Imagine a day of life in Tulsa without public works. There would be no turning on the faucet to get a drink of water, take a shower or brush your teeth. Toilets would not flush. Trash would pile up in the streets. Driving to work would be difficult without paved roads, street signs and traffic signals.
These benefits that help life run smoothly in Tulsa are provided through City of Tulsa public works services. Each day, employees of the Water and Sewer, Streets and Stormwater, and Engineering Services departments work to deliver these services to the residents of Tulsa.
Mayor Dewey Bartlett has proclaimed this week, May 19-25, as National Public Works Week in Tulsa (See attached proclamation.) Each year during the third full week of May, Tulsa joins with other communities nationwide to recognize and celebrate the dedication of public works employees.
Public works in Tulsa include management, design and construction, and maintenance of the city’s infrastructure, including streets, sidewalks, buildings and facilities, street lights, traffic signals and graffiti abatement. Public works also include maintenance of creeks and channels, flood control, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, potable water, residential refuse and recycling.
The American Public Works Association has led the nation’s observance of National Public Works Week since 1960. This year’s theme is “Because of public works …” The theme is about the quality of life brought to communities through clean water, safe streets and neighborhoods, and efficient traffic “Because of Public Works…”