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1/2/2004


Media Contact:

Steve Campbell, (317) 327-3622 
Mayor Peterson names Garrard to lead city's public works


INDIANAPOLIS – Mayor Bart Peterson today named James Garrard, currently administrator of the Indianapolis Animal Care & Control Division (ACCD), as the new director of the Department of Public Works (DPW). He will succeed Barbara Lawrence, whom the Mayor named city controller last month.

Garrard stepped in as administrator of ACCD, a division of the Department of Public Safety, in April 2002 in the midst of a massive reorganization.

As administrator, he oversaw all aspects of the division's round-the-clock activities, including managing a $3 million budget, supervising 50 employees and being responsive to the needs and welfare of the citizens and animals of Indianapolis.

"Jim Garrard helped lead a remarkable turnaround in the services provided by the city's Animal Care & Control Division," Mayor Peterson said. "Now he will have an opportunity to bring his management and operational skills to the front-line department that keeps our city moving and working."

Under his leadership, ACCD dramatically increased outreach and education efforts and worked with volunteer groups and local media to raise public awareness of the city's shelter and animal-related issues in an effort to increase adoptions and lower euthanasia rates at the shelter.

In addition, the division:

  • Created a not-for-profit foundation to help raise funds for improvements to the shelter;
  • Ensured all adopted animals are spayed or neutered prior to joining their new home;
  • Procured state-of-the-art shelter management software to improve efficiency and customer service at the shelter;
  • Established new, more humane policies on adoptable animals and euthanasia criteria; and
  • Improved the facility by installing fencing for potential owners to take animals outside and for volunteers to walk dogs, creating a more customer-friendly atmosphere at the shelter.

Garrard joined city government in 2000 as the city's labor-employee relations and risk manager. As risk manager, he was responsible for addressing employee grievances and union concerns, as well as ensuring employee safety and complying with federal and state safety regulations. He also organized the first evacuation of the City-County Building in 20 years and assisted in the emergency planning process for the city and county.

Garrard previously served as special counsel in the Office of Corporation Counsel.

Before joining city government, Garrard was a deputy attorney general and a law clerk for Justice Robert D. Rucker, Jr. on both the Indiana Supreme Court and the Indiana Court of Appeals.

He received a bachelor's degree from Ball State University and a law degree from Indiana University in Indianapolis.

As public works director, Garrard will lead the department that maintains city streets, sewers, levees and traffic systems; manages trash collection and disposal; and inspects air, land and water for environmental health and safety. DPW also is responsible for the city's wastewater and stormwater systems, environmental permits, capital improvements, construction permits, some code enforcement and the lighting of streets, roads and bridges.