Employee Spotlight–Park Maintenance Team

BY ROBERT WHITELEY

Our employee spotlight feature for this month is the Park Maintenance team! The Park Maintenance Staff is responsible for a number of operations throughout the City’s parks, trails, and cemetery divisions. These responsibilities include but are not limited to, grounds maintenance, snow removal, turf management (irrigation, mowing/trimming, fertilizing/weed control, etc.), facility management (pavilions, restrooms, sports courts, and playgrounds,) trails and parking lots (repairs/treatments, striping, and shoulder maintenance,) and cemetery procedures (open/ closed burials, grounds maintenance). There are 10 team members that range in age from 22-40.

Thank you, guys, for all you do for the City of Syracuse!

Although there has been much snow in the mountains this last winter, one thing hasn’t changed, we still live in a desert. Water is a precious resource that is necessary for basic human survival and must not be wasted. Overwatering outdoor landscapes limits the water needed for human consumption. All water used for indoor and outdoor purposes comes from the same watershed. Since the water cycle is unpredictable, planning for water use in the next year or two is essential. You can help by practicing water conservation. Outdoor landscapes typically need three waterings each week. You may choose which three days each week, but never on Sunday or the blackout day in your area. Enforcement will be in operation with fines issued to violators. Let’s work together to conserve water, even in times of plenty.

Be sure to discharge the water outside your home so it drains into the yard and flows away from the house. It is prohibited to have a sump pump connected to the sewer. The preferred method is to discharge your sump pump to a bubbler in the park strip so that any excess water flows will end up in the storm drain.

We want you to work with us! Syracuse City has a variety of openings for seasonal, part-time, and full-time employees available throughout the year. Enjoy a positive and supportive environment, competitive pay based on skills and experience, and an excellent benefits package for full-time staff.

“What makes Syracuse a great place to work? Syracuse has a great work culture, and my coworkers are awesome. I have worked for Syracuse for twelve years and the job is fun and challenging. This job has a great work-life balance that allows me to have a life outside of work. I really enjoy what I do!”

– Current Employee

• Water Maintenance Worker

• Museum Curator

• Police Officer

Additional positions will be posted on our website in July. Sign up for new employment opportunity alerts, view job openings, and submit your application today!

When mowing or applying granular fertilizer, be sure your grass clippings or fertilizer do not end up in the street, sidewalk, or driveway where they can be blown or washed into storm drains. Sweep up or blow the excess clippings or fertilizer and discard or place them back in the grass. If you hire a lawn care company, make sure they leave a clean and well-groomed environment. Grass clippings are high in phosphorus and fertilizer has nitrogen which are major pollutants in our waterbodies. If there are grass clippings or fertilizer in the curb, gutter, or on the streets, you may find yourself with a fine.

A common culprit of sewer backups, flushable wipes do not break down as toilet paper does and hang up on any irregularity in the pipe flow. When just one wipe gets hung up in the flow, many more will follow, creating a blockage in no time. Discard wipes in the trash to avoid backups in your sewer.

Lots of fun programs to join!