Director of Public Services Patrick Lewis

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Department of Public Services (DPS) is a division of the Department of Engineering and Public Services, and is responsible for a  wide range of 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 and lawn maintenance contracts, fleet maintenance, and maintenance of City parking lots.

Additionaly DPS forces maintain City alleys, conduct mosquito control activities when funding allows, 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 when corrective action is undertaken.

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 Police Dispatch as necessary.  A voice mail system is also available for placing non-emergency service requests after normal working hours (734-241-6800). DPS is highly involved in addressing service requests through the Action Line system on the City's web site, and regularly responds to all concerns raised through this system.

Other budgeted funds that include DPS duties and functions are the Major Street Fund, Local Street Fund, Refuse Fund, Parking Fund, and Stores and Equipment Fund.

DPS work crews are based at 222 Jones Avenue, the former Jones Transfer building, where the Department Superintendent, Electrical / Parks Supervisor, and Forestry / Motor Pool Supervisor have offices. Two (2) certified mechanics operate a full-service fleet maintenance facility at this location including lifts, hoists, and sufficient parts inventory capable of keeeping City equipment and emergency vehicles operating in all situations and at all hours.  Thirteen (13) job leaders, equipment operators, and maintenance workers representing all DPS work groups are also dispatched from this location daily. The DPS customer service office is locatedd on the first floor of City Hall at 120 East First Street, where the DPS and Engineering Departmentaal Aides are assigned to assist customers in both departments as needed.

The Department possesses a variety of equipment to accomplish maintenance tasks, including dump trucks, a backhoe, and front end loaders for cunstruction and snow removal operations; aerial work platforms, a log loader, chipper trucks and wood chippers for tree maintenance; street sweepers for clearing dirt and small debris along curbs; and combination vacuum, jet rodder, sewer cleaning truck for storm sewer and catch basin maintenance. Numerous pieces of small equipment such as pumps, generators, snow blowers, compressors, push mowers, string trimmers, and blowers are also available. The Department also possesses and operates a computer capable of designing and producing signs, and this enabled the Department to produce custom signs for a variety of uses in the City.