City of Mequon Public Works

About Us

The Department employs 32 full-time and 6 seasonal part-time employees.  The primary responsibility of the Department is to maintain the city's infrastructure throughout five divisions.  The following is an overview of the Department structure as it relates to the primary functions of those divisions:  

• Highway Maintenance:  Primary responsibility is the maintenance of 210 miles of local streets. The division is responsible for maintaining traffic signals, signage, storm drainage, road pavements, pavement markings, snow and ice control and right of way vegetation maintenance.
• Park Maintenance:  Responsible for the maintenance of all city parks, including ball diamonds, football fields, soccer fields and picnic areas.
• Buildings Maintenance:  Responsible for the infrastructure of 10 community owned buildings. Provide electrical, mechanical, and physical plant maintenance services.
• Fleet Maintenance:  Responsible for the procurement, maintenance and fuel needs of the City's motorized fleet as well as support equipment such as pumps, compressors, generators and tools. All police, fire, ambulance, rescue and public works equipment is maintained by this division.
• Sewer Division:  Responsible for the operation and maintenance of the city's many miles of sewer collection system. The system contains 23 sanitary sewer lift stations that are maintained by sewer staff.

Department Mission and Values Statement

Mission: The Public Works Department strives to continually maintain and improve city streets, parks and sewer services. We do this through organizationally shared values, doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason.

Values:  The Public Works Department is committed to:

• Fulfilling those self-interests of our people that are aligned with the goals that serve the best interests of our community.
• Providing a safe and respectful work environment.
• Insuring collaborative partnerships and open communications.
• Promoting the diverse talents of our work force through shared leadership, internal commitment and informed choice.
• Balancing the need for urban services and preservation of our natural environment. 

Department Objectives FY2024

Highway Maintenance

• Complete all Highway Division Projects given plans for.
• Reduce salt usage through efficient anti-icing and pre-wetting operations. Also Sidewalks.
• Replace street signs to meet FHWA guidelines.
• Replace all crossroad culverts that are failing.
• Get road program done earlier in year. Hope to work ahead for next year. 
• Brush out more City Right of ways so we can maintain them with Road side mowing.
• Work on getting shoulders back in Subdivisions so easier to maintain. 

Fleet Maintenance

• Provide cost effective vehicle and equipment repairs for all divisions/departments.
• Manage the DPW equipment replacement fund within the 2024 budget appropriation.
• Utilize resources to estimate fuel usage and prices. For 2024, Public Works expects to use 12,500 gallons of unleaded gasoline and 32,500 gallons of diesel fuel. This is based on yearly averages. Budget is based on an estimate of $3.04 per gallon for unleaded and $3.54 per gallon for diesel fuel using US Energy Information Administration outlook.

Building Maintenance

• Implement additional capital improvement projects, design / installation of HVAC components at City Hall.
• Continue LED bulb replacement at the Public Safety and City Hall exterior and interior of buildings.
• Continue to upgrade electrical components throughout City Buildings to be more energy efficient.
• Organize keying system / continue implementing key fobs.
• Clean/Seal building envelopes of City Hall, Public Safety, and DPW buildings.
• Update water valves/ faucets as needed throughout Public Safety and City Hall.
• Patch/paint interior walls of City Hall and Public Safety Building.
• Addition of City owned streetlights and traffic signals to GIS system.

Recycling/Landfill

• The City operates the brush and waste site on Bonniwell Road and a public building recycling program in its public buildings to satisfy DNR requirements.

Swimming Pool

• Evaluate 2023 Pool Operations for potential efficiency improvements and revenue gains.
• Assess the food/vending operations for pool, continue growth of food trucks for 2024 season.
• Replacement of 2 pool boilers.
• Water lateral solution to keep pool operational for 2024 season.
• Complete building(s) and pool repairs for higher efficiency and structural prolonging (upgrade building lighting/repair building envelope/repair pool and plumbing leaks/etc.).