Public Works
Contact Number: 269-685-9363
Overview
The Department of Public Works (DPW) operates from facilities located next door to the Big Boy Restaurant on M-89. The primary responsibility of the Public Works Department is maintaining the City infrastructure; this includes: the water system, wastewater collection system, storm water collection system, street system, sidewalks, parks and downtown street lighting.
Other responsibilities include yard debris disposal, provision and care of City street trees and flowers, and maintenance of City buildings and equipment. We assist other City departments, civic groups, merchants, business owners and residents to keep our community successful, green, growing and content. We assist neighboring municipalities, as appropriate within a ‘mutual aid’ context, knowing that the next ones having a problem and needing assistance could be ourselves.
Public Works Department
| Name: | Position: | |
| Rick Updike |
Superintendent | |
| Daniel Neeson | Water Operator/Laborer | |
| Jerry Lawrence | Water Operator/Laborer | |
| Aaron Bird | Equip. Operator/Laborer | |
| Wade Keyzer | Equip. Operator/Laborer | |
| Donald Layton | Mechanic/Laborer | |
| Daniel McClellan | Equip. Operator/Laborer | |
| Donald Reeves | Equip. Operator/Laborer | |
| Steve Bongers | Part Time Light Equipment Operator | |
| Kim Brown | Part Time Light Equipment Operator | |
| Sheryl Gluchowski | Administrative Assistant |
Streets, Major and Local
The street system is an integral and visible part of our community. Plainwell contains four classifications of streets: major arterials, minor arterials, major streets and local streets. The state is responsible for M-89 (a major arterial) and the county is responsible for portions of Main Street, Starr Road and 12th Street (minor arterials). The Public Works Department is responsible for the remaining streets within the City limits...the major and local streets.
Major streets collect traffic from local streets and bring it to the surrounding arterial street system. These streets are not intended for through traffic but carry large volumes of traffic. Speed limits are usually 25-35 miles per hour and on-street parking may be permitted. The majority of major streets have curb and gutter. Prince Street, West Bridge Street, Jersey Street, Church Street, West Hill Street, Sherwood Avenue, Acorn Street, Industrial Parkway, Lincoln Parkway and Gray Street function as major streets. Major streets constitute over 7 miles of our city streets.
Most of the remaining streets serve as local streets. Local streets represent the majority of miles found in the community, over 12.5 miles.
The DPW crew sweeps, patches potholes, maintains traffic and street signs, trims trees for clearance and clear vision, maintains gravel shoulders and grassy verges, mows/trims city-owned outlots, maintains City banners and American flags downtown.. We also plan and contract to have traffic markings painted and the streets crack-sealed, resurfaced and eventually replaced. We schedule inspection/maintenance for city bridges. In winter we add seasonal maintenance such as plowing snow, spreading sand/salt and removing large snow piles that impede clear vision at intersections. We work with the state and county road commissions to address joint concerns such as the heavy traffic flows and maintenance issues on the arterials.
Please do not rake or throw debris into the street because the sweeper can not pick it up. Debris may clog the intake chute and/or damage the sweeper. This results in unnecessary expense from both lost work time and repair parts. Grass clippings discharged or blown into the street plug the curb inlet causing storm water to back up into yards and flood streets creating a hazard to traffic.
Storm Sewers
Storm sewers play a big role in the street system, collecting and channeling storm water run-off from City streets to leaching basins, leaching areas and directly to the Kalamazoo River. The DPW crew cleans and maintains the catch basins, storm sewers, leaching basins and leaching areas.
Sidewalks
The public works crew inspects sidewalks for safe clearance between trees or bushes and pedestrian traffic. We also look for sections that have broken or rose in elevation. With budget restraints in recent years, the raised slabs may be wedged and holes filled with asphalt to provide a safe surface for pedestrian traffic. Once we are again able, the damaged sections will be replaced and any remaining funds will be used to extend the system to serve additional frontage on an annual basis.
Our pedestrian paths and walkways throughout the City include a river walk that connects Hicks, Pell and Sherwood Parks along the banks of the mill race and Kalamazoo River. In recent years, barrier-free ramps were provided at all major street crossings. With each addition, we progress toward our goal of making Plainwell a completely walkable community.
Snow is plowed from all sidewalks on the designated school route throughout the winter. Residents and businesses are responsible for clearing all other sidewalks.
Trees
Trees on City Right-Of-Way are City property and will be maintained by the City of Plainwell Department of Public Works. Please contact Public Works at 685-9363 with City tree related concerns.
Water System
The Plainwell water system consists of a 750,000-gallon storage tower, three wells and about 25 miles of water mains. It serves the needs of over 1500 residential, commercial and industrial customers. We are blessed with good quality water from the wells. Chlorine and fluoride are added prior to distribution to ensure and enhance public health.
Recent renovation of the water system has improved the average pressure of delivered water to 59-63 pounds. Delivery of water at the increased pressure enhances the performance of equipment that uses water, from toilets, showers and dishwashers to irrigation systems to printing presses and fire suppression equipment. Residents should have noticed a substantial reduction in their fire protection insurance premiums, as the City’s fire-fighting equipment and hydrants also operate more efficiently at the higher pressures.
DPW performs monitoring, testing and reporting on water quality to comply with state and federal regulations. Early each year, the department provides a water quality report that answers many questions relating to the water supply, including a summary of the findings of laboratory tests for the preceding year. Copies are available through City Hall or Public Works.
The average "hardness" of water supplied by the City averages about 297 or 16.1 grains. This is the number that you or your plumbing professional will need to set your water softener use to the proper level. To prevent dirty water from being siphoned back into your water supply, you need an air gap between the end of your water softener discharge hose and the top of the drain (or from the overflow level of the sink) into which it empties.
The DPW crew operates and maintains wells, pumping and chemical treatment equipment and the City's elevated storage tower. They are responsible for the maintenance of water mains and water services from the main to the water service shutoff located between the sidewalk and the curb. Property owners are responsible for the water service from the shutoff to their building. If you experience a water leak on the property owner's side of the water service shutoff and need the water turned off call 685-9363. When water is turned off at the request of a customer during normal business hours, there is no charge. When water is turned off at the request of a customer after normal business hours, a turn-off charge will be levied that is determined by resolution of the City Council.
The Department provides and reads a water meter for each customer location and requires customers to have a working shutoff valve both before and after the water meter. If you are upgrading your plumbing and you or your plumber need help configuring valves and piping at the water meter, pleasecall the Department of Public Works at 685-9363.
To avoid sanitary sewer charges, you may purchase a separate meter for your irrigation system and outside spigots. Call City Hall at 685-6821 to discuss this option. You must always install and maintain a backflow prevention device between the water meter and irrigation plumbing. The device must have test ports or it must be replaced each time that you are required to have your backflow preventer tested and recertified (usually every three years).
You may, if you wish, purchase a separate meter for your irrigation system and outside spigots. Call city hall to discuss this option. You must always install and maintain a backflow prevention device between the water meter and irrigation plumbing. The device must have test ports or it must be replaced each time that you are required to have your backflow preventer tested and recertified (usually every three years).
Sanitary Sewer Collection System
There are over 15 miles of sanitary sewer in service at this time within the City, providing service to almost every street. The sanitary sewer mains lie under the City streets with manholes to provide access for cleaning, inspection and to facilitate turns in the underground mains. DPW is responsible for maintaining sewer mains, however, property ownders are responsible for maintaining sewer laterals from their building to the sewer main including that section of sewer lateral that lies beneath the roadway.
If sinks, toilets and other drains in your home appear to be partially or completely blocked, please call Public Works (685-9363) between 7 AM and 3:30 PM on business days. We will check the sanitary sewer main servicing your home and advise you of what we find. If the City’s sewer main is blocked, we will clear the blockage to restore proper service. If the problem is in your plumbing, the responsibility is yours to alleviate the problem.
If you have a sewer problem after 3:30 p.m. on business days, you may call City Hall until 5:00 p.m. Outside of business hours or on weekends or holidays, you may contact Public Safety. Please understand that if you call outside of normal working hours, we must pay a minimum of three hours call-in pay, so we urge you to make every effort to call between 7 AM and 3:30 PM.
No one is allowed to pour anything into a city manhole or storm drain. If you see this happening, please call Public Safety (685-9858) immediately to allow them to investigate and determine what is happening, by whom and why.
Building & Grounds
The DPW crew is responsible for maintenance on City buildings and grounds, including City Hall, the DPW offices and barns, and all City parking lots. Basic maintenance is performed in-house with major repairs awarded to qualified contractors through a bidding process.
Special Events
The DPW crew participates in the background of many of the special events held in the City each year. We cooperate with civic groups, providing practical support for their projects. This may include detour routes, trash receptacles, electrical hookups, water hookups and placement of advertising.
Yard Waste – Brush, Leaves & Grass
The DPW crew picks up yard waste on all city streets, starting through the city on the first Monday of every month. If the first Monday is a holiday, pick up starts on Tuesday. Yard waste includes brush, bagged leaves and grass; please click on the link to read the rules that apply for each.
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