City Observes National Public Works Week, May 16-20
The City of Valdosta will observe National Public Works Week, on May 16-20, with a variety of activities that will highlight the services provided by the staff of the city's Public Works Department.
The national observance, sponsored by the American Public Works Association (APWA), was instituted in 1960. This year's theme is "Public Works Always There," which showcases how communities depend on the extensiveness of Public Works services and the men and women of the profession who are always there and always ready.
The Valdosta Public Works Department is responsible for the daily operation of residential and commercial sanitation services, right-of-way street maintenance, facilities maintenance, repair of city vehicles and equipment, and street sweeping in residential areas as well as designated state routes. Department staff also collects and properly disposes of recycling, bulk items and yard trash for city customers. For the protection of citizens, the Public Works Department also provides a mosquito spraying and larvacide program. In addition, the Mathis Auditorium and Sunset Hill Cemetery are owned and managed by the Public Works Department.
Citizens are invited to participate in a variety of events that have been planned for National Public Works Week:
Monday, May 16 | Proclamation
Mayor John Gayle will kick off the National Public Works Week observance at 1 p.m. by presenting a proclamation to the Public Works staff, at 1017 Myrtle Street.
Tuesday, May 17 | Recycling 101
Media and citizens who are interested in how recyclables are collected, sorted and disseminated are invited to the city's recycling compound, located at 1017 Myrtle Street, at 10:30 a.m. Guests will observe the work of the men and women of the Lowndes Advocacy & Resources Center (LARC) at work at the facility.
Wednesday, May 18 | Public Works Employee Appreciation Luncheon
City of Valdosta Public Works Department employees will be treated to an Employee Appreciation Luncheon, at Mathis Auditorium, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The guest speaker for the event is City Engineer Patrick Collins. The lunch is sponsored by a local waste equipment company.
Thursday, May 19 | Adopt-A-Street Campaign
Individuals, families, organizations, businesses, etc., are encouraged to sign up to adopt a city street to prevent local litter and to keep our city beautiful. Information provided by the Public Works Department and Keep Lowndes Valdosta Beautiful (KLVB) will be available at the 1017 Myrtle Street facility, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 19.
Friday, May 20 | Touch-A-Truck
Students from Valdosta State University's ENACTUS After-School Program will be captivated by the big city trucks used by Public Works and other departments of the city. The Touch-A-Truck event will take place on the Public Works facility grounds, at 1017 Myrtle Street, from 3-5 p.m.
To register an organization to participate in the Touch-A-Truck activity or to request additional information about National Public Works Week in Valdosta, please contact the Public Works Department at 229-259-3597.