The Jasper Park & Recreation Department's portion of the city's web site has been prepared to serve as a guide to assist you in the use of your leisure time. It is hoped that each and every citizen of Jasper will take advantage of the many diversified programs offered.

Some of the areas available for your use include The Parklands of Jasper; a 75 acre adventure park,  Jasper Municipal Swimming Pool, 16 neighborhood parks, 13 lighted tennis courts, Camp Carnes, Beaver Lake, the Arnold F. Habig Community Center/Older Americans, the 18 hole Buffalo Trace Golf Course, the 2.1 mile Jasper Riverwalk and Dave Buehler Plaza, Jasper City Mill, the "Spirit of Jasper" train rides, and the Jasper Youth Sports Complex.  The complex features 11 lighted ballfields and 12 batting cages.

As always, we encourage your participation and comments concerning all facilities and activities. Your continued interest and support is our greatest asset.

Tom Moorman, Park Director

Rob Gutgsell, Assistant Park Director

Janessa Wagner, Recreation Director                  

PLEASE VISIT THE NEW JASPER ARTS SITE! 

FREE EVENT! United States Air Force Band of Mid-America Concert Band Wednesday, October 17, 2018 @ 7:00 pm Get your FREE tickets here! 2018 - 2019 Tickets Now on Sale! Click here to Purchase Tickets!
Want to learn more about the proposed Cultural Center? Check out the facts here! Learn how to donate at the Jasper LEADS website. Jasper LEADS Happy to accept your donation now!
Full Cultural Center proposal
Chet Geiselman & Robert Fry Exhibit  October 3-29, 2018 First Thursday Reception, October 4th from 5 to 7 PM The Krempp Gallery at the Jasper Arts Center is pleased to present the artwork of wood artists, Chet Geiselman of Muncie, IN and Robert Fry of Covington, KY. Chet Geiselman is a sculptor who describes himself as "a creative problem solver, a collector and arranger of objects and information, a fabricator of visual forms, and a lifelong student of spiritual and human nature." He creates works that combine the familiar materials of wood and steel with recontextualized found objects. He has a deep regard for traditional craftsmanship and a love of Bauhaus design is present in his objects. Robert Fry has labored to create distinctive and quietly elegant sculptures that convey a subtle balance between contrasting forms. Working primarily in wood, Fry also incorporates other reusable natural materials, such as rope and stone, in addition to industrial materials. Fry combines traditional woodworking and carving methods in a simple and direct manner to arrive at an efficiency of form. The Krempp Gallery, located in the Jasper Arts Center, is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, until 7:00 pm on Thursdays, and from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm on Sundays.
Birthday pARTies! Looking for a new and exciting way to throw a party?We are proud to introduce pARTies! Imagine a worry-free celebration with an art-inspired theme. You choose the theme and leave the rest to us! Follow the link for more information.
Have you heard about FiRST THURSDAYS? Join us for an evening of fun on the FiRST THURSDAY of the month. This monthly reception will focus on the arts, food, wine, music and fun fun FUN! Visit us out at the Jasper Arts Center. Most gallery exhibits will have receptions on FiRST THURSDAYS.

We are grateful to the many sponsors who support our programming with grants and donations.  

Kiersten Knies

The Clerk-Treasurer is the fiscal officer for the City of Jasper and the clerk of the City Council and Board of Public Works and Safety. The Clerk-Treasurer serves as head of the Department of Finance and serves as the official keeper of the City's records.

The Clerk-Treasurer's term of office is for four years with no restrictions on the number of terms which can be served.

Powers & Duties

• Processes and maintains all financial data including revenues, expenditures, payroll and city budgets.
• Makes investments of City monies.
• Keeps records of Council and Board of Public Works and Safety proceedings and has charge of documents relating to its business.
• Prepares and keeps Ordinance Books and Resolutions.
• Keeps contracts between the City and other public agencies.
• Provides copies, upon request, of documents that are maintained in the Clerk-Treasurer's Office.
• May officiate at weddings.

The Department of Community Development & Planning performs multiple functions related to:

• Land Development Regulation
• Economic Development
• Redevelopment
• Zoning& Variances
• Strategic Planning
• Construction Approval
• Building Services
• Subdivisions
• Site Plan Review
• Floodplain Regulations
• Marketing
• Special-Project Administration
• Unified Development Ordinance

The office is located on the second floor of the Jasper City Hall at 610 Main Street.

The City of Jasper Engineering Department manages the design and installation of all Public Works and Utility projects for residential, commercial, industrial and governmental entities. Such projects include, but are not limited to, sanitary sewers, water main extensions, storm sewers and roadways. In general, the Engineering Department provides support services to all City of Jasper Departments from preliminary layout to final completion, construction management and guidance for proposed developments

Right of Way Permit

A Right of Way Permit is required anytime there is a disruption or excavation of road surface within the right of way of the City of Jasper. The following forms may be picked up at this office at City Hall, completed and returned for approval. Permission will be granted within 24 hours of a complete and accurate form. You must pick up the forms from the office directly.

• Link to Right of Way Permit

Other Forms/Permits

• Stormwater Drainage Permit
• Standards Manual 2020
• Standards Details 2020
• Horizontal Directional Drilling Permit
• 50-50 Sidewalk Program, Link to Sidewalk Forms

The Jasper Fire Department's purpose is to protect the lives and property of the citizens of the City of Jasper and the surrounding jurisdictional area from the threat of fire and other disasters. In addition, it assists city leaders, police departments (local, state and county), emergency personnel, Civil Defense and other area fire departments when called.

This department manages and cares for the equipment entrusted to them. They provide the services necessary within budgetary and personnel constraints and abilities.

Jurisdiction

The Jasper Fire Department provides fire protection for the City of Jasper and Bainbridge Township totaling over 32 square miles.

Fire Chief : Kenny Hochgesang

In January of 2000, Kenny Hochgesang was appointed Fire Chief of the Jasper Fire Department by former Mayor William Schmitt. Chief Hochgesang oversees the day-to-day operations of the department and provides counsel to the Mayor in matters of public safety and the maintenance of City fire protection.

Chief Hochgesang also serves as the City's Code Enforcement Officer.

ADMINISTRATION

To maintain an efficient program of administration and information management to provide the organization with the ability to make appropriate decisions that will work toward the achievement of the organizations' mission statement.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

To reduce the risk of death, injury, and property destruction by fire through education of our community's citizens, business managers, and property owners of the fire and safety hazards in their area.

OPERATIONS

To efficiently organize the department's resources in order to assure timely response and effective emergency operations on a twenty-four (24) hour basis.

TRAINING

To consistently improve the knowledge, skills and abilities, of all department personnel and at all levels of the organization, in order to improve the effective and professional service to the community.

CODE ENFORCEMENT 

To assure that the new businesses, industries and residential areas are planned and designed to meet the Indiana State Fire Code as well as the City's ordinances. In order to address these needs the Code Enforcement Officer works closely with the City of Jasper's Community Development and Planning Department, Engineering Department and all civil city and utility departments to coordinate the review of plans for the layout of subdivisions, businesses and industrial complexes both in current and future.

PUBLIC PERCEPTION

To conduct all aspects of our business under the highest standards of ethics, morality, and fiscal responsibility while serving the needs of the individual employees, the organization, and the community.

Members

1 - Full-Time Chief
2 - Assistant Chiefs
1 - Captain
6 - Lieutenants
37 - Members

Renee J. Kabrick, Jasper City Attorney

The City Attorney is the head of the Department of Law and is appointed by the Mayor.
The City Attorney must be admitted to practice in Indiana and live in the county in which the City is located.

The City Attorney manages the legal affairs of the city, drafts ordinances, resolutions, contracts and other legal documents for the City and its departments and boards, and prosecutes City Ordinance violators. The City Attorney attends meetings of the Common Council, Utility Service Board, Board of Public Works and Safety, Jasper City Park and Recreation Board, Board of Zoning Appeals, Jasper City Plan Commission, Storm Water Management Board, Community Arts Commission and other City boards, and advises their members on legal matters.

Officers, departments, boards, commissions, and other agencies of the City may not employ attorneys without the authorization of the Head of the Department of Law. When a legal issue arises that is best handled by outside counsel, the City Attorney oversees the matters assigned to outside counsel to ensure the City is receiving quality legal representation.

Mayor Dean Vonderheide 

Mayor Vonderheide was caucused in as Mayor of Jasper and has served in that capacity since January, 2019. Previously, he served as the President on the Board of Directors for the Jasper Public Library, a member of the Jasper City Council, and spent more than three decades in the furniture industry in various executive positions.

Jasper was recognized by USA Today as the 14^th best community to live in the United States and was recognized as the 2018 Community of the Year by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. The City is collaborating and investing in world-class amenities to serve all citizens. The new Parklands of Jasper is a 75-acre nature destination on a former golf course. Jasper’s award-winning public arts program is partnering with the Jasper Public Library to deliver arts, culture and a 21^st century library under one roof in the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center. Jasper has also been continually named one of Indiana’s Safest Cities and we are the only INSHARP certified government in the state.

Powers & Duties

• Enforces the ordinances of the city and the statutes of the state.
• Calls special meetings of the legislative body when necessary.
• Supervises subordinate officers.
• Fills vacancies in city offices when required.
• Signs all bonds, deeds, and contracts of the city and all licenses issued by the city.
• Approves or vetoes ordinances, orders, and resolutions of the legislative body.
• Adopts rules and regulations for individual departments.
• Prepares the city budget for council review.
• Executes the IMPACT Jasper's Long-Range Comprehensive Plan. 
• Serves as presiding officer of the city council

The Department of Personnel/Safety/ Loss Control mission is to create an environment in which the City can provide services and align the departments' functions with the City of Jasper's strategic operations objectives, culture and citizens needs.

To facilitate the mission, our staff coordinates the hiring process, manages the benefits system, develops employment policies, provides information, advice and counseling on employment issues to employees and managers, mediates misunderstandings, oversees certain training and development opportunities, maintains employee records, ensures compliance with employment law, and communicate with employees on issues of relevance and concern.

Our goal is to perform these functions with professionalism, integrity, consistency and caring, and to respect the dignity and diversity of each individual with whom we interact.

This department is under the jurisdiction of the Mayor and is responsible for all employment, safety, and loss control issues within the City of Jasper and currently supports 16 departments with a total employment of over 300 employees.

Staff
Cale Knies, Director of Personnel/Safety/Loss Control
Cindy Hochgesang, Human Resource Generalist

Jasper Police Department

The Jasper Police Department serves the City of Jasper with 26 full time Police Officers and a 24-hour Real-Time Intelligence and Communication Center. We are dedicated to serving the citizens with respect, courtesy, and professionalism. The Jasper Police Department invites all citizens to take a stand against crime in our community and report any suspicious activity. 

Check out more information on JPD under the "Topics of Interest" section, and check out our Social Media Pages

Emergency Dial 911	Anonymous Tip Line: (812) 481-COPS
	Non Emergency Line: (812) 482-2255

Mission Statement

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The members of the Jasper Police Department are committed to providing a professional & dedicated law enforcement agency sworn to enhancing the quality of life for its citizens and visitors. We will always strive to be ethical, courteous and respectful to all with whom we encounter.

 

All of our Crime Prevention and Safety Tips are provided by the National Crime Prevention Council. For additional information including printable materials, please visit the National Crime Prevention Council's Official Website by clicking here.

The Street Department’s goal is to provide the best possible services to all residents within the City of Jasper.

Our dedicated employees and proactive leadership; work diligently together to achieve a beautiful city and safe environment of which residents can take pride in.

Services provided by the street department include:

• Street maintenance (including paving, restoration, preservation, & sealing)
• Storm sewer maintenance/inspection
• Trash/Recyclable Collection
• Yard Waste (Rubbish) Collection
• Leaf Collection
• Snow and Ice Control
• Mosquito Monitoring/Preventative treatment
• Street Sweeping
• Mowing
• Street Sign Maintenance
• Coordinates a volunteer Adopt-A-Street Program

Should you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at 812-482-1130.

Utility Emergencies can be reported 24/7 by calling 812-482-9131

PAY UTILITY BILL

The Jasper Municipal Utilities, under control of the Utility Service Board, provides Electric, Water, Natural Gas, and Wastewater services to the City of Jasper and, in some cases, the surrounding area. Each utility operates under the direction of an Operating Manager who reports to the General Manager of Utilities. Administrative Operations are centralized within the Utility Business Office.

The Utility Business Office consists of three departments - Billing, Customer Service, and Accounting. It is the responsibility of the Business Office to read meters, bill customers, accept payments, answer and respond to questions or problems, and to monitor and report on the financial status of each utility.
The Electric Utility provides electricity to approximately 5,800 Residential, 1,000 Commercial, 200 Institutional and Governmental, and 100 Industrial customers.
The Water Utility consists of two divisions, Treatment and Distribution, which provides potable water to approximately 5,500 Residential, 780 Commercial, 150 Institutional and Governmental, and 100 Industrial customers. Water is drawn from the Patoka River and treated before it enters the distribution system.
The Natural Gas Utility consists of two divisions. The Distribution division provides natural gas to approximately 3,500 Residential, 550 Commercial, 75 Institutional and Governmental, and 55 Industrial customers. The Administration division handles multitudes of Federal and State regulations, as well as public education and safety, and all gas purchasing. Natural gas is purchased from various suppliers and is transported across the Spectra Energy (Texas Eastern) and Trans Canada (ANR) transmission systems.
The Wastewater Utility consists of two divisions, Collection and Treatment, which provides wastewater services to approximately 5,800 Residential, 670 Commercial, 100 Institutional and Governmental, and 60 Industrial customers. After wastewater is collected through the city's sewer mains, it is deposited at the Wastewater Treatment Facility where it is treated and returned to the Patoka River.
The Utility Service Board consists of seven members who are appointed by the Mayor and the Common Council. It is the responsibility of the board to set policy pertaining to the operation of each utility, authorize capital expenditures, and approve payments to vendors for materials and supplies.

Ordinance Enforcement

Kenny Hochgesang, Fire Chief/Code Enforcement Official

The City of Jasper Code Enforcement Official enforces ordinances by acting on received complaints, researching the issues, and communicating with the involved parties thereby bringing closure to concerns or violations addressed. The Code Enforcement Official either self-observes or receives complaints from the public.

Upon observing a violation, the official documents the observation, and the property owner is notified of the violation. Notification is either a knock on the door or a letter advising the property owner of the violation and educating them on the ordinance in which a violation has been identified. The property owner is advised of the nature of the violation, how to correct the violation, time frame to correct the violation and the enforcement action that will be taken if the violation is not corrected.

The citizens and business owners of Jasper make investments in their properties and neighborhoods. When the integrity of a particular area is jeopardized due to violations, those investments are also at risk.

Public Service

City of Jasper's Code Enforcement Official works to ensure a clean and safe place for people to live and work by assisting the public in achieving compliance with City of Jasper codes and regulations.

If there is a concern with the condition of a property or to report a public nuisance you have encountered in the City, you may contact the Code Official directly at (812) 482-1741.

Development Assistance

To assure that new businesses, industries and residential areas are planned and designed to meet the Indiana State Fire Code as well as the City's ordinances, and in order to address these needs, the Code Enforcement Officer works closely with the City of Jasper's Community Development and Planning Department, Engineering Department and all civil city and utility departments to coordinate the review of plans for the layout of subdivisions, businesses and industrial complexes both in current and future. 

Public Meeting Information

• View regularly scheduled and special public meetings by clicking on the "Events" tab on the left side of the screen.

• Join a meeting by Zoom: 
  • Click the Events tab.
  • Click the meeting you wish to attend on the day and time the meeting is scheduled.
  • Click the Zoom link. 

• View public meeting recordings by clicking the following link:
  • City of Jasper YouTube Channel

Public Hearings and other Information

• To view Public Hearings and other information click on "News & Notices" on the left side of the screen.