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Public services leaders ask council for more public-works staff, equipment and repairs in budget presentation
Summary
Public services staff told the council the department's 13 employees manage growing infrastructure with limited staff and requested new positions, vehicles and capital equipment to shift maintenance from reactive to proactive.
Public services leaders on June 24 presented the department's operating needs and capital requests to the City of Orange City council, asking for several new positions, vehicle replacements and equipment purchases to keep pace with the city's growth and aging infrastructure.
Bilal Iftikhar, public services director, opened the presentation by saying public works is "the backbone of the community" and described staffing shortfalls across utilities, parks, engineering and stormwater. Iftikhar said the city now maintains many more miles of roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure while staff numbers have remained roughly the same.
Alan Williamson, public works/stormwater manager, told the council the fleet and field crews are spread thin. He described a single mechanic who shoulders growing workload tied to an increase in vehicles from about 84 to 124 in recent years and said the department is asking to add one mechanic and one maintenance specialist so crews can be divided to cover more of the city. Williamson said the city's mow crew covers 53 acres of retention-pond shoreline and is currently mowing most areas every four to five weeks, with the downtown complex receiving weekly attention.
Staff presented a list of capital requests including a forestry mulcher attachment (to be mounted on an existing skid steer), a replacement public-services director vehicle, fleet and facility maintenance items, a scanner/plotter shared across divisions, and repair or resurfacing work for Harley Strickland Road (a 50/50 split between stormwater and the general fund). The public works share of the City Hall complex parking project was listed as $510,000 (with the community redevelopment agency funding the remainder).
Parks and recreation director Ashley Gay detailed park-related requests including $120,000 for Coleman Park redesign (30% design due soon), replacement bleachers, an AC unit over 20 years old, a replacement sports mower and attachments for shoreline maintenance at Mill Lake. Gay said invasive hydrilla at the lake has required mechanical removal and increased maintenance costs.
Staff emphasized some cost increases reflect rising vendor and utility prices rather than service changes; examples included custodial services up 6 percent and electrical and mechanical/plumbing costs rising due to aging systems. No final budget votes were taken; the presentation was provided so council could consider the requests in the broader budget process.
