Highlighted Projects

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Administered $100 Million in FEMA infrastructure recovery projects which were

completed in 2012. Worked with EPA after Katrina to qualify projects and compete the Project Worksheets.

Oversaw the acquisition of all of the private water and sewer companies by the City of Gulfport including participation as “City’s agent” in legal cases

o Orange Grove Utilities

o Lyman Utilities

o Superior Utilities

o Dedeaux Utilities

The City of Gulfport created a Master Drainage Plan with the Assistance of a Consulting Engineer.  Many of the projects were completed using this plan.

In 2001, with the assistance of the City Engineer and Master Plans completed by a consulting firm, a Master Plan schedule was compiled and approved by the City Council.  This plan indicates a schedule for adding additional systems to unserved areas as well as rehabilitation

of existing systems.  This program ended up serving all of the residents in the 1994 Annexed area at a cost of over $100 Million Dollars.  The Master Plan was updated again in 2011.

In July 1999, the US EPA performed an audit of the Gulfport Sewer System. Another audit was completed in 2003 as a follow up for items not acceptable. During the follow up audit, the EPA inspector remarked that the program is “light years ahead of where it was in 1999.” The EPA required Gulfport to come to their Regional office in Atlanta, Georgia to “show cause” why the City

should not be penalized for failing to comply with the Clean Water Act. Due to factors including master plan projects funded, improvements to day to day operation and organization since 1999, and City Attorney assistance, the EPA did not fine the City of Gulfport for non compliance. The City of Gulfport and the EPA did enter into a consent agreement in 2005 that requires Gulfport to

implement certain sewer system improvements over the next 5 years. In 2008, the EPA released the City from the agreement due to the recovery efforts needed by Hurricane Katrina. 

Starting in Privatization in 1999, we have over the years derived a special contract to allow government agencies to get the feedback from the customer (Citizen) and provide a 5 step process of determining criteria and benchmarks whereby the contractor is an opportunity to gain the retainage back from the contract if that achieve the goals that they are given.  We are working with the City of Gulfport, Mississippi assisting with their 6th contract and Assisting the City of Laurel, Mississippi with their first contract.  See the Privatization tab for more info.

 After much research and development, Public Works performance standards and benchmarks were put into operation as part of the Privatization Contract in October 2003. These standards provide realistic goals for Public Works Streets & Drainage and Water & Sewer Divisions to follow. Response times and completion times have been predetermined for each type of problem that is called to Public Works. For example, a water leak is allowed 5 days (response time) + 1 day (completion time) + 2 days (paperwork). This results in 7 days for the entire process to be completed and all information logged into the computer system. Customer satisfaction surveys are performed by an independent accounting firm every six months. In 2006, this contract was updated and is the basis of the contract that we use today.  It has since be rebid in 2011 and now, 2021.

In 2000, with the assistance of Brown & Mitchell Engineering (Joe Brown), a Hurricane Preparedness and Recovery Plan was written and implemented. This plan provides detail procedures to be followed by Public Works personnel and was used with great success during Hurricane Katrina.  Shortly after  2005, the plan was updated with the lessons learned. In 2011, that plan was updated again and continues to be used every year by Public Works of Gulfport.

In 2003, the City of Gulfport Public Works began requiring SCADA system for all new sewer pump stations. This system allows for quicker notification of mechanical problems with the station. This results in greater reliability and proactive diagnosis of potential failures. Fewer sewer spills and electrical cost savings have been achieved. There are currently 160 sewer lift stations in the City and 160 of those have a SCADA system. All of the stations.  In 2005, Public Works installed a SCADA system on all water wells and elevated water tanks south of Interstate 10. This was paid for in full by a Homeland Security Grant at a cost of approximately $90,000. The system north of I-10 has been completed as well. This system will monitor water pressure, chlorine levels, and pH levels. It also provides security for entry into the station and helps diagnosis problems before complete failure. Fewer water outages are expected from

implementation of this system. Before the purchase of these systems, members of Public Works toured the Water & Sewer

Authority that services Pensacola, Florida. These systems are required by the Florida Department of Health and Environmental Quality. It is only a matter of time before Mississippi adopts similar requirements. We are proactively implementing this system.

Coming Soon

In March 2002, the Department of Public Works implemented a new work order system. This system, Cityworks, cost the City of Gulfport approximately $80,000.00. Cityworks is a program used nationwide in cities such as Long Beach, CA, Salt Lake City, UT, and Houston, TX. It combines the mapping features of ArcView with database organization. The program allows the

operators the ability to view water, sewer, streets, easements, open requests, water well, sewer lift stations, buildings, and numerous other features throughout the City. It also provides historic information for completed service requests and work orders. Reports can be generated that summarize open service requests to reduce errors caused by forgotten or misplaced paperwork.

The system was updated in June 2013 to the newest web-based system. 

All of the projects build to FHWA/MDOT standards and using the LPA Process.  The total cost of the construction of these roads is approximately $20.0 Million.  Working the FHWA process is not easy and requires a firm that understands all of the steps.  We are here for you.