Public Works
Profile
The Division of Public Works is
comprised of five departments: Engineering, Water,
Wastewater, Streets and Motor Pool, and the Municipal
Airport. Approximately 39 people staff the various
departments.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
The Engineering Department provides technical and
administrative support services to each of the
departments in the city’s system. A major function of
the Engineering Department is the preparation of plans
and specifications for capital improvement projects
within the city. Typical projects designed include
sanitary sewer, storm sewer, parking lots, sidewalk,
water main, small buildings, and streets. A second major
area of responsibility for the Engineering Department is
review of site plans and inspection of construction in
the right-of-way (R-O-W).
WATER DEPARTMENT
The Water Department oversees the Municipal water system
for the city. The water supply for the City of Mt.
Pleasant is provided by nine groundwater wells and a
RanneyTM Collector Well. The RanneyTM Well is the
primary water supply for the water system. It typically
provides 2 - 4 million gallons of water per day. Nine
groundwater wells provide the remaining water supply for
the Water Treatment Plant. The distribution system has
4.2 million gallons of storage with 1.5 million in
elevated tanks. All water is softened at the 8 million
gallon per day water softening plant prior to
distribution. The municipal water system currently
services over 5100 customers.
WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT
The Wastewater Treatment department's primary
responsibilities are operation of the Wastewater
Treatment Plant (WWTP) and maintenance of the sanitary
sewer pump stations. The WWTP is a secondary plant that
utilizes primary sedimentation, bio-disks, and final
clarification for treatment. The operation, maintenance,
and repair of the many mechanical and electrical systems
in the plant are the responsibility of the employees.
All EPA and DNR treatment guidelines have been met by
the plant since it was put into operation in 1983 until
1998. Violations of the ammonia discharge standard
occurred in 1999, which emphasized the need to upgrade
the WWTP.
The city began construction of an upgrade to the
Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2001. Since the Union
Township decided to build its own Wastewater Treatment
Plant, the city was able to purchase the township’s
existing 15 percent capacity in the current facility.
This purchase, over a three- year period, enabled the
city to save a considerable amount of money toward the
cost of upgrading the plant. The cost to upgrade the
plant is estimated at $6 million, with financing through
the State Revolving Loan Fund or through the issuance of
bonds.
STREET DEPARTMENT
The Street Department is responsible for maintenance and
improvements to the street system, sidewalks, sanitary
sewers, and storm sewer systems of the city. A large
number of miscellaneous functions fall under the
responsibility of the Street Department. The Motor Pool
and central stores operations are also included within
the street Department. The Motor Pool provides vehicles
for all of the departments within the city. The
maintenance and purchase of vehicles are provided by the
Motor Pool. Central stores provides miscellaneous
supplies and small tools to each of the departments
within the Division of Public Works.
MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
The Municipal Airport is administered as a Department of
the Division of Public Works. The Airport Manager
provides on-site management from the airport terminal,
coordinates public use of the air field, and determines
maintenance requirements of airport equipment.
