Message from Mayor Gierisch

Spring has sprung in beautiful Roanoke! Our parks are beginning to blossom and soon we will be opening our splash pads and community pool. Our Parks & Recreation team is hard at work preparing Roanoke for you to enjoy during our summer months. We have had several great Parks projects in the works and I am so proud of our staff and their dedication. 

The Public Works Department has been working to replace all residential water meters with new smart meters. The smart meters will allow users to view their water usage using the Eye On Water website and app. This update gives customers the ability to review their water usage in real time and sign up for leak alerts. The updated meters also provide a significant cost and time savings for City of Roanoke staff as they are easier to read and provide more accurate reads. Learn more about the new water meters here.

The Finance Department has worked earnestly to complete an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. We are proud to announce we have received the Certificate of Achievement from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 17th consecutive year. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. FORVIS, the company which conducted the audit, shared this comment from a member of the GFOA review panel; "In reviewing this report, it appears the City's team has dedicated a significant amount of effort in producing a very good Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and should be commended for this." When sharing this comment with the City Council, FORVIS stated this was the first time they had seen such a glowing remark.

The Information Technology Department has worked diligently to find new and innovative ways to ensure digital security, and find cost savings, for citywide technology services. Google Suite was recently rolled out to all City of Roanoke Departments. The City now uses Google based email programs, and full Google Suite products, helping with further cost benefit and excellent technological safety. We wish to extend a huge thanks to our Information Technology Department for their hard work, our "early adopters" for learning new procedures and helping teach the staff, and to all of you for continuing to communicate with us! Your feedback helps us continually improve.

I look forward to seeing you at one of our great local businesses, awesome events, or while strolling our beautiful City with my lovely wife. 

Employee Spotlight : Michelle Stokes