Public Works
The Houston County Public Works Department is responsible for the following:
- Solid Waste Disposal (landfill) - Responsible for disposal of Municipal Solid Waste.
- Solid Waste Collection - Provides curb side collection (contract), as well as accounts administration.
- Water Department - Responsible for planning, operation, and maintenance of County's water system
- Public Buildings - Responsible for operations and maintenance of Public Buildings and grounds
- Roads and Bridges - Responsible for maintenance, improvement of County roads, bridges, storm water management facilities and motor vehicle maintenance.
- Engineering - responsible for review and approval of subdivision, commercials, and industrial development plans to insure compliance with County design criteria. Inspection of development construction to insure compliance with approved plans. Enforcement of Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance. Design or roads, bridges, storm water management facilities. Issuance of subdivision maintenance/performance bonds.
Solid Waste Collection
The County has contracted with a private company, Sullivan Environmental, to provide curb-side waste collection for approximately 15,000 residential customers at a current charge of $11.00 per month per customer. Commercial Service is not provided by the County.
Planning, operation, and maintenance of the County's water supply, treatment, and distribution system
This system includes some 14 wells, 12 treatment plants, 14 storage tanks, and over 300 miles of water mains. It distributes over 2.7 billion gallons of water annually to more than 13,000 customers, including some 50 million gallons monthly to industrial customers. The Water Department is funded as an Enterprise Account - solely supported by the customers.
Operations and maintenance of Public Buildings and Facilities
This includes some 31 locations and 337,000 sq. ft. of floor space. In addition, the department provides grounds maintenance services at 32 locations comprising approximately 78 acres.
Maintenance and improvement of County roads, bridges and storm water management facilities
This includes some 992 roads, 400 miles of which are paved and 82 miles are unpaved. The department also assists cities within the County on road projects, and provides motor vehicle maintenance to all departments except the Sheriff's Department.
Engineering support of Department Activities
Public Works Engineering is responsible for:
- Review and approval of subdivision, commercial, and industrial development plans to insure compliance with County design criteria
- Inspection of development construction to insure compliance with approved plans
- Enforcement of the Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance
- Design of roads, bridges, storm water management facilities
- Engineering consultation and support on County projects
- Issuance of erosion and sediment control permits, utilities installation permits
- Administration of subdivision maintenance/performance bonds
- Providing staff support to the County's Planning and Zoning Board