Shining the light on public works Shining the light on public works

Sarah Wright | Editor

yourself a drink from the tap? Public works again. Flushing the toilet? Public works. The everyday basics of life are all possible through the efforts of public works employees.

Of all my local town’s departments, I have interacted with the public works department the most as a resident. Whether the department is installing a new smart water meter in my home, helping clear a sewer line connection or even keeping an eye open for a wayward dog, my experiences have been positive. In a neighboring town, the public works superintendent even kindly freed my Beetle from a snowdrift with his truck after a sizeable snowstorm talk about service!

Thanks to my role with The Municipal and having covered a few town council meetings in the past, I’ve grown to really appreciate public works employees and all they do. They truly impact every facet of our lives. Driving to work? Thank a public works employee for the road and its maintenance. Pouring

While things run smoothly, the average person doesn’t think much about the nuts and bolts that hold their routine together. It isn’t usually until something goes wrong that they even consider the behind-the-scenes aspects of their city.

To increase public awareness, APWA’s Public Works Week shines a light on how integral public works operations are during a week in May. It’s also a chance to highlight the varied nature of public works for those seeking a new profession. Each year, public works departments and municipalities around the U.S. and the world embrace the week. Those who followed #publicworksweek were treated to spotlights of public works employees, recent or ongoing projects and so much more. Posts featured photos and some rather clever videos.

In this issue, we are also highlighting some of the cool things public works departments are doing. Included in the mix is Suffolk, Va., which is giving its residents hands-on experience with its Public Works Citizens’ Academy. Not only has it increased awareness of public works, it has allowed the department to be more transparent with the public, really showing what they do and why. Julie Young shares how this program is run and how it has been received.

Writer Denise Fedorow, meanwhile, covers two cities planning ahead for their futures. The first is West Hartford, Conn., which recently purchased property to open an array of possibilities for its public works operations. Then further inland, Kyle, Texas, is planning to use reclaimed water to better navigate times of drought.

The Municipal will also share about San Luis Obispo, Calif.’s, recovery efforts following an early 2023 storm; Cambridge, Mass.’s, partnerships that bring poetry to the city’s sidewalks; and Norman, Okla.’s, strategy to keep its APWA accreditation since 2010.

As always, we hope you will find inspiration from your fellow municipalities and public works departments. We definitely have a lot of exciting projects and programs happening in the U.S.

Here’s wishing everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Premium For The Masses

The all-new non-CDL Vac•Con Titan comes in a 3-yard configuration that provides the quality and performance expected from our premium Titan line of products — in a unit ANYONE can use.

Weighing in under 26,000 GVWR, the non-CDL Titan is an ideal option for smaller organizations and those who need to be able to jump in the truck and go — no CDL required.