Page 6 - TN Public Works March-April 2014 Vol. 31 No. 7
P. 6
by Judy Keller
Algood’s City Hall
Started It All
The future is bright in Algood. From The most
April 2013 to today, the city and the
Public Works Department have made impressive part of
major investments in infrastructure and these improvements
equipment. “The new City Hall started is that all of the
the explosion of growth in equipment and
services, and it has been an economic in- programs are funded,
cubator for all of the areas of the city. The and the city has
city council created a vision for the future
with City Hall,” said City Administrator incurred no debt. This
Keith Morrison. was possible because
Algood’s new Municipal Building was
only the start of the changes in the city. past city councils had
The building, which houses City Council, planned for this period
the Mayor’s Office, the Police Department and accumulated
with new labs, and the Water Department
and Public Works Office, set the stage for money in the reserve
the changes that were coming. fund.
Safer, More Efficient Collection
The first change in services for the the Council for the planning of the city This unit was equipped with a Reading
community was the introduction of staff. “They saw the results of the changes Crane Master body, a Liftmoore crane, a
automated solid waste collection. The and the money saved by the public works VMAC underhood air compressor and a
city purchased a HEIL 22 cubic yard employees. We also increased services power inverter. This allowed for increased
Liberty automated collection body on a with the men that now were available for flexibility in the department. “This makes
new Mack LEU single-axle chassis. This other duties. And, no one lost their job.” working on the pumping stations much
configuration allows the Public Works safer for the operators. Now they just lift
Department to efficiently service the 1,500 Water Department Improvements the equipment out and repair it. We also
Toter carts that were delivered to the The success of this change led to more have less equipment on the road. Before,
residences. Public Works Director Victor improvements in other areas including we had to use a truck, a backhoe and a
Jones said, “This is the best service change the Water Department, which is super- trailer. Now our service truck takes care of
we have ever made for the citizens. It is vised by the Public Works Director. Jones everything,” said Jones.
hard to list the ways that it has improved knew that this department needed equip-
our city. The streets are much cleaner; the ment to service their pumping stations Innovative Equipment
appearance of the city, especially the sub- and do other repairs. Pumping stations Modifications
divisions, is really improved. No longer can be 20’-30’ deep. He proposed that a Next, the changes became more in-
do dogs get into the garbage and scatter multi-purpose vehicle be acquired to meet novative. The city wanted to start a leaf
it. The weight of the collected garbage these many needs. After study, specifica- collection system for the citizens, but they
carried to the landfill is decreased because tion writing and competitive bidding, a did not want to buy a new leaf collec-
rain doesn’t soak the garbage in open Ford F450 service truck was purchased. tion truck. There was an old, retired rear
cans. Most importantly, the workers have
a much safer environment; no more back The city purchased a HEIL 22 cubic yard
strains and no exposure to needles.” Liberty automated collection body on a new
And service has improved. Prior to Mack LEU single-axle chassis and 1,500
this change, the city was spending 90 Toter carts. They also purchased a ford
man-hours collecting solid waste (3 men f450 service truck equipped with a Reading
X 30 hours/week). After the automated Crane Master body, a Liftmoore crane, a
VMAC underhood air compressor and a power
collection system was installed, the city inverter. To avoid having to buy a new leaf
spends 14 man-hours/week with one collection truck, they modified a retired rear
operator. Morrison says the best result of loader in their inventory and purchased a
the change was the growth in respect by TARCO Windy 100 leaf machine.
6 TPW March/April 2014
Algood’s City Hall
Started It All
The future is bright in Algood. From The most
April 2013 to today, the city and the
Public Works Department have made impressive part of
major investments in infrastructure and these improvements
equipment. “The new City Hall started is that all of the
the explosion of growth in equipment and
services, and it has been an economic in- programs are funded,
cubator for all of the areas of the city. The and the city has
city council created a vision for the future
with City Hall,” said City Administrator incurred no debt. This
Keith Morrison. was possible because
Algood’s new Municipal Building was
only the start of the changes in the city. past city councils had
The building, which houses City Council, planned for this period
the Mayor’s Office, the Police Department and accumulated
with new labs, and the Water Department
and Public Works Office, set the stage for money in the reserve
the changes that were coming. fund.
Safer, More Efficient Collection
The first change in services for the the Council for the planning of the city This unit was equipped with a Reading
community was the introduction of staff. “They saw the results of the changes Crane Master body, a Liftmoore crane, a
automated solid waste collection. The and the money saved by the public works VMAC underhood air compressor and a
city purchased a HEIL 22 cubic yard employees. We also increased services power inverter. This allowed for increased
Liberty automated collection body on a with the men that now were available for flexibility in the department. “This makes
new Mack LEU single-axle chassis. This other duties. And, no one lost their job.” working on the pumping stations much
configuration allows the Public Works safer for the operators. Now they just lift
Department to efficiently service the 1,500 Water Department Improvements the equipment out and repair it. We also
Toter carts that were delivered to the The success of this change led to more have less equipment on the road. Before,
residences. Public Works Director Victor improvements in other areas including we had to use a truck, a backhoe and a
Jones said, “This is the best service change the Water Department, which is super- trailer. Now our service truck takes care of
we have ever made for the citizens. It is vised by the Public Works Director. Jones everything,” said Jones.
hard to list the ways that it has improved knew that this department needed equip-
our city. The streets are much cleaner; the ment to service their pumping stations Innovative Equipment
appearance of the city, especially the sub- and do other repairs. Pumping stations Modifications
divisions, is really improved. No longer can be 20’-30’ deep. He proposed that a Next, the changes became more in-
do dogs get into the garbage and scatter multi-purpose vehicle be acquired to meet novative. The city wanted to start a leaf
it. The weight of the collected garbage these many needs. After study, specifica- collection system for the citizens, but they
carried to the landfill is decreased because tion writing and competitive bidding, a did not want to buy a new leaf collec-
rain doesn’t soak the garbage in open Ford F450 service truck was purchased. tion truck. There was an old, retired rear
cans. Most importantly, the workers have
a much safer environment; no more back The city purchased a HEIL 22 cubic yard
strains and no exposure to needles.” Liberty automated collection body on a new
And service has improved. Prior to Mack LEU single-axle chassis and 1,500
this change, the city was spending 90 Toter carts. They also purchased a ford
man-hours collecting solid waste (3 men f450 service truck equipped with a Reading
X 30 hours/week). After the automated Crane Master body, a Liftmoore crane, a
VMAC underhood air compressor and a power
collection system was installed, the city inverter. To avoid having to buy a new leaf
spends 14 man-hours/week with one collection truck, they modified a retired rear
operator. Morrison says the best result of loader in their inventory and purchased a
the change was the growth in respect by TARCO Windy 100 leaf machine.
6 TPW March/April 2014
