The mayor of Montgomery reported Wednesday that city public-works and sanitation crews have repaired 2,828 potholes so far this year and resurfaced 5.2 miles of roadways, part of a broader push to maintain streets, sidewalks and public rights of way.

Why it matters: Those repairs and maintenance efforts affect everyday safety and mobility for residents across the city and are part of the administration’s stated goal to “grow smarter” and improve livability.

The mayor told residents crews have fixed 3,490 feet of sidewalk and that the city’s mosquito-spraying program has covered “nearly 150 square miles” since launching in April. He added that sanitation teams have collected “almost 20 tons of roadside litter,” an amount he noted equals about 40,000 pounds.

The administration is also inviting private landscaping firms to bid on contracts to clear neglected and overgrown properties. Details, the mayor said, are available at montgomeryal.gov.

On staffing and compensation, the mayor said the city led an initiative to increase sanitation wages “for the first time in well over 15 years,” calling the increase a lump sum raise of “about 19%.” He said the city has supplied moisture-wicking uniforms and emphasized heat-safety measures for outdoor crews.

The mayor asked for resident patience during extreme summer weather and holiday schedules, saying crews sometimes fall behind on grass cutting and curbside pickups. He also credited civic organizations, churches and neighborhood groups for helping identify cleanup needs.

Asked about equipment, the mayor said the city works to repair malfunctioning trucks quickly and, when necessary, send them off-site for fixes.

The mayor closed the infrastructure portion of the address by urging continued community support and awareness of the city’s daily maintenance work.

Looking ahead, the administration said it is finalizing a comprehensive rewrite of the city’s zoning and ordinances after more than two years of work; that rewrite was discussed separately in the address.