Blog: City Hall Spotlight: Public Works

Published on September 10, 2026

The Team You Rarely See, But Rely On Every Day

Most residents interact with Public Works every day without realizing it. From the roads we drive and the signs that guide us, to stormwater systems, waste collection and City facilities, Public Works helps keep North Port moving.

While many City services are highly visible, much of the department’s work happens behind the scenes, often before sunrise, during severe weather or after most residents have gone home.

What Exactly is Public Works?

Public Works is responsible for maintaining much of the infrastructure residents rely on every day. The department is made up of four key divisions:

• Road & Drainage
• Solid Waste
• Facilities Maintenance
• Fleet Management

Together, these teams maintain roads, drainage systems, City buildings, vehicles, equipment, and waste collection services throughout North Port.

More Than Just Roads

How often do you stop to appreciate the road outside your home? Probably not very often. Smooth roads have become such a routine part of daily life that we often only notice them when something goes wrong.

Yet for much of American history, roads were little more than dirt tracks that became muddy and difficult to navigate after heavy rain. America's first engineered paved road opened in 1795, transforming travel and trade.

More than 230 years later, modern infrastructure is something most of us take for granted. That's where Public Works comes in, helping ensure North Port remains safe, connected and functioning every day. The department has rehabilitated over 266 miles of roadway in the city since 2012. A recent study found significant improvement in the pavement condition in North Port, noting that 85.5% of City roads were in "very good or excellent condition."

Our Stormwater System: Managing Water in a Florida Community

Living in Florida means living with water. North Port relies on an extensive network of swales, ditches, culverts, pipes, canals and stormwater ponds designed to slow, store and move rainwater safely through the city. This system is the primary source of drinking water in the city.

This system helps reduce flooding, protects water quality and supports the long-term health of our environment. Public Works teams inspect, maintain and repair this infrastructure year-round, helping ensure it continues to function as designed during both everyday rain events and major storms.

Understanding What You're Seeing

One of the most common concerns after heavy rainfall is, "The road is flooded" or "My swale is full." In many cases, what residents are seeing is the stormwater system doing exactly what it was designed to do.

Swales are intended to temporarily hold stormwater, and it is normal for water to remain there for up to 72 hours after significant rainfall. If water is being stored in the swale, it is kept away from homes and other structures while it gradually drains through the system, getting cleaned of harmful pollutants in the process.

Residents are sometimes surprised to see high water levels even when it hasn't recently rained in North Port. That's because the city sits at the southern end of the Big Slough watershed, meaning rainfall many miles away can eventually make its way into our local stormwater system. Public Works monitors rainfall and water levels throughout the watershed using remote sensors, helping staff track water movement and respond proactively.

The Start of Garbage Collection Helped Save Millions of Lives

One of the greatest public health advances in human history wasn't a medical breakthrough, it was regular garbage collection. Before organized waste collection became common in cities, piles of refuse attracted rats, insects and disease. Modern sanitation systems, including garbage collection, have dramatically reduced outbreaks of illnesses such as cholera and typhoid.

And if there is anyone in North Port more committed to garbage, it's Solid Waste Division Manager Frank Lama. Frank and his team are passionate about the things you don't want in your house anymore. Half-eaten dinners, packaging from that online shopping spree, yard waste from a weekend project, or even your husband's old socks (you know the ones with the holes in them that he refuses to get rid of).

The Solid Waste Division collects garbage, recycling, yard waste and bulk items throughout the city while also helping educate residents on recycling and waste reduction. While most of us only think about our trash for the few minutes it takes to wheel a tote to the curb, Frank and his team think about it every day. Their work helps keep our neighborhoods clean, protects public health and ensures North Port remains a community we're proud to call home.

The Teams Behind the Teams

We know. Fire trucks are cooler. Police cruisers have flashing lights. Fire engines have sirens. They're the vehicles everyone notices. But have you ever stopped to wonder who makes sure those vehicles start when an emergency call comes in at 2 a.m.?

Who fixes the air conditioning when it breaks in the middle of August? Who repairs a leaking roof, replaces a broken door or keeps City Hall, fire stations and other public buildings operating day after day?

Meet Fleet Management and Facilities Maintenance, the teams behind the teams.

A modern fire engine can cost well over $1 million, while today's police vehicles are packed with computers, cameras, communications equipment and specialized technology. Fortunately, replacing them every time something goes wrong isn't always part of the budget. Fleet Management keeps the City's vehicles and equipment maintained, repaired and ready to respond whenever they are needed.

Meanwhile, Facilities maintain the buildings where City Services take place every day. From ensuring air conditioning systems can withstand a Florida summer to maintaining electrical, plumbing and safety systems, the team works behind the scenes to keep public spaces safe, functional and welcoming.

Most residents will never meet the people in Fleet or Facilities. In fact, that's often a sign they're doing their jobs well. Because when a police officer turns the key, a fire truck rolls out of the station or a resident walk into The George Mullen Activity Center, everything simply works, and that's no accident. It's the result of a dedicated team making sure the people who serve our community have the vehicles, equipment and facilities they need to do their jobs.

So….

The next time you drive down a road, set out your garbage tote, visit a City facility or see water flowing into a swale after a storm, take a moment to think about the people working behind the scenes to make it all possible in Public Works.

And while their work may often go unnoticed, North Port would not function without them.

Learn more about the Department of Public Works and its divisions at NorthPortFL.gov/PublicWorks.