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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT <br /> <br />Department Overview <br />The Public Works Department provides necessary services to residents, businesses, and visitors by providing <br />well-planned, cost-effective support that promotes public health, personal safety, and economic vitality in a <br />manner that preserves the City’s infrastructure for future generations. <br /> <br />Service Areas <br /> Streets  Storm Water  Garage / Fleet <br /> Public Works Administration  Street Lights  Water (Enterprise Fund) <br /> Snow Removal  Signs  Sewer (Enterprise Fund) <br /> Grading Permits <br /> <br />2023/2024 Departmental Accomplishments <br /> Swept all streets at least twice <br /> Performed pothole patching, and drop & spread asphalt repairs <br /> Performed snow and ice control during the 2023/2024 winter season <br /> Exercised all gate valves and fire hydrants in the city and performed maintenance on all valves and <br />hydrants that required it <br /> Flushed end manholes and televised/jetted over two-thirds of the sanitary sewer system <br /> Replaced street signs that had reached the end of their life <br /> Inspected and maintained storm water structures and ponds <br /> <br />2025 Departmental Goals <br /> Sweep entire City at least three times with an emphasis on Spring and Fall sweeps <br /> Evaluate all City streets and patch and crack fill as necessary <br /> Perform plowing and de-icing of streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and trails in a safe, timely, and cost- <br />effective manner <br /> Inspect ten storm water ponds, all sump structures, 20 rain gardens, and 50 catch basins as part of the <br />Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program <br /> Replace selected large water meters and continue migrating to cellular meter reading system <br /> <br />Budgetary Commentary <br />Streets – Overall, there is an increase of 0.16% or $629 in the streets department. Personnel cost is an increase <br />of 6.61% or $13,289. This increase relates primarily to a 3% COLA adjustment and a 3.25% step increase for <br />eligible employees. This increase was offset by a decrease of 18.22% or $14,215 in contractual services. There <br />were two main categories that have been reduced. The first one relates to work crews for special projects. This <br />work crew is facilitated by the State of Minnesota Department of Corrections. The current budget reduction of <br />$7,500 is more in line with historical actual trends. The second category relates to staff training. This budget has <br />been reduced by $7,350, since for 2025 the city anticipates no CDL school for any of the staff. <br /> <br />Storm – Beginning with 2024 this budget has been accounted for in the newly established stormwater utility <br />fund 603. <br /> <br />Garage – The proposed budget is an increase of 6.8% or $3,540. The increase relates primarily to a $3,000 <br />increase for repairs & maintenance. The current budget for repairs and maintenance of $11,000 reflects a five- <br />year average of $10,911. The budget is for things like garage doors repairs and HVAC system repairs. The largest <br />expenditure in the department relates to electric & gas utilities, which remained flat at $33,000. <br /> <br />65