Your City at Work

The Public Works department is excited to share with you what we've been up to!  Please have a look at our photos and our weekly updates.  As always, feel free to reach out to us with any comments, questions, or concerns.  This is YOUR City and we are honored to work for you. 

August 2022 - The Public Works department enjoyed a warm August with the rest of the City.  We tackled a number of water line breaks and issues resulting from power outages.  We took possession of a replacement mower and excess our previous tractor mower.  We supported construction at both Rock Creek Drive and in the WWTP.  We even made time to take a group lunch down at the County Fair.

July 2022 - Summertime is a VERY busy time for the Public Works department.  With the dry, warm weather, street maintenance has been at an all time high - as many of you have probably noticed!  We appreciate your patience as we repair and pave Lotz and Iman Cemetery Roads.  With the heat comes power outages and water breaks - both effect operations and are addressed by the PW folks.  Additionally, lots of vegetation management - weeding, trimming, watering! 

Week ending 6/10/22 -  It was an emotional week for the PW crew.  We said good bye to an old friend who has served us well - our 1972 Grader...  It was her time to move on to green pastures and was transported to Washougal, where she will be put up at auction.  We wish her well.  Other work we completed this week included repairing a sink hole in Iman Cemetery Road and ROW maintenance at Angel Heights and Frank Johns.

Week ending 6/3/22 -  In preparation for the WWTP Upgrade project, the current WWTP storage yard must be vacated of all materials and equipment.  One of the focuses of this week, was to physically move heavy equipment, piles of street maintenance material, and other odds and ends that seem to make their way to the City WWTP yard.  Another undertaking was to repair and grade the east end of Cascade Ave (also known as the Kanaka Creek RR Underpass).  To regrade gravel roads and remove potholes which may have developed, the gravel must be dry.  With the extra rainy May this road was in desperate need of some care, which it received happily.  Let's hope it stays that way and people continue to travel on it safely! 

Week ending 5/27/22 - The crew took care of some unruly vegetation this week.  Tackling a bush that had just about consumed a City STOP sign near Roselawn and Roosevelt - Thank You to the citizen who called in this maintenance issue!  Additionally, they removed some trees near the Catholic Church reservoir, preparing for spring and keeping your drinking water clear of debris and potential damage.   On Thursday, not only did volunteer fire fighters on the team jump to action when there was a major accident on SR 14 responding to the incident site, closing both lanes between Carson and Stevenson for hours, but also the rest of the crew assisted the Fire Chief and Sheriff's Office by responding with signage to the east end of town.  Thank you to Crestline who also loaned signage!!  

Week ending 5/20/22 - This week was Public Works Week!  We hope you got a chance to get to know the crew by signing into our Facebook page and checking out our quick video interviews.  The team was hard at work this week, replacing a culvert on Jordan Road, applying bark dust to 1st and 2nd streets planter beds, and doing lots of maintenance and brush clearing around the WWTP.  Next week we have some AWESOME folks from StreetScan coming to Stevenson.  They will be scanning all of our public roads and digitally mapping asset locations (water, sewer, streets, storm) as well as evaluating pavement condition for future improvement planning!  If you see a funny looking car with a camera on top driving around next week, this is who they are and what they are up to.  As always, feel free to give us a call with any questions, comments, or concerns!

Week ending 5/13/22 - The PW crew enjoyed the sunshine early in the week and took advantage to do some cleaning of wastewater treatment clarifiers.  Additionally, a new water service line was laid on Iman Cemetery.  We appreciate the patience of travelers in that part of the City on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.  This week we welcomed back our Landscaper, Susan Ebben, who is already tackling weeds along 1st and 2nd street that have become much to accustomed to her absence.  Next week is Public Works Week!  We will be celebrating with multiple opportunities for you to get to know the work completed in your City, the tools that are used, and the folks that keep it all running for you. Be sure to check back here and on our Facebook page!

Week ending 5/6/22 - Rain or shine (or mostly rain), your PW crew is out in the weather, making sure your public utilities are up and running in tip top shape.  Equipment needed repairs this week, and a new water line was installed.  With all this rain and shine, mowing and weeding are constant priorities.  We are looking forward to next week when one of our own returns to the Team!  Tune back in next week for the happy surprise!

Week ending 4/29/22 - In addition to the typical utility locating services, water meter checks and installations, and treatment plant operation, the PW crew teamed up with PUD staff on a line extension in preparation for the new Wastewater Treatment Plant construction project.  As part of the 2021 Wastewater Collection Project currently in action along Rock Creek Drive, the PUD will "share" a utility trench with the contractor during their extension of utilities associated with the Rock Creek Pump Station construction.   Partnering is not only efficient and cost effective, but also FUN getting to work with other crews.  You may also have noticed the crew pulling together finishing touches on the landscaping bed along 2nd street - Thank You Downtown Association and Spruce Up Stevenson Volunteers for all of your efforts last Saturday!! 

Week ending 4/22/22 - This week the crew finished their wastewater treatment operators training.  The big project of the week was fixing a water line along Rock Creek Drive.  Before and after photos are provided.  Huge THANK YOU! to those affected by the disruption to your service.  We know being without water for any length of time in inconvenient and appreciate your patience. 

Week ending 4/15/22 - Much of the crew is attending wastewater treatment training in preparation to become Operators, levels 1 and 2, this week and next.  We fixed some streetlights, repaired a damaged bar screen in the wastewater treatment plant, and repaired water lines.  We had staff attend the American Public Works Association (APWA) Washington Chapter conference in Vancouver to network, attend trainings, and discuss upcoming work with vendors.  This week was also a designated Traffic Safety week.  The City participated in Go Orange Day on Wednesday (see banner photo), an opportunity to discuss traffic safety practices in your City - our number one goal is always to keep the public and ourselves SAFE. 

Week ending 4/1/22 - The crew worked with BNSF to repair chipped asphalt and broken sidewalk panels at the Russell Ave RR crossing.  We also did a bit of landscaping this week, pulling weeds along 2nd Street, mowing along roadway shoulders, and limbing trees.  Every week we operate the wastewater and water treatment plants, ensuring, respectively, environmentally safe discharges and clean drinking water for our citizens.  We also fixed potholes!!