Engineering and Public Works Department

The responsibilities of the Engineering and Public Works Department include the following:

a)City-wide vehicle maintenance.
b)Water production and distribution.
c)Storm and sanitary sewer maintenance.
d)Street, sidewalk and alley maintenance, including snow and ice control.
e)Design and inspection of City construction projects.
f)Development and maintenance of the City’s GIS system.
g)Mowing and trimming of public areas.
h)Refuse collection, brush and branch collection, and recycling.
i)Traffic signal and street sign maintenance.

The Department currently employs 34 full-time personnel. The Department also hires several seasonal employees during the summer months and during the fall leaf collection season. The current personnel level is considered adequate. The Department does not intend to add full time personnel in the near future.

The Department currently operates a variety of vehicles and equipment, including several dump trucks, hook trucks, pick-up trucks and other vehicles, mowers, tractors, sewer cleaners, excavators, backhoes, loaders, fork lifts, etc. The equipment level is considered adequate, and there are no plans to add new equipment in the near future. However, the Department will continue its normal schedule of equipment maintenance and replacement.

The Department operates several different sites in Oakwood, including the Public Works Center at 210 Shafor Boulevard; the water softening plant at 120 Springhouse Road; a water tower and booster located in Fairridge Park; and the Shroyer Road water booster. In general, all sites and facilities are in good condition and should adequately serve the community for the next 15 to 20 years or more. The primary facility, the Public Works Center, was completely rebuilt and opened in the spring of 2000.

The Department is considering the need for a pole barn storage building at the Firwood Well Field to allow for the storage of equipment, building materials, and supplies. The Department is also considering the need for a refuse transfer facility to handle brush and branch material, recyclables and other waste debris.

Public Utilities

Existing public utilities that serve the City of Oakwood include: a) the water system, b) sanitary sewer system, c) storm drainage system, and d) fiber optic communications system.

Because most of Oakwood was developed many years ago, the City’s infrastructure system will need to be upgraded and improved on a regular basis, particularly the water mains, sewer lines and local streets. The City has an aggressive program for upgrading the public infrastructure as required, and this should be further promoted in the Plan.

Water System

The City of Oakwood has owned and operated a municipal water system for over 50 years. The system serves the entire community of 9,215 residents or approximately 3,600 customers. The average daily water demand in 2003 was 1.40 million gallons.