Director of Public Services Scott Davidson

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Department of Public Services (DPS) is responsible for a wide range of maintenance services throughout the City.  These services include year-round street maintenance, traffic signals and signs, storm sewers and drains, trees and floral displays, parks and grounds, administration and maintenance at Custer Airport, oversight of the refuse collection contract, fleet maintenance, and maintenance of City parking lots.

Additionally, DPS personnel maintain alleys, conduct mosquito control activities, provide support for special events and festivals, install street banners and seasonal decorations, and is the City's enforcement arm for the "Weed" and "Blight" ordinances.

The DPS is prepared seven (7) days a week, twenty-four (24) hours a day to respond to hazardous conditions resulting from weather, accidents, fire, or other unforeseen situations.  DPS Supervisors are "on call" on a rotation basis for this purpose and notified by Monroe County Central Dispatch as necessary.  An answering machine is also available for placing non-emergency service requests after normal working hours (734-241-6800).

Other budgeted funds which include DPS duties and functions are:  Major Street Fund, Local Street Fund, Refuse Fund, Parking Fund, Airport Fund, and Stores and Equipment Fund.

DPS operations is headquartered at 222 Jones Avenue, the former Jones Transfer building.  The Department Director, Construction Supervisor, City Forester, City Electrician/Traffic Signals, Signs and Markings Supervisor, and Fleet Maintenance Supervisor have offices at this location.  DPS field personnel, Crew Leaders, Equipment Operators, Fleet mechanics, and general labor are dispatched from the Jones Avenue location.

The Parks and Playgrounds maintenance staff has an office at the Munson Park maintenance facility and reports to the DPS Director daily.  Parks maintenance field staff; Job Leader, Maintenance Worker II and Maintenance Worker I are based at this location.

The Departmental Receptionist and Stores and Equipment Clerk are responsible for receiving calls made to the DPS relative to service requests, complaints, or simply to provide information.  There are five (5) incoming telephone lines at the Jones Avenue facility for this purpose.  Service requests are recorded and then routed to the appropriate Supervisor for action.

The Department possesses a variety of equipment to accomplish maintenance tasks:  dump trucks, backhoes, front end loaders for construction and snow removal operations; aerial work platforms, log loader, chipper trucks and wood chippers for tree maintenance; grass mowing equipment ranging from tractor mounted decks capable of mowing twenty (20) foot swaths to twenty- (20) inch deck walk behind mowers; street sweepers, for clearing dirt and small debris along curbs, and the Minuteman Powerboss, for cleaning sidewalks in the business district; and combination vacuum, jet rodder, sewer cleaning truck.  Numerous pieces of small equipment are included in the inventory as well, like:  pumps, generators, snow blowers, compressors, string trimmers, and blowers are also available.

The Department also operates a special computer capable of designing and producing signs.  This specialized sign equipment has enabled the Department to produce custom signs for a variety of uses in the City.  The Jones Avenue facility also houses the fleet maintenance garage.  This is a full service facility with lifts, hoists, and sufficient parts inventory capable of keeping City equipment operating in all situations and at all hours.  All vehicle maintenance records are on file in the garage office.  Additionally the Jones Avenue facility is the site where residents, for a nominal charge, may dispose of unwanted items not included as a part of regular refuse collection.