Public Works

Public Works FAQs

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT GENERAL INFORMATION
TELEPHONE: (231) 592-4015

ALL NIGHT WINTER PARKING
In order to permit the city to properly remove all snow and ice from streets during the winter months, no person shall park a vehicle on anystreet in the city from November 15 to and including March 15th, between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Vehicles parked in violation may be ticketed and/or impounded by the Police.

WHAT OUR DEPARTMENT HANDLES:
The Department of Public Works handles streets, parks, water operations, sewer operations, sanitation, snow removal and composting.

Streets - Pothole repair, snow removal, sidewalk repair, street lights, street signs, water mains, sanitary sewer, etc.

Parks - mowing grass, litter removal, flower and tree care.

Water Operations - Getting the water from the plant to your tap. Billing is done by the Treasurer's Office (592-4005).

Sewer Operations - Getting the waste water from your house to the treatment plant.

FALL LEAF PICK UP
Fall leaf pick up will begin approximately the 1st week in November until approximately the last week in November. One city-wide pick up will be done, if we have time, we will attempt a second city-wide pick up. Call 592-4015 to check on second pick up.

Please call the Public Works Office for instructions on how to prepare the leaves.

Prior to, and after, November the leaves will have to be bagged and put out for Republic Services to pick up. LEAVES MAY NOT BE PUT INTO PLASTIC BAGS. Please place leaves in paper bags (30 gallon bags are available at City Hall and other locations around town). Leaves may also be placed into cans clearly marked "compostable material" or placed in cardboard boxes for pick up.

State law prohibits leaves and other compostables from being placed into landfills.

WATER MAIN FLUSHING PROGRAM
The water distribution system should be flushed at least every six months. Using a program that starts at the source and works towards the dead ends contributes to cleaning of the system. The reason water mains are flushed is to remove sedimentation - rust and mineral deposits that have accumulated since the last flushing.

To remove these deposits, a water main should be flushed at a velocity at least six times its normal rate. During this flushing program not all the deposits can be flushed out of the hydrant so during a short period of time a resident can experience rusty or colored water. Normally this condition would only exist for a few hours while the flushing is being completed in your area.

There are several reasons other than flushing that could cause rusty or colored water. This rusty or colored water condition is from using higher than normal velocity in the system. Fire fighting, filling of the street sweeper through the hydrant as well as other hydrant uses could cause this condition to exist. The flushing program is also necessary to check flows for fire fighting and to make repairs as needed on hydrants.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause the user. If you experience rusty or colored water, let the tap run for a few minutes until the water runs clear, do not wash clothes during this period since your clothes may become rusty, do flush the hot water heater to clear out any sedimentation that may have entered the system.

If you have any problems and/or concerns, please contact the water filtration plant at 796-6231.