Public Works

The Department of Public Works is responsible for all facets of building and grounds maintenance for City Hall and Nine Mile Public Services Building. This would include mowing grass, planting and maintaining landscaping, maintaining public parking lots, small remodeling projects, custodial services, and maintenance of mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems. Additionally, they provide oversight for the maintenance of the Governor Warner Mansion. DPW crews also assist the City Clerk’s Office with the set-up of election equipment at the six voting precincts.

The City has two cemeteries in which it is responsible for maintenance: Quaker Cemetery on Gill Road and Oakwood Cemetery on Grand River Avenue. The Quaker Cemetery is strictly maintenance such as mowing and trimming. There are more than 3000 gravesites in the Oakwood Cemetery. The DPW is responsible for the mowing, trimming, leaf removal, and burials at the Oakwood Cemetery.

The City contracts with DTE Energy for its municipal street lighting. The Department of Public Works is responsible for administration of this contract. If you notice that a street light is not functioning, please contact the DPW at 248-473-7250 or contact DTE Energy directly on their website.

The public Downtown parking lots are maintained by DPW personnel. This primarily involves plowing snow, salting, and snow removal during the winter months, surface maintenance such as repairing pot holes, maintaining storm water systems, pavement markings, and signage. While the DPW is responsible for the work, the DDA provides the funding for this maintenance.

The City of Farmington has six parks in which it is responsible for the maintenance: Shiawassee Park, Drake Park, Women’s Park, Memorial Park, Flanders Park, and Downtown Riley Park. During the summer months, the DPW crew is involved with mowing grass, emptying waste receptacles, maintaining playground equipment, planting and maintaining flowers, tree trimming, cleaning restrooms, and assisting in set up for numerous community programs and events. In the winter months, Public Works floods the Riley Park Ice Rink for an outdoor skating rink. In addition, they work with Farmington Public Schools and the 47th District Court in developing a sled hill near Farmington Road and Shiawassee. The maintenance of Riley Park is done in conjunction with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and a significant portion of that work is done contractually. The City of Farmington has an agreement with the City of Farmington Hills regarding the maintenance and scheduling of baseball fields at Shiawassee Park and Drake Park. The City of Farmington Hills schedules the use of the ballfields and drags and lines the infields prior to the scheduled games.

The City of Farmington contracts with Waste Management Inc. for weekly residential curbside collection of refuse and recycling materials. With this collection, each resident is allowed one bulk item per week for curbside collection. Listed below is the City map with the weekly collection schedule. In addition, the City of Farmington also contracts with Waste Management for yard waste collection. The yard waste collection program begins the first full week of April and extends through the last full week in November. The Department of Public Works is responsible for administration of the contract and works closely with Waste Management regarding service complaints. Each fall DPW undertakes the leaf collection program. Residents can rake leaves to the curb and Public Works Administration schedules at least two (2) collection days beginning in mid- to late-October and ending by mid- to late-November. A posting of the scheduled pick-ups is on the City’s website each fall.

Farmington also participates in a multi-community recycling consortium – Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County (RRRASOC). RRRASOC schedules household hazardous waste collection days in the spring and fall year. They also have special collection programs for items such as electronic waste and other services available at their Southfield location on Eight Mile Road. Please refer to RRRASOC’s website for additional details regarding the scheduled collection days, materials that will be accepted, and other programs and services.

Garbage and Recycling Collection
Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County (RRRASOC)

The Department of Public Works is responsible for the inspection and replacement of hazardous sidewalks. The City has a program in which it replaces old and raised sidewalks on a scheduled basis every five years. In addition, should they receive notice of a raised sidewalk representing a hazard, they will schedule its replacement.

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The Department of Public Works is responsible for all facets of maintenance and operations of streets within the City limits. This would include maintenance of traffic signals and signs, winter maintenance such as salting and snow plowing, and surface maintenance. The surface maintenance involves street sweeping of curb and gutter areas, clearing streets of debris after accidents, crack sealing, and pothole patching. Public Works contracts with the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) regarding repair and maintenance of traffic signals. Public Works is responsible for management of the City’s storm water system that involves maintenance of catch basins, cleaning debris from storm water lines, and compliance with state and federal permitting requirements. Public Works Administration is also involved with planning, inspecting, and contract administration with all street construction projects.

Grand River Avenue and Farmington Road from Grand River to Eight Mile Road are under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the RCOC, respectively. The City contracts with these two agencies to provide a high level of winter and surface maintenance for the benefit of businesses, residents, and visitors in Farmington.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is responsible for providing reliable potable water for its residents and businesses, and a wastewater collection system for transmission to the wastewater treatment plant.

The City of Farmington contracts with the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), and the Oakland County Water Resources Commission (OCWRC) for the purchase of potable water. The Farmington DPW manages and operates the water distribution system within the City. Major facilities owned and operated by the City to maintain reliable water pressures throughout the system include a 1 Million gallon storage tank located at the highest point of the system and a booster station located at the Public Works site on Nine Mile Road. While DPW monitors these two facilities, it contracts with the OCWRC for maintenance of the mechanical and electronic systems. In addition, Public Works is also responsible for repairing any water main breaks and water service laterals within the right-of-way for residents and businesses, along with meter reading. The City is required to provide an annual report regarding the water quality of the system which is provided below.

The City of Farmington also contracts with GLWA and the OCWRC for treatment of wastewater with the City of Farmington. The Farmington DPW maintains the sewer collection system within the City and operates two lift stations and a large detention/pumping station located on Nine Mile Road, just east of the City limits. Again, while Public Works personnel monitor the lift stations and pumping station, the OCWRC is contracted for maintenance of the mechanical and electronic systems at these facilities. On an on-going basis, the City DPW crew is regularly cleaning and root cutting sewer collection mains to insure the reliable flow of wastewater to the treatment plant.