It’s likely you’ve seen them in your neighborhood: the white trucks with the green City of Dublin logos. The crews behind those trucks are the people who repair your curbs, make sure your storm water flows easily through the drains and ensure your trees and branches get chipped into mulch when necessary. They’re also the ones responsible for Dublin’s renowned curb-to-curb snow removal. They help direct traffic at special events and collect leaves that fall throughout the City.
In fact, Dublin’s Streets and Utilities’ employees perform a variety of tasks in addition to their primary assignments. In this issue, we would like to introduce you to a few of the City of Dublin employees who help keep it “greener in Dublin.” These are the faces behind the services that our residents continue to acknowledge as the best in the country in triennial surveys conducted by the City.
Brent Ager
Ager is a member of the Streets and Utilities Operations’ Sewer and Water Crew. His primary role is operating the Vactor, a machine used to clean the 1.2 million feet of storm and sewer lines in the City. The crew cleans clogs as they occur and routinely maintains the lines, cleaning the entire City once every five years.
The Vactor provides 2,000 pounds of water pressure pumping out 80 gallons per minute to clean the lines.
“Most of the stuff is routine cleaning and general maintenance,” Ager says. “A camera crew follows behind us and does all the filming.”
The process is largely preventive in nature with the camera documenting any cracks, breaks or leaks. This allows the crew “to address a problem before it becomes a problem,” Ager says.
Prior to beginning to work for the City in 2008, Ager was a fueler at The Ohio State University Airport.
“It was a good transition,” he says.
After his wife, Colleen, told him about an opening in Dublin, he began as a seasonal employee working two jobs for 10 months while awaiting a full-time position.
Like other Streets and Utilities Operations employees, Ager’s role changes with the weather.
“When it’s winter time, we can’t lay concrete and we can’t clean sewers,” he says.
That means clearing snow in the winter, collecting leaves in the fall and assisting with special events year-round.
“It’s nice to have a break and do something different,” Ager acknowledges.
He says it’s not uncommon for residents to show their appreciation for the services City workers provide.
“It’s nice when people call in or email and give kudos,” he says.
Ager himself marvels at the department’s ability to provide the level of service it does, noting that Dublin’s curb-to-curb snow removal policy is completed by 22 trucks with 11 people per 12-hour wintry weather shift.
“It shows tremendous ability for the department,” he says. “We’re not working with a lot of people. We’ve got a great fleet program that keeps the trucks on the road.”
When not working, Ager still seeks outside activities, including fishing. He’s also on a quest to “explore the world” during his free time. “I work all winter to play in the summer,” he says. “It’s a great job.”
Skip Moerch
When asked to describe a typical day at work, Moerch says, with a laugh, “I don’t have typical days.”
It’s a feature of his job that he enjoys. As a maintenance worker for Streets and Utilities Operations, Moerch may find himself assisting with curbside chipping, removing dead animals from roadways, mowing grass or assisting with event set-up.
“The seasons dictate what we do,” Moerch says. He is assigned to curbside leaf removal, but says when the snowflakes start to fall, “Everyone does snow removal.”
The City provides a curbside chipping service, which allows residents to call the hotline or make an online request for service. The City is divided into zones. Once a request is made, the crew maps out a schedule and provides the service within a week.
Chipping continues throughout the winter months, though the schedule may shift based on snowfall. Having worked for the City for 17 years, Moerch says he is used to pitching in on snow detail.
“That’s the job,” he says. “That’s what we signed up for.”
He says the longest streak was several years ago when the crews worked 12-hour shifts removing snow for 13 straight days. Even the last two brutal winters didn’t faze him.
“It’s nothing like a few years ago, when we had 21 inches drop out of nowhere,” Moerch says. “You try not to make plans in the winter time.”
And when residents tout the City’s snow removal as tops in the nation, Moerch says, “That’s affirmation to me that I’ve done my job.”
Another role he enjoys is providing shuttle service for guests of the Dublin Irish Festival. “The Irish Festival is fun,” Moerch says. “I’ve been shuttling for years. You meet people from all over the world.”
He also has been a shuttle driver for the Memorial Tournament, another opportunity for the City to shine.
“We usually focus on making the City look as nice as possible,” Moerch says. “Everybody takes their job very seriously and very professionally. When it comes to getting the job done, I’ll put our guys up against any other municipality in the state.”
Outside of work, Moerch tries to spend as much time as possible with his 16-year-old daughter, Sydnie, and enjoys attending her volleyball games.
Rick Queen
Queen is a member of the Streets’ crew, for which he performs “really anything that has to do with streets.” That could be curb repair, concrete or asphalt work, or the sidewalk maintenance program.
Dublin’s streets, sidewalks and curbs may require more attention than do most cities’ because of the amount of salt used during winters to provide the outstanding snow removal service that Dublin is well-known for.
“Dublin has such high standards for the work we do and what residents want,” Queen says. “It’s curb to curb.”
Queen enjoys the interactions with residents, and frequently communicates while on his route to let them know the process while making repairs.
Like the rest of the Streets and Utilities team, Queen switches gears when called into action to assist with the City’s special events and annual happenings like the Memorial Tournament. He says, to prepare for those roles, “basically, it’s what the City’s motto for Dublin is: All in. All the time.”
“We have to do the best job we can,” Queen says. “(Residents are) appreciative of everything the City of Dublin does.”
When the weather changes, Queen, like Ager and Moerch, may be found behind the wheel of a City truck pulling a 12-hour shift to keep the roads clear of snow and ice.
Queen, who bench presses 615 pounds, frequently competes in power-lifting contests. He says he also stays in shape by working on his family’s Milford Center farm.
“It puts you in shape for what you’re doing,” he says. “It helps when busting out concrete.”
A seven-year employee, Queen says he enjoys the variety of assignments as a City of Dublin employee.
“We’re involved in every single thing that goes on in Dublin,” he says. “You have support – from seasonals all the way up to Council. You live up to a standard working for the City of Dublin. It’s a great job. We’re proud to work here.”
You Can Help: the Proper Way to Rake Leaves to the Curb
Leaves left in the street can be washed down storm drains, where they may cause algae. If you plan on participating in the City’s leaf collection program this fall, you must rake leaves to the grassy area between the street and the sidewalk. This simple action will help the City do its job while keeping Dublin green – and algae-free.
· Collections are based on a two-zone system. (Map zones may be found online at DublinOhioUSA.gov.)
· The weekend before your scheduled collection, rake leaves to the grassy area between the street and sidewalk. Never put leaf piles in the street.
· Collections occur in your zone beginning on the Monday of each pick-up week between 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Have your leaves at the curb by 7 a.m. the Monday of each pick-up week. Collections will take the entire week to complete in each zone.
· Residents can still bag leaves in biodegradable bags for weekly curbside yard waste pick-up on weeks when the City crews are not doing leaf collection in their neighborhood/zone.
Stay in the Know with SnowGo
SnowGo, the City of Dublin’s online GPS tracking system, lets viewers see which streets have been plowed or treated. Residents may search the map by address to check the status of a particular street, and can access the service via a mobile device. SnowGo also provides information on the City’s snow removal prioritization system and helps explain why certain streets are plowed before others. Access the service at DublinOhioUSA.gov/snowgo.
Residents can assist the snowplowing process in several ways:
· Do not shovel or plow snow into City streets.
· Do not shovel or plow snow into driveway aprons.
· Do not shovel or plow snow around fire hydrants or mailboxes.
· Keep distance from the snow plows.
· Keep children away from snow plows.
· Remove parked cars from the street.
· Do not attempt to pass a snow plow.
Chipper Service Helps Residents Remove Tree and Shrub Trimmings
To ensure prompt pickup within one to seven days, residents may schedule chipper service through the City’s online request form available at DublinOhioUSA.com, or call the 24-hour hotline at 614-410-4780. To assist City crews, residents should follow these guidelines:
· Trimmings should be at least 4 feet in length (there is no maximum length; longer trimmings are easier for City crews to remove).
· The chipper machine will accept branches with a maximum diameter of 8 inches.
· All trimmings must be piled within 6 feet of the curb or at the end of the driveway.
· Trimming piles should be placed neatly with the cut-off ends pointed towards the street.
· Trees and bushes with roots cannot go through the chipper machine. Roots must be cut off and processed through other composting programs.
· Only tree and shrub clippings are accepted. Clippings, which include vines or honeysuckle, will not be collected.
· Firewood, lumber, boards, wire or other debris are not accepted through the chipping service.
· City equipment and employees will not remove trimmings from private property.
· Clippings should not be piled near mailboxes, fire hydrants or parked cars, because they may scratch the cars. Clippings deemed too close to parked cars will not be picked up.
· Chipping service is limited to one truckload per appointment per household. Residents with large quantities, or who are unable to wait for their scheduled pickup, should make other arrangements.
· City employees will not leave mulch at residences.
At Your Service…
Need to report a large pothole or a broken street light out or schedule chipper service? You can make a request online by visiting DublinOhioUSA.gov. Click “Services,” then, “Make a City of Dublin Service Request.”
