State of the City: Ocala’s Public Works Department

Ready and Resilient: City of Ocala Public Works

BY ASHLEY DOBBS

When we hear the words “Public Works,” many instantly think of garbage collection without much thought about the other services provided by this department. While they might be best known for household and yard waste pickup, what they contribute to the City of Ocala provides immeasurable benefits that improve the daily lives of our citizens. Often considered one of the key departments to keep the city running efficiently, there is more to this department than meets the eye.

The city’s Public Works Department consists of 102 full-time employees who contribute to the city’s success every day. These professionals provide a variety of public health and safety services, including street maintenance, sidewalk maintenance, traffic signs and signals, pavement markings and stormwater maintenance. Additional services include sanitation and mosquito control.

When asked what his favorite part of his job is, City of Ocala Public Works Director Darren Park said, “Resolving concerns and helping people. No two days are ever the same!”

Many times, the public is unaware they are utilizing services provided by Public Works. However, it would dramatically impact their lives if the resources didn’t exist.

“Quality of life, convenience and reliability. Every day more than 230,000 motorists drive in and through the city limits. Without realizing it, they benefit from their use of the city’s transportation system (roads, traffic signals, pavement markings and traffic signs) and the city’s stormwater management system (pipes, ditch lines, and drainage retention areas) to travel to and from work, shopping and leisure activities. These systems operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Park said.

It goes without saying that it takes every city department, across the board, to keep our municipality moving forward. A unique example of this includes Public Works and the Ocala Police Department.

“Occasionally we are called upon by OPD to assist in locating weapons used in the commission of a crime by draining water retention areas, checking storm drains, or using heavy equipment to quickly scour undeveloped property,” Park said.

The department is also responsible for essential emergency management services, including storm preparedness and storm disaster recovery operations. With hurricane season quickly approaching, residents are encouraged to begin their preparations now.

“Trim trees, remove dead trees or limbs. Develop a plan for your family whether you travel away from an impending storm or remain in place,” Park said. Many times, staff from this city department will be among the first deployed to assess the damage, clear blocked roadways and begin the recovery process.

During the week of May 15-21, we celebrate National Public Works Week, where the theme focuses on being “Ready and Resilient.”

“Most people don’t realize or think about how Public Works impacts their daily lives until something happens that changes their normal routine,” said Park. “Citizens may not appreciate the services provided by Public Works until something is broken or isn’t working, and that’s when we hear from them.”

National Public Works Week helps challenge the public to view the hard work and services provided not only in Ocala but across the nation.

We are fortunate to live in Ocala and for the staff that consistently serves our citizens. The guiding principle of this city department is to continuously improve and accomplish more with less and the contributions made by Public Works positively impacts our daily lives and keeps our community thriving.

Ashley Dobbs is the Marketing and Communications Manager for the City Of Ocala.