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Public Works


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WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Public Works Management

The City of Lakeland's Public Works Department consists of seven divisions and 289 full-time employees. These seven divisions include Engineering, Construction & Maintenance, Traffic Operations & Parking Services, Lakes & Stormwater, Facilities Maintenance, Fleet Management and Solid Waste. The Fiscal Year 2007-2008 operating budget, for the Public Works Department, is in excess of $32 million. This Department also oversees a capital improvement plan budget of more than $22.3 million.

Richard E. Lilyquist, P.E., Director of Public Works
The Director is responsible for organizing, coordinating and administering the activities of the seven divisions comprised of Engineering, Construction & Maintenance, Traffic Operations, Lakes & Stormwater, Facilities Maintenance, Fleet Management and Solid Waste. Through the division managers, direction is provided to professional, technical, skilled and unskilled workers, and clerical staff involving engineering design, road construction, street and drainage maintenance, traffic system operations, lake management, solid waste collection, disposal and recycling, parking system operations, building facilities maintenance and janitorial services, and fleet management.

Gregory D. James, C.P.M., Assistant Director of Public Works
Greg James performs advanced professional work in the field of civil engineering involving the management and administration of major transportation projects. He is responsible for the planning, development and execution of professional services contracts and right-of-way acquisition functions related to various public works projects. He is also responsible for performing the management functions of planning, organizing, scheduling, budgeting, and coordinating related to transportation projects in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan. Greg also coordinates transportation project related activities with Federal, State and County governments, with other City departments, and with utility companies.

Robert H. Chen, P.E., Manager of Engineering
Robert Chen, P.E., is the Manager of the Engineering Division which includes the Survey Section, Design and Permitting Section, Inspection Section, and Traffic Engineering. His duties include planning the Division's annual budgets, planning and executing the Capital Improvement Projects, responding to citizen's complaints regarding roads, drainage and traffic issues, maintaining the City's Engineering Standards Manual, and supervising the commercial and subdivision site plan review and right-of-way use permitting. He also provides miscellaneous engineering assistance to other Departments such as Community Development and Parks and Recreation.

Mike Whigham, Manager of Construction & Maintenance
Mike Whigham, who serves as the Manager of the Construction & Maintenance Division, is responsible for the planning, scheduling, coordinating and directing the division’s construction and maintenance activities in the area of street, alley, parking lot, sidewalk, streetscape, drainage and stormwater management. Additional responsibilities include maintenance of lakes and development of environmental programs in areas of lake improvement and restoration. Construction activities generally require coordination with other Public Works divisions, City departments, state permitting agencies, and downtown merchants.

Don Nix, Manager of Traffic Operations
Don Nix directs the operations and activities of the parking system and traffic divisions. Work involves planning and organizing the construction, operation and maintenance of traffic signals, signage and other traffic control devices and systems. Work also includes the performance of traffic engineering studies and programs for the safe and efficient movement of traffic. Supervision over a staff of professional and technical personnel and decision making on technical engineering work is a major part of this position.

Doug Gleckler, Manager of Lakes & Stormwater
Doug Gleckler, is the Manager of Lakes & Stormwater Division, and is responsible for managing programs dealing with water resources. These programs include capital improvement projects, water quality monitoring, aquatic plant management, code enforcement, permitting and public education/volunteer programs. His responsibilities include administration of the stormwater utility and compliance with requirements of the City's NPDES stormwater permit. Doug is responsible for obtaining state and federal grants for water quality enhancement projects and education programs.

Jeff Wood, Manager of Solid Waste
Jeffrey L. Wood is the Manager of Solid Waste for the City of Lakeland. He is responsible for preparing and administrating a $13.36 million budget, 80 employees, and over 40 pieces of moving equipment. Mr. Wood is responsible for ensuring timely solid waste and recycling services to all commercial and residential customers, as well as our new roll-off service.

Tom Blanke, Fleet Manager
Tom Blanke, who serves as the Manager of the Fleet Management Division is responsible for the administration and management of the City’s fleet of vehicles. At present this is over 1,100 pieces of rolling stock along with approximately 50 pieces of ancillary equipment such as generators and pumps. Other areas of responsibility include specification development, proper vehicle selection and oversight of the City’s vehicle replacement fund. Mr. Blanke provides direction to a staff of 35 professional, technical and support personnel who perform these functions for the various City departments.

Richard Baker, Manager of Facilities Maintenance
The Facilities Maintenance division, managed by Richard Baker, is responsible for the planning and organizing of the building maintenance for 166 City locations. This area also oversees new building construction and renovations. Other areas of responsibility include building specification development. Richard provides direction to a staff of 53 professional, technical and support personnel who perform these functions for the various City departments.