The public works department is a multifaceted, ever-evolving municipal department that few fully understand. It is responsible for the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of a city’s infrastructure, including its roads, transportation system, bridges, water, waste disposal, pest control, etc. … Continue reading →
Shawn O’Leary, Norman, Okla., director of public works, joined the team in 2007 and his primary goal was improvement of his department. “I was looking for a tool to help me fix that,” he explained. He had been watching the … Continue reading →
When an opportunity arises, it’s best to take advantage of it while you can, and that is especially true with municipalities planning for the future. The city of West Hartford, Conn., had such an opportunity and could take advantage of … Continue reading →
Sometimes, even Mother Nature needs a helping hand, which is why the city of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, embarked on a $40,000 project to rehabilitate Jo Allyn Lowe Park. “We have been planning this project for a while now,” said Micah … Continue reading →
An innovative internship program is working to address gaps in the city of Moline, Ill.’s, public works workforce, and it could serve as a model for other cities looking to address similar issues. Students will soon get real-world experience through … Continue reading →
You may have heard that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was working on ways to test wastewater for the presence of COVID-19 — the respiratory pandemic that’s gripped the world over the last two years. Several Vermont towns took part … Continue reading →
A Colorado community’s innovative team approach to snow response could offer an idea for other communities seeking to improve efficiency while recruiting and retaining employees in a tight labor market. The combined city and county government of Broomfield, Colo., provides … Continue reading →
Remember playing in the woods and coming across a little pool? It seemed almost magical, because they came and went. The cool, flower-child thing to do if you found a stream or any other small body of water was to … Continue reading →
After years of steady growth, the city of Greeley, Colo., decided to place matters of its public works department’s development into someone else’s hands. In May 2020, the Greeley Public Works Department finished its first-ever external analysis, following the human … Continue reading →
The city administration of Denison, Iowa, found itself in a bit of a dilemma last year when two key employees of the public works department decided to retire within a short time of each other. The announcements got City Manager … Continue reading →
When it comes to water, rainfall and snowfall can seem like a feast or famine commodity. Right now, it’s definitely famine in the western United States. In March 2021, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned that nearly half the … Continue reading →
