City of Richmond
Richmond is classified as a 2nd Class City under Indiana law. It is the 24th largest city in Indiana. It is governed by a City Council of nine members and a full time Mayor and City Clerk, all elected for four-year terms.
Common Council meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers on the 3rd floor of the City Building, 50 North 5th Street, Richmond, Indiana.
Emergency Services
911 City/County Emergency Response System. Emergency medical service is provided 24 hours per day, 7 days a week by Rural/Metro Transportation Services, 715 Sim Hodgin Parkway, Richmond, Indiana, phone 765-983-4800 and the Richmond Fire Department, 101 S. 5th St., Richmond, Indiana, phone 765-983-7266.
Fire Department
- ISO Rating: Class 4
- Number of Fire Personnel: 81
- Number of Fire Stations: 6
- Average Response Time: 3 minutes
- Water Pressure in Industrial Areas: Salisbury & U.S. 35 area – 52 psi static/1060 gpm; Industries Road and Round Barn Road area – 64 psi static/1110 gpm; N.W. 12th and Rich Road area – 64 psi static/1210 gpm; and Industrial Parkway area – 72 psi static/1250 gpm
- Equipment: The department presently has five engine companies, one rescue truck which includes confined space entry equipment, one 100’ ladder truck, one 75’ ladder truck/engine combination, one ambulance, two grass units, one water rescue unit, two stand-by engines, and one special operations trailer with hazardous materials equipment.
- Engine companies are all equipped with cardiac defibrillators.
- Future Goals: The Richmond Fire Department is working towards the development of a Hazardous Materials Response Team, Confined Space Entry Team and becoming the City’s Emergency Medical Provider. They have recently constructed a joint training facility with the Richmond Police Department south of Richmond
Law Enforcement
The Richmond Police Department has 100 employees with sworn officers and civilians
| Administrative Officers: | 3 |
| Officers assigned to Patrol Division: | 49 |
| Officers assigned to S.W.A.T. Team. | 15 |
| Officers assigned to Detective Division: | 11 |
| Officers assigned to Juvenile Division: | 7 |
| Officers assigned to Traffic Division: | 5 |
| Officers assigned to Special Investigations: | 3 |
| Officers assigned to K-9 Unites | 3 |
| Officers assigned to Accreditation: | 1 |
| Officers assigned to Community Policing | 1 |
| 98 |
The Richmond Police Department participates in a number of crime prevention efforts:
- Officers are active in crime prevention activities that range from working with neighborhood associations and civic groups to training civilian volunteers to supplement department manpower.
In addition the Department:
- Hosts two Citizen Police Academy sessions each year;
- Maintains a civilian volunteer unit that performs many routine police functions that allow patrol officers more time for critical tasks;
- Hosts a Youth Citizens Police Academy for high school age youth with the purpose of familiarizing young people with the Department and encouraging them to consider careers in law enforcement;
- Assigns officers to serve as liaisons with various neighborhood organizations in order to promote communication and cooperation between the Department and individuals within area neighborhoods;
- Maintains an officer on the board of directors of the Neighborhood Services Clearinghouse to further promote cooperation between the Department and various neighborhood associations; and
- Sends officers to speak to various crime watch groups with the purpose of disseminating crime prevention information.
- Sponsors a Boy Scouts of America Explorer Post for boys age 14-21.
Planning/Inspections and Permits
The Planning Department provides planning services to everyone within the City of Richmond (a 21 square mile area) and those citizens living within the two-mile fringe area.
The Planning staff assists developers, realtors, their attorneys and individual citizens who are interested in a project which might require a rezoning, platting of a parcel of land or a variance from a hardship created by zoning regulations.
In addition, the Permits and Inspections Division provides the following services:
- Jurisdiction in the two-mile fringe area for zoning matters
- Jurisdiction within City limits for building, HVAC, plumbing codes, and electrical code
- Jurisdiction within all Wayne County for weights and measures
- Ensure proper city licensing for electrical and HVAC contractors
Procedures for:
Zoning Change
- Discussion with zoning staff
- File application
- Commission action (public hearing)
- Approval by City Council
Variance
- Request permit
- If denied, file variance application
- Action on appeal
Performance Standards Include:
- Lot setbacks
- Outside storage
- Maximum height
- Draining specifications
- Noise and odor
- Waste material storage
- Off-street parking
- Street or road access
Permit Process for Industrial Development Within Richmond, Indiana, City Limits
Preliminary Site Conference: No fee
State Plan Review: State of Indiana schedule of plan review fees.
Local Plan Review: All applicable local construction permit fees will be assessed based on $2.00 per $1,000 of actual cost for all construction over $7500.00.
The following areas are covered in the local plan review process:
- Improvement Location Permit for Zoning
- Sewer Tap Permit
- Curb Cut Permit
- Building Permit
- Plumbing Permit
- Electrical Permit
- Fire Suppression Permit
- Site Drainage
Certificate of Occupancy: $45.00 fee. Issued upon final inspection of construction.
Sanitation Department
Richmond Sanitary District is a city owned utility that serves residential, business and industrial customers. It provides service, wastewater treatment, trash & recyclables collection, and landfill service. It also offers residential customers several special services, such as household hazardous waste program, special pick-ups and roll-off container leasing.
The area served includes the City of Richmond and areas to the west and north in Wayne and Center townships. Richmond Sanitary District serves over 55,000 residential, business and industrial customers.
The money for operations comes from property taxes (for trash collection), monthly sewer bills, and user fees from the New Paris Pike Landfill. Richmond Sanitary District operates under strict guidelines set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).
Trash Collection
Residential: Trash pickup is once a week. Some customers use three cubic yard containers, or dumpsters, while others are offered Rosie Rollers. Each single-family household is limited to 180 gallons of regular household trash per weekly pickup.
Commercial: Twice weekly collection. The district uses it’s fully automated “side loaders” to empty the three cubic yard containers. These containers are used by businesses and in alleyways behind multi-family units.
Recycling: Recyclables are collected (at no cost) every other week. Customers are provided with a 32-gallon or 65-gallon Richie Roller where they can deposit their steel cans, plastic, aluminum cans, newspapers and glass.
Special Collections: The district offers a service, at no cost, to pick up large items, brush, yard waste and some appliances for residential customers. To schedule a pickup call 983-7450. The EPA requires that the Freon be removed from refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers before they can be disposed of. The charge for these appliances is $35. The fee must be paid before the appliance will be picked up.
Hazardous Waste Disposal: The district has implemented a hazardous waste program for items such as paints, household solvents, motor oil, car batteries, and other chemicals in an attempt to protect our drinking water, wastewater treatment and community at large. These items are to be dropped off at the New Paris Pike Landfill at 5242 New Paris Pike Landfill, Richmond, Indiana for proper disposal. Weekday hours are 7:30 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Each resident is limited to three bulky items per week. This includes such items as couches, chairs, bed frames, mattresses, etc. Limbs must be cut and tied into bundles. Other yard waste must be bagged or in a can with a 30 pound weight limit. Each resident is limited to six bags or bundles per week.
Postal Service
The Richmond Post Office is an associate of the Muncie Sectional Mail Processing Center.
- Outbound mail dispatched to Muncie three times daily: 7:30 a.m., 2:45 p.m. and 5:50 p.m.
- Inbound mail received at 5:30 a.m., 6:45 a.m., and 10:45 a.m.
- Self-Service Postal Center – Main Lobby open 24 hours
- Branches: Earlham College, National Road West
P.A.S.S., 3741 East Main Street
Meijer, 2507 Chester Blvd.
County Government
Elected county officials include three county commissioners, seven members of the county council, auditor, treasurer, Circuit Court judge, three Superior Court judges, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, coroner, recorder, assessor and surveyor.
The Board of Commissioners meets every Wednesdaymorning each month in the administrative annex building. The meetings are open to the public.
The County Council meets at 8:00 a.m. on the first Wednesday of every month in the council chambers of the administrative annex building. The meetings are open to the public.
Wayne County Emergency Management Agency
The purpose of Civil Defense is to alert the citizens of Wayne County to all local hazards through training and information. When emergencies occur, people are warned through civil defense volunteers and staff.
Sheriff’s Department
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department has 78 employees plus an additional 32 volunteers within the Volunteer Services Unit.
1 Elected Sheriff
29 Enforcement Officers
30 Jail Officers
16 Civilian Employees include administrative, cooking, and medical staff.
The Volunteer Services Unit includes 20 reserved officers and 12 mounted patrol officers.
May of 2004 saw the completion of a new 375-bed jail.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department participates in a number of crime prevention efforts which include the DARE Program, a youth drug-prevention program, Neighborhood Watch Program and Crime Stoppers Program. The Department also partners with the Boy Scouts of America through its sponsorship of a law enforcement explorer post, a career awareness program for young people ages 14-20.
Wayne County Department of Buildings – Planning and Zoning
Building Projects
Submit the following items:
- Application for a Building Permit (upon issuance the permit is required to be posted and visible from the Public Right-of-Way)
- Two sets of building plans
- Application for an Improvement Location Permit
- Site plan
- A copy of the plat of the property and map number (both items can be found in the Plat Room located in the Auditor’s Office)
- Application for a permit to construct driveway and install metal pipe
- A copy of your recorded deed (this can be obtained in the Recorder’s Office)
- All permit fees
- All applications must be completely filled out in ink and signed
Note: A Building Permit cannot be issued until the Septic Permit has been approved by the Health Department. It is the owner’s responsibility to obtain the Septic Permit.
Structures may not be used or occupied until a Certificate of Use and Occupancy has been issued.
The permit applicant is responsible for making arrangements for inspections and ensuring that a County Code Official has performed the required inspections. Construction is not to proceed until each phase of construction has been approved.
The Wayne County Department of Buildings is located at 401 East Main Street, Richmond, Indiana 47374, phone 765-973-9297.
