Latest news with #AmericanPublicWorksAssociation
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Lakeshore wraps up Public Works Week with appreciation for essential staff
The Municipality of Lakeshore joined communities across North America in marking National Public Works Week from May 18 to 24, 2025, recognizing the vital contributions of staff who maintain local infrastructure and services. This year's theme, 'People, Purpose, Presence,' underscored the cornerstone ideals that motivate public works professionals to serve their communities every day. Meeting the needs of people gives public works its sense of purpose. Often, these professionals never meet those whose lives are improved by their work—because when things go right, few even notice public works is there. Yet, with or without fanfare, they remain ever-present, working in the background to enhance quality of life for all. In Lakeshore, the Public Works Division is responsible for maintaining over 500 kilometres of roads and 100 bridges, along with storm sewers, streetlights, sidewalks, signs, culverts and other safety infrastructure. 'Public Works Week was a time to honour the individuals who ensure our community's infrastructure and services run smoothly,' said Mayor Tracey Bailey. 'Their commitment to excellence keeps Lakeshore safe and connected every day.' The division includes 16 full-time employees, supported by seasonal staff, who often work around the clock—especially during snow events or emergencies. Their work was spotlighted throughout the week on the municipality's social media platforms, offering residents a look behind the scenes. With roadwork and spring construction underway, the week also served as a reminder to motorists to drive cautiously in active work zones. 'The safety of our team members is the highest priority, and we appreciate everyone's cooperation in ensuring our staff get home safely every day,' said Jeff Wilson, Division Leader – Public Works. Residents also expressed their appreciation for the often-unseen work that keeps the municipality running. 'I think we take a lot of it for granted,' said Belle River resident Linda Marcotte. 'When the roads are cleared after a snowstorm or a sidewalk is repaired, we don't always realize how much goes into it. Public works staff really are the backbone of our towns.' National Public Works Week is an initiative of the American Public Works Association. Since 1962, the week has honoured the often-unsung heroes who keep essential services running year-round.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Watertown's ice arena earns Project of the Year
SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — The City of Watertown was recognized for a recently completed project for the community. The city's Prairie Lakes Ice Area received Project of the Year from the American Public Works Association (APWA) for its Structures Category. Another chance for Spring Creek Recreation restaurant The $36 million Prairie Lakes Ice Arena stands as Watertown's largest, completed public works project to date, a news release said. Near the main entrance, visitors will find the $10 Million Donation Wall that acknowledges the donors to the project. Construction on the arena started in 2023. The first hockey games were played in the arena in February 2024. The APWA award recognizes outstanding public works projects across the nation and has specifically developed the Small Cities/Rural Communities program for towns like Watertown who have a population under 50,000. According to a news release, projects 'must be publicly funded, owned, and maintained, and must demonstrate excellence, creativity, and a lasting community impact,'. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Plows, equipment, ideas on display at ‘Show for Snow'
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The largest North American Snow Conference ever thrown by the American Public Works Association opened Sunday in Grand Rapids. More than 3,000 people are registered to attend and admire the wares and works of more than 150 exhibitors this week and what's called the 'Show for Snow.' 'The purpose is education and training for our snow fighters to remove snow and ice from roads, bridges and streets,' APWA CEO Scott Greyson told News 8. 'You're on the floor of an amazing exposition with big, shiny equipment and lots of weather equipment, as well.' For local Department of Public Works crews, it's a chance to swap snow-clearing strategies with crews from near and far, marvel at snow-moving machines, all while enjoying a break from the snow fighting grind. 'We get to look at new technology, new types of equipment and of course interacting with each other. There is always someone trying something new and that interaction with each other is fantastic,' Grand Rapids DPW Director John Gorney said. 'When it's snowing, we just don't have time. That's the main reason. Now, while we are looking at current budgets and future budgets, if there is new equipment or tech it is the perfect time to get those orders in and plan for next year.' Some of that tech shopping and tactic trading is going farther than usual this year, as changing weather attracts folks from far afield. 'With climate change we are experiencing more flooding, more ice, more snow,' Greyson said. 'So, we have people here from Houston and other places that you wouldn't think need snowplows. Now, they do.' A few hundred miles away from the 2025 conference, an example of these public servants' fiercest challenges plays out in Northern Michigan — a recent ice storm summoned , and crews from around the state. Their work is reflected in the exhibit halls in Devos Place. 'We have a handful of people that would have been here that had to cancel because they are up there,' Greyson said. 'The DPWA Michigan chapter put out a call for anyone to send resources to Northern Michigan,' said James Hurt, co-chair of the Michigan DPWA chapter. 'That's what we do in times of need — we join together, help each other.' The conference continues through Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Town of Kernersville Starts New Streambank Restoration Phase
The town of Kernersville is starting the second phase of a stream restoration project that aims to stabilize the banks of Beeson Creek. Streams in Kernersville have highly erodible banks in general, said Donald Schlesselman, the engineering project coordinator for the Kernersville Stormwater Department. 'We're at the headwaters of five different watersheds, so our banks erode very easily, and Beeson Creek, which is adjacent to Ivey Redmon Sports Complex, has a high sediment load,' Schlesselman said. In 2015, the town conducted a study of the Beeson Creek watershed. Schlesselman said the town has been collaborating with other groups to prevent erosion and sediment pollution in streams and waterways in Kernersville. 'We worked with the state and some granting providers to keep that sediment from going further downstream and keep it out of the lakes and streams further downstream,' Schlesselman said. The first phase of the stream bank restoration was in 2017-19 and restored the area adjacent to the soccer field at Ivey Redmond. The town used a $400,000 N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant. After the project was completed, the project was named the American Public Works Association's Stormwater Management Project of the Year for Natural Systems in 2020. In 2020, the town was approved for a $400,000 grant from the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and in 2021 the town was approved for $100,00 from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. This next phase was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. 'This phase will restore approximately 1,200 linear feet of degraded stream and 2.75 acres of riparian buffer,' Schlesselman said. 'We expect construction to be completed this summer, and we will be planting native riparian plants in the fall. We will have several opportunities for the public to get involved with the restoration, like tours, planting parties and frog walks.' Schlesselman said restoring streambanks has numerous benefits. 'Some people might think that the streambanks are going to wash away (anyway) and to let nature take its course. ... That sediment load that gets washed downstream, it not only affects water quality but it affects our infrastructures too. Think of all of our water supply lakes, and when that sediment gets trapped in those lakes it reduces the capacity of our lakes and streams,' Schlesselman said.
