ABOUT
The Public Works Department is responsible for streets, sidewalks, parkway trees, water, sanitary and storm sewers in the Village. Additionally, the department provides vehicle maintenance and fuel facilities. The Department is divided into three operating divisions: Streets, Utility, and Vehicle Maintenance. The Public Works Department is located at 1151 Kilbourne Road. Normal work hours for the Public Works Department are Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Public Works Street Division
The Public Works Street Division is very versatile in its day-to-day operations using its 16 employees to their fullest potential. The Street Division is responsible for the maintenance and installation of the Village streets, sidewalks, curb, storm sewer, street lighting, signage, parkway trees, mowing of right-of-ways and detention ponds and other properties, and most important in the wintertime, snow removal and ice control of over 210 lane miles of road.
The Village is divided into 26 plow routes. Of these routes there are 12 main line routes. The trucks that plow the “collector” or main line streets are plowed by the larger trucks that are unable to maneuver as easily as the smaller trucks. The smaller trucks are used to plow the “secondary” or neighborhood type streets along with the dead ends and cul-de-sacs. During the winter the Street Division is assisted by the Utility and Vehicle Maintenance Division to help perform this task. Public Works tries to keep a time frame of 6 hours after a 4” snowfall to have all Village roads plowed and ice-free.
Utility Division
The Utility Division is responsible for operating and maintaining the Village's water distribution and pumping system. The Village purchases lake water from Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency. The water distribution system is managed by Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA). Water meters are read, installed, and serviced by the division. Reading information is passed on to the Village's Finance Department for billing.
The division is also responsible for operating and maintaining the Village's sanitary sewage system. The system includes mains, structures, and six lift stations. Sanitary sewage treatment is provided by North Shore Sanitary District at its Gurnee Treatment facility.
Vehicle Maintenance Division
The Vehicle Maintenance Division is manned by 3 full time mechanics that are responsible for over a 130 vehicles and pieces of equipment that are in the Public Works, Police, Building, Engineering and Administration Departments. Any work performed is back charged to the respective Department to offset the operating costs of this procedure. Vehicle Maintenance has a service truck that is used to respond to Village equipment keeping them operating sooner to perform their functions longer and with less delay.
Staff / Employees
The department is headed by the Director of Public Works and has 33 employees, including Street and Utility Superintendents, a Department Secretary, and Maintenance positions.
Water Control Room
At this location is the water control room. This system makes sure the water tower and storage levels are at the correct pressure positions.
Click the photos for a larger view
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Pump station control and monitoring
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Water system control and monitoring
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Gurnee water pumping station
