Second in a series on the work of Noblesville’s city departments . . .
Noblesville Deputy Mayor
The following column is the second in a series on the various departments within the City of Noblesville. Learn more about the hard work and dedication of the department directors and staff members who keep our community of 62,000 going strong.
Today’s column focuses on two departments that are both led by elected officials.
City Court
The Noblesville City Court constitutes our judicial branch of government and handles civil violations. Staffed by two full-time employees, the City Court is overseen by Judge S. Matthew Cook, who juggles his part-time duties with a full-time legal practice that he shares with his father and fellow attorney, Steve Cook. [Note: No relation to the writer of this column.]
Cook
While normally an elected position, Judge Cook was appointed by Governor Mike Pence in 2016 to fill the remaining four-year term of Judge Gregory Caldwell, who passed away after serving the City Court since 1992.
Out of 5,354 total cases filed in 2017, Judge Cook and his staff handled 4,373 infractions, such as traffic violations, and 981 ordinance violations. Nearly 60 percent of all their cases come from an agreement to handle Westfield Police Department’s civil caseload in return for 50 percent of their collected fines.
In 2017, the City Court transitioned to a new court management system known as Odyssey. Staff went through an intensive two-week training as they implemented the crossover between court operating systems. The new program allows the court to be more efficient, more cost effective and be able to handle a larger case load at a faster pace.
In addition, defendants and their attorneys can locate their case online when and where it’s most convenient – which is just one example of the city’s concerted efforts to bring about greater transparency at the local level.
City Clerk
The business of running a city requires the collaboration of lots of individuals, including elected officials, who attend lots of meetings. Lots and lots of meetings. And from those meetings eventually come ordinances, resolutions, contracts and a slew of other public documents. Who can keep it all straight?
Answer: The city clerk – which, like the city judge, also is an elected position.
Lees
Clerk Evelyn Lees began her first term in 2016 after Noblesville transitioned to a second class city and replaced the Clerk-Treasurer Office where Lees had served as deputy clerk-treasurer. That dual role is now split between the clerk and a controller appointed by Mayor Ditslear to serve as the city’s chief financial officer.
With the help of Deputy Clerk Jacque Thompson, Lees prepares agendas, takes minutes and keeps all records for the Common Council, all eight council committees, and the Board of Public Works and Safety. The clerk also advertises public meetings, posts legal notices and assists the public with requests for information.
In other words, the clerk’s administration helps bring about even greater transparency.
It’s a tremendous responsibility, with scheduling, advertising, attending and recording minutes for public and executive session meetings – about 12 in any given month – and they do a fantastic job while supporting the city and serving the public.
The office also oversees the records of Riverside Cemetery located at the corner of Maple Avenue and 5th Street. Recently, Lees led an effort to research and record infant burials from 1953 to 1975, some of which were unmarked, and to enhance this area with new fencing and signage. Thanks to the work of the Clerk’s Office, Street Department and local artist Rick Heflin, the infants interred within Babyland will forever be memorialized.
It’s this type of project that exemplifies how our public servants go above and beyond their regular duties, and reflects well upon the love and dedication all our employees and elected officials show our community.
Want to read more about all of the City of Noblesville departments working on behalf of citizens? Check out the 2017 Annual Report. And if you missed the column that kicked off this series, read my Know Your City column on HR and IT Departments.