By Allison Biss
WKTV Editorial Assistant
The City of Wyoming is celebrating National Public Works Week once again on Monday, May 21, at the Wyoming Public Works Department, 2660 Burlingame Ave. SW. The event that attracts more than 1,500 visitors gives the public the chance to learn about the Public Works Department and its services, meet community members and much more.
“This is a great time for us to show them who we are and what we do in the community and how we can make a better community,” said Carlos Ochoa, a Wyoming Department of Public Works employee.
From 5-8 p.m., staff will be present to talk to visitors about the work they do for the community as well as show off various pieces of equipment that they use. For the children, the equipment on display is the highlight of the event.
“Kids get to sit in a backhoe or a loader, sit in a street sweeper,” said Wyoming Department of Public Works Assistant Director Aaron Vis. “The weather is always good every year and of course, there is free food – free hot dogs, free drinks, free chips so I think that’s what brings people out.”
Besides the big trucks and hot dogs, residents can enjoy learning about those who help shape and maintain their community. This event is not only enjoyable by community members, but by public works staff as well.
“Oh, I love seeing the citizens,” said Public Works employee Jerry West. “We actually get to work with people from different departments too, which is fun. We don’t get to see each other all the time so yeah, it’s a blast to see the citizens, just let them know what we do and how we tick.”
“It’s a great event for the public to get to see what goes on in the city and what we do,” said Wyoming Mayor ProTem Sam Bolt.
For public works employees, this event is not just about displaying their work within the community.
“We reach a lot of people,” Vis said. “We have 72,000 customers in our city so for us to get some of them in every year and take a look at what we do, we appreciate it. It’s our way of saying thank you back to the community.”
National Public Works Week is May 20-26 and is celebrated by many communities across the country.
