The Public Works Department is perhaps one of the most visible departments in the City, and nearly every resident and business directly benefits from the department’s hard work each day. We’re celebrating National Public Works Week by sharing how our Public Works department advances quality of life for all.
Road Maintenance
The Public Works Department spends a significant amount of time maintaining the City’s streets. Work ranges from snow removal and de-icing in the winter to street sweeping in the spring and fall, to pothole patching in the summer. This constant attention helps to keep roads passable and safe. Larger scale and specialized maintenance projects, such as crack sealing, are often performed by contractors and help extend the life of roads, trails, and sidewalks.
Utility Maintenance
Underneath most city streets are many different public and private utilities. Public utilities include water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer lines. Private utilities include gas, electric, and communications lines. Public Works staff maintain public utilities by flushing hydrants, checking valves, cleaning sewer lines, and repairing manhole structures. If a water main breaks, Public Works staff work diligently to repair the break, typically with the aid of a utility contractor. Public Works staff do not work on private utility lines but do issue right-of-way permits and ensure City infrastructure is restored if damaged. Crews also closely monitor the operation of the water system at wells and water towers to ensure the proper supply of water, as well as the operation of pumps and filters. Public Works utility operators have water operator licenses in order to properly and safely maintain the water system. Additionally, many streets have curb and gutter which convey storm water and melting snow to catch basins and then to stormwater ponds. In areas without curb and gutter, crews maintain ditches and culverts to keep storm water flowing to ponds and other structures.
Parks Maintenance
City parks require considerable attention throughout the year to ensure their use and enjoyment by residents and visitors. The same Public Works staff that maintain roads, maintain the City’s parks. In the spring, crews are busy preparing athletic fields, opening park buildings, and repairing any damage from winter operations or activities. In the summer months, crews mow grass and athletic fields, clean shelters, and complete maintenance projects. In the winter months, time is spent building and maintaining ice rinks, clearing trails and sidewalks, and performing tree trimming around the city. Throughout every season, staff empty trash and recycle containers in parks, maintain bathrooms, and general cleanup that is needed throughout the parks.
Other Roles and Duties
Public Works staff perform many other roles and duties to support the operations of the City and serve its residents. Staff help to maintain public buildings, fix equipment, and support community events. Crews provide valuable insight in identifying problems for large construction projects, and often provide innovative solutions. Public Works staff are critical to a community’s emergency response during a disaster or emergency event and work closely with Fire and Police both during and following an event. Whether going to work, playing outdoors, cooking a meal, or washing laundry, the Public Works Department makes possible the basic activities people enjoy every day.