Dougherty County Public Works outlines 2024 accomplishments: 45 miles resurfaced, 900 miles of mosquito spray and park activity

Public Works Director Chuck Mathis presented the Dougherty County Public Works 2024 annual report to the commission on April 21, describing divisional accomplishments in engineering, drainage, fleet maintenance, road work and parks.

Mathis said the engineering division managed 45 miles of road resurfacing under the LMA 2223 program, reviewed six new construction projects, inspected more than 9,500 linear feet of storm drains for MS4 compliance, completed the phase 3 alley paving improvement project and processed 15 new driveway permits and 45 erosion-and-sediment (E&S) inspections.

The environmental control division reported work on vegetation and mosquito control: staff sprayed and maintained more than 900 miles of roads and completed five rounds of mosquito spraying countywide. The drainage division cleaned out about 20 canals (approximately 12 miles) and hauled about 4,000 tons of waste material, Mathis said.

Fleet maintenance completed more than 2,300 work orders in 2024, made 256 service calls and dispensed roughly 15,758 gallons of diesel and 2,067 gallons of gasoline to county vehicles and equipment. Road maintenance and parks teams handled deep patching, shoulder rebuilding, signage projects and multiple events at county parks.

Mathis highlighted Robert Cross Park, which the report said hosted more than 80 events in 2024, and Radium Springs Gardens, where the parks division ran fishing rodeos and holiday lighting events. Commissioners praised the department’s responsiveness and asked for additional detail on the economics of event-rental operations (fees versus operating/cleanup costs) and for continued coordination with the city on events such as the fishing rodeo.

Commissioners also discussed collaborators and volunteer support, including the Master Gardener program and partnerships with the city for shared events. Mathis and commissioners thanked staff and recognized employee awards in the presentation.

Action: Informational; commissioners requested follow-up on facility rental economics and confirmed continued intergovernmental collaboration on community events.

Why it matters: The Public Works report documents maintenance and capital activity that affect road conditions, stormwater systems, parks and county-owned facilities. Requesting rental-economics information is aimed at ensuring event spaces operate sustainably.

Quote: "Our mission is to provide world-class cost-effective and efficient services to all our customers," Mathis said in the presentation.