Tim Willert
CITY HALL -- They inspect city sewer lines and storm drains, collect
trash and repair the cracks in the sidewalks.
They even hand out building permits and enforce building codes.
The city's public works department is responsible for maintaining
Glendale's infrastructure projects, managing the Beeline and Dial-A-Ride
programs, and collecting and disposing of solid waste and recyclables.
"We touch everybody's life," Public Works Director Kerry Morford said
Monday.
Glendale streets and buildings are known for being well-maintained, a
reputation Morford takes pride in.
"That's what people identify with when they drive through or walk
through a city," he said. "It's our responsibility and I take that
responsibility very seriously."
Public works, at 633 E. Broadway, houses the traffic and
transportation, engineering, and permit services and building inspection
sections.
The permit services center consolidates all permit processing and plan
checking for all building, trades, engineering and fire permits issued by
the city.
Conditional-use permits, subdivision maps and design review
applications are received through the section.
Traffic and transportation is responsible for the design and
construction of traffic control devices such as speed hums, traffic
signal development and the operation of 250 traffic signals throughout
the city.
Public works is home to 300 employees, some of whom are called on at
any time of the day or night to fix a water main break or a traffic light
malfunction.
"They are the heart beat of this organization," Morford said of his
employees. You can never forget that if you're a manager."
The corporate yards house maintenance services -- the employees who
plant new carob trees around town -- and the mechanical maintenance and
warehouse section.
Across the street at 548 W. Chevy Chase Drive in the Integrated Waste
Management section, which handles local trash pickup and competes for
commercial trash accounts, Morford said.
Public works is the project manager for the new police headquarters
and the Edison-Pacific school-park project.
The department is two years away from repairing a backlog of 110 miles
of damaged sidewalks, and has accelerated the sewer repair program to the
point where all sewers in the city will be cleaned in a couple of years,
Morford said..
"I am a public servant and I enjoy my job by helping the community
reach the quality of life that they expect," he said.
PUBLIC WORKS
* DEPARTMENT HEAD: Director Kerry Morford.
* PERSONNEL: About 300 employees.
* BUDGET: Nearly $72 million.
* PHONE: 548-3900
