Aaron Atkinson explains department operations
By Barb Pert Templeton
As part of an annual update on how individual departments are running in the city Marine City DPW Superintendent Aaron Atkinson took his turn at the podium at a recent commission meeting.
“I’m not quite the best public speaker, more of a backhoe operator I guess, but as the DPW superintendent I’m responsible for overseeing the city’s infrastructure and essential services and everyday operations there,” Atkinson said, at a Jan. 20 meeting of the city commission.
In a 15-minute presentation Atkinson said he’s responsible for the city’s public works, manages the DPW staff with daily field operations and works alongside city staff including the city manager and both the fire and police department chiefs. Atkinson said he also oversees all the city vehicles, some department budgets and coordinates with engineers and contractors.
Other responsibilities include responding to emergency situations with severe weather, flooding, infrastructure and water tower issues.
“Also, sewer issues, water main breaks and service line breaks,” Atkinson said. “We also ensure compliance with state and federal safety requirements.”
Marine City DPW Superintendent Aaron Atkinson speaks at a Jan. 20 meeting of the Marine City Commission.
Those agencies include EGLE, MDOT and St. Clair County.
He also gave an in a nutshell review of exactly what the DPW does.
“The Department of Public Works handles the core services that keep Marine City clean, safe and functioning year-round,” Atkinson said. “We’ve got a pretty good crew of boys over there, we have a little motto we work hard and we play hard; those guys take every phone call that comes in serious, they know day to day operations, they come in, they get it done and go on to the next day.” Atkinson then took time to individually speak about the members of his crew, describing many of them as “those Swiss army knife” guys that just get thrown into everything and simply adapt. In particular many of the calls right now are related to the city’s ongoing water project and all of the guys, many who are very young, just roll with the punches, he said.
Atkinson included compliments to his assistant in the office who keeps him sane and keeps everything moving forward in his department.
Responsibilities seem endless
The DPW also maintains the city streets with patching and snow removal, are responsible for signage, street sweeping and bridge maintenance.
“And I know I’m leaving a lot out here,” Atkinson said.
The department also handles the water distribution system and the sewer systems including all the pump stations, of which there are two in the city.
Marine City Manager Michael Reaves.
The list of duties goes on to include maintaining city buildings, parks, public facilities including trash and lawn maintenance, grounds keeping, landscaping and right-of-way maintenance.
“It’s a lot for one guy and two to three at a time; it’s nice to have three newer young kids, I like to give them a chance to come in and get some work ethic going with some weed whipping,” Atkinson said.
He also noted that they now have good equipment and tools to utilize and thanked the commission for those improvements.
“Mike’s (Reaves, city manager) got us in the right direction with a lot of new stuff so that we no longer have to have our feet hanging out the floor boards of some of the vehicles,” Atkinson said.
As to the DPW overseeing Woodlawn Cemetery, Atkinson said it’s a big job but they remain respectful to the tasks that include weed whacking some 4,295 headstones, at last count.
“That can get away from us really quick, it can be a challenge in the spring because all’s you can lay is ruts so it’s best to stay out of there but then we get back to it,” Atkinson said.
He ended his presentation by thanking officials for the continued support he’s gotten and said there are always new things happening in his department daily.
“With the great team that we have, we just keep grinding every single day in and out, alarm goes off we show up in the morning, we check messages and move forward and see what that day brings us,” Atkinson said.
Reaves took a few moments to thank Atkinson and asked him to extend that appreciation to his crew. He noted that most people don’t realize all the things the department’s responsible for around the city.
“Until it breaks, until it doesn’t work right,” Reaves said. “Obviously it’s a big impact in everybody’s life everyday when they turn on the water, flush their toilet or drive on a city street or go to park or any of the other services you provide.”
Marine City’s Public Works Department is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. They can be reached at (810)765-9711.
