Public Works presented an operations update to the council on June 17 outlining projects completed this fiscal year, quarterly inspection activity and volumes of illegal dumping and graffiti removal.

Presenter Joey (Public Works) summarized recent capital and maintenance work: termite fumigation and basketball-court resurfacing at the community center; new poles, backboards and rims at multiple parks; a new parking-lot gate at Chai Valley Park; remodeling of the public-safety reception area; window blind replacements at the senior center; and installation of 38 LED stop signs citywide. He said crews removed 862 sidewalk uplifts ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 inches.

On illegal dumping, Public Works reported 460 illegally dumped items in January–April 2025, with tires, boxed household items and mattresses among the most frequent loads. Staff said the majority of illegal dumping was found in alleyways, entrances to the city and cul-de-sacs. Joey described the department’s process for pickups (materials are taken to the maintenance yard and scheduled for bin collection; Athens handles hauling) and said the city recently trialed “hunting” motion cameras and is budgeting for Wi-Fi/solar cameras to help identify dumpers.

Public Works also gave quarterly street-light and traffic-signal inspection results and a month-to-month comparison of bulky-item pickups, graffiti removals and pothole repairs; crews reported spikes in potholes after recent rains and seasonal declines in bulky-item reports since January.

Ending: Council members praised the crews’ work on parks and public facilities and asked Public Works to continue coordinating with code enforcement and Edison for lighting and pole removals where needed.