopment Commission as defined by state statute
- Establishes, with Common Council approval, the internal controls procedures for all city employees, administrators, and boards as defined by state statute
- Researches local, state, and federal record files, statutes, administrative rules, ordinances, policies, etc. as dictated by the needs of the City
- Acts as custodian of the public records of the City
- Administers public records requests
- Maintains custody of and is responsible for all oaths, bonds, records, files, papers and property required to be deposited with the office
- Responsible for the disposal of obsolete records as authorized by state statutes
- Oversees the Information Technology for the City and as approved by City Common Council any staff for this department
- Works with all Department Heads and the Mayor’s office to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws and statutes, as well as, ensuring financial and policy integrity of City funds and records are followed
- Attends various training sessions, meetings and seminars as necessary or required to effectively perform the duties of the office
- Responsible for administering, maintaining, reporting, and ensuring compliance with all city acquired grants from local, state, and federal awards
- The office serves as both the ADA Coordinator and Title VI Coordinator
- Business Manager for the utility office overseeing all staffing, billing, collections, and customer relations
- Lake Manitou Dam Emergency Preparedness Plan Coordinator
- Responsible for facilitating state audits and providing records as requested by examiners
- Other duties as necessary to establish an effective and efficient operation of public office
Financial Duties
- Responsible for all accounts payables and receivables for the City
- Examines and validates each claim document and verifies the appropriate budget appropriation
- Issues the order to pay each bill and disburses checks after approval of expenditures by the Board of Public Works and Safety
- Processes payroll and any applicable benefits
- Preparation of annual budget all documents in compliance with Indiana Statute
- Certifies the levy to the Department of Local Government and Finance upon approval from the Common Council
- Administers the City’s general ledger system for all funds including utilities
- Appropriates tax revenues collected by the City to the various funds as required by law
- Responsible for the billing and collection of fees for City utilities and oversight of the billing office and staff
- Responsible for the administration of any investments, bonds, or other financial commitments for the City.
- Responsible for all local, state, and federal tax filings as applicable
Notices
- Publishes and/or posts ordinances and resolutions as required by Indiana statutes
- Publishes bids, RFP’s, job openings and other city business notices as required or requested
- Provides all appropriate notices as required by Indiana statute and City regulations
- Provides the media with press releases as necessary
City Departments
City Council
Recycling
(574) 223-4939
The City of Rochester and the Fulton County Solid Waste District encourage all citizens to recycle everything possible, whenever possible. Recyclables can be taken to the Recycling Center or dropped off at one of the portable bin locations throughout the City.
Acceptable Recyclable Materials
Metals:
Aluminum cans foil, tin and steel cans. Include metal lids from glass bottles and jars; also include small pieces of scrap metal.
Glass:
Unbroken food and beverage containers (includes clear and all colors). Do NOT Include light bulbs, mirrors, dishes, etc.; we can only recycle bottles and jars.
Plastic:
Look for the recycling symbol with a number in it; we accept #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7 plastic containers. After rinsing, the lids can be put back on. Clean, dry, plastic bags can also be included. Please put all plastic bags in on bag and tie it off. Do NOT Include Styrofoam.
Paper:
Newspaper and inserts, junk mail, magazines, catalogs, phone books, cereal boxes and other paperboard items, cardboard, post-it notes, office paper, computer paper, fax paper, carbonless paper, construction paper, and most other paper items. Shredded paper can be placed in a bag separate from other paper. Do NOT Include carbon paper, wax coated paper, or wax coated cardboard (milk cartons, etc.), tissue paper, paper towels, paper with food or other residue on it.
Household Batteries:
All batteries that are not meant to have liquid in them; examples are AA, AAA, C, D hearing aid, Camera, electronic, rechargeable, and many other batteries. Do NOT Include car, boat, or motorcycle batteries.
Rochester Park and Recreation
(574) 223-2510
The Rochester Parks and Recreation Department comprises five (5) park sites, wetland environmental area, community swimming pool, and an 18-hole golf course for a total of 220 acres. In a community of 6,414 people that provides 36.85 acres per 1000 population, which is approximately 1605 square feet per person. In areas of the community where a park site may not be readily available, residents and children utilize school playgrounds and open fields for recreation.
For more information about each department, pavilion rentals at city parks, programs, events, and more, please visit our website: www.rochesterparkandrecreation.com
- City Parks www.rochesterparkandrecreation.com/parks
- Golf Course www.rochesterparkandrecreation.com/golf
- City Pool www.rochesterparkandrecreation.com/swim
Street Department
(574) 223-4740 | Email
The Street Department performs a variety of jobs on a day to day basis, including:
- Yard Waste and Brush Pickup
- Storm Drain Repair
- Street and Pothole Repair
- Snow Removal
If you have a storm drain that has been damaged or stays clogged, or notice a street or pothole that needs to be repaired, please call the Street Department at the number listed above.
Yard Clipping and Leaf Pickup Guidelines
Effective June 1, 2013
There shall be no matter (yard waste or debris) in the City streets.
All matter to be picked up must be placed curbside on your property, not in the road. Everything (i.e. plants, weeds, grass clippings, hedge trimmings, etc.) must go in a biodegradable waste bag EXCEPT limbs and tree leaves or any wood stemmed material.
Paper biodegradable bags must be used.
General Instruction for Leaf Pickup
During fall leaf pickup, the Rochester Street Department concentrates all of its efforts into picking leaves. We have four machines operating; however, due to the age of the machines and the dusty conditions they operate in, it is difficult to keep all four of the machines on the street at all times.
The machines work together or at least in the same section of Rochester. This makes it easier for the public to know where the crews are working. Need to know when the crews will be in your neighborhood? Give us a call! As telephone calls are received, we will be able to give you a better idea as to when they may be on your street! Crews will work the City from the West to the East. As they get to the East side of Lake Manitou, they will go back to the west side of Rochester and start over again. An exception to this is we will clean Main Street and East 9th street on a daily basis. On Friday afternoons, Jefferson Street and Madison Street will be cleaned to get the majority of the churches and funeral homes for the weekend.
City crews will be working an extra hour each day during leaf season. This will continue thru the first week of November. They will also work a half day on Saturday, weather permitting. Leaf Pickup will continue into the winter as long as weather allows.
- During leaf pickup, place leaves in a row rather than a pile on the curb or in the lawn next to the street. Leaves cannot be placed in the street. This will allow traffic to move freely and safely without having to drive thru the leaves. It is easier to pickup the leaves if they are in a row along the curb rather than a pile. If placed in a pile the truck has to backup several times until the complete pile is gone.
- Tree limbs clog the leaf vacuum. The hose on the machine is 18 inches in diameter; sticks longer 18 inches plug the hose. The problem usually occurs when the sticks are in the street and leaves are raked on top of them. If longer sticks are placed where they can be seen, this problem will be eliminated.
- Please do not park on top of leaves. It is also very helpful and safer if vehicles are not parked on the piles. Please leave room for the leaf machine operator to get all the leaves that have been raked.
There is NO Burning of any kind permitted within the City Limits!
Parking Restrictions During Snow Removal Periods
When a snow removal condition has been declared the following traffic regulations will be in effect for all city street:
- All regular parking restrictions will remain in full force and effect on streets where parking is only permitted on one side and areas of no parking
- On even numbered days parking will only be permitted on the side of the street with even numbered street addresses
- On odd numbered days parking will be permitted only on the side of the street with odd numbered street address
City crews do an excellent job of snow removal. With the help of citizens, they can do an even better job. There are 40 miles of city streets and approximately 15 miles of alleys. In the Street Department there are 7 employees who operate 5 trucks with underbody plows, a small tractor with a plow, and one front end loader.
What citizens can do:
- Park off the street when snow is in the forecast. This will allow the snowplow to clear the area in front of your residence
- In neighborhoods where there is no off street parking available, park all vehicles on one side of the street. When one side has been cleared and vehicles moved, the other side of the street will be plowed
- Vehicles, trailers, boats, and anything else that is not used on a regular basis during winter months should bot be parked on the street.
- Snow is not to be piled on fire hydrants
- Snow is not to be plowed into the street. This can present a real problem at intersections as the snow piles so high motorist cannot see oncoming traffic
City crews get out at 2:00 a.m. to start the snow removal process working on city streets, public parking lots, the City Complex, Community Resource Center, and the Arboretum. The first time the plows pass thru the city they will be working primarily to open the streets to travel; this should be completed by 7:00 a.m. They will then make a second pass thru the streets to plow them back to the curb as best they can. This depends on how many cars are still parked on the street. In a normal snowfall the complete city can be covered in a regular 8 hour work day. Alleys are not plowed during the lesser snowfalls as the citizens can get out of them without much difficulty.
What the City needs to be made aware of:
- Streets that can be plowed after all vehicles have been moved
- Alley intersections that need to be cleared where vehicles are having difficulty
Special Needs:
If a citizen has special needs or requests, it is best to call the Mayor’s Office (574-223-4555). He will then contact the Street Superintendent by radio. The Street Superintendent will be helping with the snow removal and will not be immediately available by phone.
Public Safety
Fire Department
- Contact #: (574) 223-6113
- Email: fire@rochester.in.us
Police Department
- Contact #: (574) 223-3313
- Email: police@rochester.in.us