City Administration & Services

City of Wharton Services by Department

City Secretary
The City Secretary is responsible for keeping City records and minutes of the meetings, authenticating City documents by signature and serving as the early voting clerk. As Personnel Director, the City Secretary also administers employee benefits, workers compensation, recruitment, salary information, retirement, training and safety education.

Finance Department
The Finance Department is responsible for the City finances including accounting, accounts payable, central collections, cash management, debt management, payroll administration, account receivables and utility billing. The department is also responsible for preparing monthly reports for the department heads and the City Council, preparing year end reports and schedules, and preparing the annual budget.

Police Department
The Police Department is composed of numerous divisions. The Patrol Division is responsible for conducting uniformed patrol duties including enforcing federal and state criminal law, traffic law and City Ordinances, maintaining the physical security of buildings, responding to alarms, calls and complaints.
The Criminal Investigation Division is responsible for the investigation of all criminal cases, including researching investigate leads, conducting follow-up investigations, and seeking to identify and apprehend criminal suspects.
The Animal Control Department is responsible for all aspects of animal care including, enforcement of state law and City Ordinances, impoundment of animals, care and feeding of animals until they are returned to their owners, adopted or euthanasia.
The Communications Department is responsible for performing a variety of duties involved in the receipt and dispatch of emergency calls for the Police, Emergency Medical and Fire Services as well as for East Wharton County which represents 3 Emergency Medical and 4 Fire Services.
The D.A.R.E. Unit is responsible for administering the D.A.R.E curriculum to grades Pre-K through 7 in W.I.S.D. and conducting comprehensive after school programs.

Fire Department
The Wharton Fire Department is responsible for protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Wharton, as well as, fire inspections, maintenance of station and equipment, training and public fire education. The Wharton Fire Department also provides mutual aide to neighboring fire departments.

Code Enforcement Department
The Code Enforcement Department is responsible for enforcing compliance with the City of Wharton Code of Ordinances and the 2012 International Codes; i.e. building, residential, property maintenance, fuel and gas, plumbing, mechanical, and fire, including the amendments adopted by the City. The department also enforces codes reflecting flood management issues. The Code Enforcement Department is also responsible for the issuance of permits and scheduling all required inspections, documenting complaints from concerned citizens and maintaining records for weedy lots.

Public Works Department 
The Public Works Department consists of streets, City garage, water, sewer and garbage collection. The Street Department is responsible for maintaining all streets, drainage from storm drains to open ditches, mowing and cleaning of right of way easements and mowing City properties. The Garage division is responsible for maintenance and repair of City vehicles.
The Water/Sewer Department is responsible for all functions to provide water and dispose of sewage, including maintaining and operating the water wells, storage tanks, water transfer (booster) pumps, water lines, wastewater plants, lift pumping stations, and sewer lines.
The Solid Waste Service are currently under a contract with Waste Management for providing collection and disposal of solid waste for the City.

Facilities Maintenance Department
The Facilities Maintenance Department responsibilities include maintaining approximately 60 acres of City Parks, 65 pieces of park equipment and approximately 15 acres of the City's building facilities and ground. Maintenance includes mowing, trimming, trash pick-up, tree pruning, cleaning flowerbeds, cleaning restrooms and other routine maintenance. The Facilities Maintenance Department is also responsible for the Wharton Municipal Swimming Pool.
Community Services Department [website]
The Community Services Department is responsible for Community Development, which includes the administration, application of numerous State and Federal Grants.

EMS 
The responsibilities of the EMS Department are to provide the best possible care for the community with the resources available and to make our community a safer place to live. The EMS Department also works with the medical community to provide coordinated resources when and where they are needed.

Civic Center 
The Wharton Community Civic Center is responsible for scheduling, maintaining, setting up and cleaning up approximately 20,000 square feet including a large ballroom and four smaller meeting rooms. The ballroom is used for wedding, banquets and other large gathering while the meeting rooms are used for much smaller groups.

Airport 
The Wharton Regional Airport which consists of a terminal building, two maintenance hangars, an industrial hangar, a commercial hangar and 38 T-hangars, is owned and operated by the City of Wharton. Dalton Investments, Inc. privately manages a 14,400 square feet commercial hangar located at the airport. Twenty-four hour fueling is available. Repair service is available Tuesday through Sunday.