Eye on Buckeye | September 2023 | Public Works

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Buckeye

Buckeye’s New Public Works Director

Buckeye welcomes Bret Hodne as the city’s new Public Works Director, starting this month.

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the official publication of the city of Buckeye September 2023 CITY OF BUCKEYE 530 E. Monroe Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326 623.349.6000

Fleet Management – Keeping Buckeye Rolling Facilities Operations – Keeping the Lights On Environmental Services - More than Trash and Recycling Streets Division –Paving the Way

Hodne brings a wide range of experience with more than 30 years across the public sector, gaining in-depth knowledge in public administration, utility operations, citizen engagement and fiscal management.

His career with West Des Moines dates back to 1989, when he started as an equipment operator. In 2008, Hodne accepted the role as the Director of Public Works for West Des Moines, building on his prior involvement in the department.

For more information on this publication, contact John O’Halloran at johalloran@buckeyeaz.gov or call 623.349.6976

BUCKEYE CITY COUNCIL

Eric Orsborn, Mayor

Michelle Hess, Vice Mayor, District 3

Tony Youngker, District 1

Jeanine Guy, District 2

Patrick HagEstad, District 4

Craig Heustis, District 5

“My time in West Des Moines provided me with the proper leadership and communication skills needed to face the challenges associated with a rapidly growing city.”

Hodne holds both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Public Administration and has an array of leadership roles and awards from the National and State chapters of the American Public Works Association.

“I’m excited to lead Buckeye’s Public Works Department,” Hodne stated.

The Public Works Department is one of the biggest and busiest departments in the city with more than 65 employees. With five different divisions, Public Works works for you day and night to make sure your city is running smoothly, efficiently and staying clean. Administration, Environmental Services, Facilities Operations, Fleet Management and Street Operations are just a few of the things your Public Works Department manages and maintains every day.

Fleet Management –Keeping Buckeye Rolling

Buckeye’s Fleet Management is nationally recognized for its work providing effective management, maintenance and repair services to the city’s diverse range of equipment from tractors to fire engines. With a focus on reducing costs while optimizing departmental operations, Fleet Management is committed to achieving peak efficiency.

Fleet Management maintains over 600 pieces of equipment that collectively travel more than 3.5 million miles annually. Their proactive approach emphasizes preventive maintenance, yet they still handle vehicle and equipment breakdowns as they arise.

Fleet Management’s remarkable achievements and qualifications include:

• ASE Blue Seal Certification

• A Technician to equipment ratio of 1:133

• Fleet Management has been recognized as a top 100 Best Fleets by Government Fleet Magazine and NAFA for the past 14 years

• Making significant strides in environmental conservation, avoiding 2,095 kg of greenhouse gas emissions since implementing electric vehicles in 2016

• Fleet Management also maintains the city’s five fuel sites

• Since 2018, we have used 398,617.80 gallons of diesel and 1,335,762 gallons of unleaded fuel

• By internalizing the purchase of fuel since 2018, we have a total return of investment (ROI) of $329,532.16

Facilities Operations –Keeping the Lights On

acilities Operations is another integral component of the Public Works Department, with a dozen employees entrusted with maintaining nearly 500,000 square feet of city-owned office space spread across a dozen properties, from the Airport to the Aquatic Center. This hardworking crew ensures that all facilities are in optimal condition, providing a comfortable environment for both staff and residents. To curb outsourcing costs, Facilities Operations also takes charge of small in-house construction projects. Their ongoing projects and accomplishments underscore their commitment to continuous improvement and resource efficiency:

• Upgrading to LED lighting in city buildings for energy efficiency and sustainability

• Cared for over 350 trees and thousands of shrubs throughout the city

• Replaced close to $750,000 of outdated AC units across city facilities

• Replaced pool heater gas line from propane to natural gas

• Completed ADA improvements at Airport and Museum

• Remodeled the Airport Lounge

• Painted eight city facilities

• Replaced carpet and paint at City Hall

Streets Division –Paving the Way

rom the pavement to the signals and signs, the Streets Division manages nearly 600 center line miles of roadway throughout Buckeye. With five different crews on this massive job the goal is to make sure Buckeye’s roadways are well maintained, well planned and most importantly safe for our residents. Over the last year, the Streets Division crews have done some serious work to meet their goals.

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Street Maintenance Services:

1,744 Filled pavement cracks

2,644

Tons of hot mixed material

Right of Way Services:

1,367

4,327 Repaired potholes Pounds of cold patch material

Removed and replaced

74 locations of lifted sidewalk

Grinded down

1,645 lifted sidewaks (trip hazards)

• Provided maintenance to more than 86 miles of shoulders and 11 miles of dirt roads

Bladed

537 miles of shoulder work

• Applied nearly 15,000 gallons of herbicide for weed abatement along alleys, road shoulders, medians, water retention basins and culverts

• Cleared 15 openings of under-the-road culvert crossings

Signs and Markings Services:

867 Repaired and replaced signs

Fabricated

602 signs

Repainted

1,298 linear feet of short-line markings

Street Sweeping Services:

• On track to clean more than 10,000 curb miles of roadway annually

17,400

Maintained more than linear feet of road striping

453,832 road markings

707 signs

Traffic Signals and Street Light Services:

• Managed and maintained 31 traffic signals and 9,800 street lights

• Installed five new traffic signals

• Changed over 400 high-pressure sodium streetlights to LED for energy reduction

• Inspected the installation of 4,400 linear feet of new fiber optic cable

• Accomplished 20 traffic counts at key intersections

• Installed two new audible pedestrian push buttons at a signalized intersection

• Added 13,500 additional curb miles to the street sweeping schedule

• Awarded grant to purchase a new street sweeper with the ability to add more miles this year

Environmental ServicesMore than Trash and Recycling

The Environmental Services Division is dedicated to providing high-quality services to the community while upholding environmental standards and fostering sustainable practices. The team plays a crucial role overseeing a wide range of responsibilities designed to help keep Buckeye clean, including:

• Solid Waste services over 36,000 homes – in conjunction with Republic Services we provide trash and recycling collection, education and environmental clean up

• Quarterly bulk trash pickup – Get your schedule and find out more at buckeyeaz.gov/bulktrash

• Household Hazardous Waste disposal – Schedule a drop-off of your household hazardous waste at the Public Works facility, located at 23454 W. MC 85. Visit buckeyeaz.gov/HHW to schedule your drop-off.

• Materials accepted: Residential batteries, pool chemicals, paints, stains, oils, cleaners, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and fluorescent bulbs

• Materials not accepted: Commercial waste (business generated waste), large quantities of any item, explosives, ammunition, medical waste, needles and tires

• Facilitate the operation of the Southwest Regional Landfill

• Stormwater Quality – Environmental Services works to control excess runoff and manages Buckeye’s stormwater system which reduces flooding and protects the environment

• Air Quality – During high pollution days, Buckeye activates its Travel Reduction Plan as part of our commitment to cleaner air

Reminder:

No solid waste pickup on New Years, Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Service moves to the next day.

Let’s Talk Trash and Recycling Too

F or your family’s safety and the safety of our drivers, it’s important all Buckeye residents follow these tips to ensure your trash and recycling service is not disrupted.

CAN PLACEMENT

STREET COLLECTION

• Remember to place your trash and recycling carts in front of your house, on the street, the night before your collection day

• Place the carts with the wheels next to the curb or the edge of the street

ALLEY COLLECTION

• If you have an alley, please place the cart on collection pad

• You may share a pad with your neighbors

• Container lids should open to the alley

IN-GROUND CANS

• Let authorized staff pull and return the cans

• Residents maintain the containers and structures

• Bag placement is not applicable to Sun City Festival

Remember to follow your HOA rules and remove the cans from the street no later than 11 p.m.

Administration –Supporting the Mission

Provides overall direction, management, support and administrative services for the Public Works Department. This division ensures quality and consistent customer service for each of the department’s programs.

Over the last year Administration:

• Executed a comprehensive plan for the incorporation of solar energy systems across multiple city facilities

• Established four new Streetlight Improvement Districts (SLIDs) and four new Maintenance Improvement Districts (MIDs)

• Expanded eight SLIDs and two MIDs

• Executed comprehensive budgets totaling nearly $42.5 million

• Finalized the American Public Works Association (APWA) Accreditation. This was a collaborative effort between Water Resources, Engineering, Development Services and Procurement

Hey Buckeye! Keep an eye out for the General Obligation Bond during the 2024 General Election in November. Bonds are used to fund critical projects like public safety facilities, roadways, libraries and parks.

buckeyeaz.gov/buckeyebond

530 E. Monroe Ave. Buckeye, AZ 85326

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