Organization and Standards of the Oakland County Department of Public Works: Fid-Bau Portal

Organization and Standards of the Oakland County Department of Public Works

Schone, Harold K.

This article discusses the organization of the Oakland County, Michigan, Department of Public Works and the issues that existed prior to, and resulted in the need for, the organization of the department. A major problem was the multiplicity of governmental units in the county with no single overreaching authority for developing community facilities. A brief overview of the creation of the Department of Public Works to handle intra‐city or township projects is presented, along with financial provisions for the projects. During the past two years, the department has acquired, and is now operating and maintaining, and doing the billing and collecting for, about 29 separate water systems in the area, all using the ground source of supply. Four sewage treatment plants have also been acquired, and a $660,000 sewer and treatment plant is under construction to serve the new Michigan State University of Oakland and about 3.5 sq mi adjacent to it. At the same time, a water system is being constructed. Another major project is the planning of public facilities for about 200 sq mi of the Clinton River drainage basin, lying within Oakland County. Departmental efforts on developing standard specifications, appropriations and expenditures are discussed.