Public Works Department – Overview and Core Businesses
The Public Works Department is responsible for the design, construction and standards of Town roads, storm sewers, storm water management, streetlights, sidewalks, paths, parks, trails, sports fields, and development design standards and assurance. The department is responsible for the effective and efficient management of infrastructure planning, engineering design, development engineering review and construction, and the Town’s capital infrastructure projects.
Public Works is responsible for road maintenance repairs in accordance with Town and/or District of Muskoka policies and to the minimum maintenance standards set by the province on 320 km of Town roadways and 100 km of District roads. Staff address concerns regarding potholes, streetlights, tree maintenance, gravel shoulders and erosion repairs, drainage ditches, storm sewers, catch basins, gravel road grading, sidewalks, parking lots and winter control.
Staff completes the maintenance of parks, trails and sports fields.· Other responsibilities include equipment maintenance and the Earth Day and Litter Clean Up events.
Public Works Administration
Provides administrative and engineering support for ongoing operations, the management and design of construction projects, the review of subdivision and other development projects.
Fleet and Shop Operations
The Public Works Department has a large fleet for the operation and maintenance of the Town’s assets. This function is 100 % recoverable by a series of charges internal and external charges to operating and construction budgets based on actual hours of work devoted to each activity.
Construction Program
The Public Works Department endeavours to utilize new technologies whenever suitable in rehabilitation and construction projects, such as recycling of existing materials in the roadways, the use of modern synthetic materials, etc.· The Town implements lifecycle planning to manage our infrastructure and to optimize service by considering timely interventions, from preventative maintenance, to restorative work and finally reconstruction or de-commissioning.· Primary assets including roads, parks, trails, and bridges are all assessed for need, and based on a priority rating system that provides Town Council the information they require to make decisions for funding projects.
Snow Ploughing, Sanding and Salting
The ploughing of roads is generally carried out in accordance with the classification of roads. Arterial roads such as Manitoba Street and Entrance Drive receive preferred services at all times. These roads are major carriers of traffic and generally connect with other major Regional and/or Provincial roads.· Collector roads provide access to arterial roads.· The sanding and salting of roads are carried out to maintain roads safe and passable. Road salting operations are carried out on arterial roads and collector roads.
On-going programs and services of the Public Works Department include:
- Parks Maintenance;
- Maintenance of 8 Landings & Wharfs;
- Maintenance of over 70 Km of Recreation Trails;
- Sidewalk Maintenance;
- Parking lot Maintenance;
- Sign Maintenance and Installation;
- Bridge Maintenance;
- Roadside Grass Mowing;
- Brushing and Tree Trimming;
- Ditching and Culvert Maintenance;
- Urban Drain Maintenance;
- Pavement Patching;
- Street Flushing and Sweeping;
- Shoulder Maintenance/Gravel Patching;
- Gravel Road Grading;
- Dust Control;
- Gravel Road Resurfacing;
- Chip Coat Maintenance; and
- Safety Device Maintenance and Installation.