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Public Works details water, wastewater and street operations; highlights centrifuge and Big Creek Dam work
Summary
Public Works Director Robert Mosier and wastewater chief DJ Fox briefed council on operations, citing hydrant flushing, 7.9 million gallons of water storage (about two days' supply at normal demand), wastewater treatment volumes, a repaired centrifuge spare, and the Big Creek Dam as a major city project.
Public Works Director Robert Mosier and wastewater operations head DJ Fox presented an overview of the city’s public-works operations at Newport’s March work session, detailing water distribution, wastewater processing, streets and stormwater duties, staffing levels and equipment needs.
Mosier said public works is responsible for roads, water, wastewater, facilities and the storm system and described recent equipment additions and ongoing maintenance programs. "The mission statement for public works is to provide exceptional public works services and enhance the quality of life," Mosier said. He noted the department uses vacuum-excavation trucks for repairs and that crews perform hydrant flushing across the system.
The department reported key asset quantities: about 90 miles of water main, 2,661 valves, 651 hydrants and approximately 7,900,000 gallons of stored water across five tanks. Mosier told council that with full tanks, the city has roughly two days of storage under non-crisis summer conditions before additional storage actions would be needed.
DJ Fox explained wastewater treatment and byproducts processing. She described the plant’s role in receiving septage, dewatering sludge and producing Class A biosolids that are distributed to farms for use as fertilizer. "So, it's 100% completely made reusable," Fox said. The council was given monthly and annual treatment figures: the plant treated roughly 35 million gallons over the previous six months (rounded in presentation) and an average monthly flow figure and a 2024 annual production figure were cited on the slides.
Fox and Mosier addressed operational improvements and equipment risk. The council was told the treatment plant operates two centrifuges; one has required ongoing repair while a previously identified spare has been refurbished and is ready to be swapped in if needed. That spare was described as a critical contingency to reduce operational risk.
Public works staff also outlined maintenance responsibilities for storm drains and streets. The department reported having 3.7 miles of arterial roads, 18.5 miles of collector roads and 30.1 miles of residential streets, plus 32 miles of storm sewer pipe and approximately 1,498 storm system manholes. Facilities maintenance covers 30 city facilities totaling about 275,532 square feet and is primarily handled by two in-house staff with some larger tasks contracted out.
On finances, staff reminded the council that water and wastewater operations are funded through enterprise funds rather than the general fund and that rates — which had not been raised for a number of years — were adjusted recently but will continue to be considered as the city addresses deferred infrastructure needs.
Mosier outlined an optional budget-committee facilities tour scheduled for April 14 that will include the wastewater treatment plant. Council members asked about staffing, capital needs such as the XR filtration system at the water plant and the centrifuge project; staff said the XR installation (rack 1) and other upgrades are completed or progressing and that recruitment is ongoing for key operator positions.
The presentation closed with council praise for staff morale and operations and an acknowledgement that public works crews handle a broad range of duties beyond pothole repairs, including stormwater, tree work in right-of-way and emergency on-call responsibilities.
