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DPW describes fleet needs, fields staffing and jail-diversion work; new fleet director recently hired
Summary
DPW leaders told the finance committee they are addressing fleet replacement needs, described grounds and fields staffing (including artificial-turf maintenance), and said the jail-diversion program is administratively housed in DPW; the city recently hired a fleet director.
DPW Commissioner Jill Lathan and senior DPW operations staff briefed the finance committee June 16 on multiple operations items, including fleet needs, park and field maintenance, and the department's jail-diversion program.
Lathan said fleet replacement remains a multi-year need and that DPW participates in the city's fleet queue along with other departments. Commissioner Lathan said the city is working with central administration on prioritization; DPW will continue to request vehicles through the standard process. Committee members and DPW staff discussed electric and hybrid vehicles as a long-term goal, but Lathan said any fleet upgrades must fit within the city's capital and replacement schedules.
DPW superintendents described near-term projects and staffing. Superintendent Ben Waldrop (grounds) listed irrigation upgrades at Hodgkins and Munsey parks and routine field maintenance; grounds spending is seasonal and many contracts and requisitions were encumbered in late spring. The city's athletic-fields crew consists of three positions (a working foreman and two heavy-equipment operators) and is responsible for turf-field grooming; DPW staff said there is no separate licensure required beyond CDL-class requirements for heavy-equipment operators to operate field maintenance equipment.
On social-service work, DPW operations director Eric Wieseman said the jail-diversion program has historically been administered through department administration because the program supplies staff for grounds, buildings and related tasks across DPW divisions. Commissioner Lathan said the department will continue coordination across divisions and with partner agencies.
Committee members asked about billing, street-sweeping costs and lighting invoices. DPW staff said some large invoices (for street lighting and other contracts) were still being processed and that Pine Ridge-related lighting invoices were under review; staff expect most OM spending to be realized as summer and contract invoices arrive.
On fleet leadership, DPW confirmed the city hired a new fleet director in early June and that the department expects continued work to modernize and support the municipal fleet.
