Public Works Department

Statement of Function
The Public Works Department is the management center for planning and implementing engineering design, construction, and maintenance programs within the Engineering, Traffic Engineering, Coastal Engineering, Land Acquisition, Facilities Management, Stormwater Engineering, Fleet Management, Telecommunications, and Road and Bridge Divisions. The function of the Public Works Department is to provide complete infrastructure and infrastructure maintenance for transportation, stormwater/drainage, communications, government buildings, parks, recreation, and beaches within Indian River County, as well as meeting the fleet management and building maintenance needs of all County departments and constitutional officers.

2021/2022 Goals and Objectives

• Replace the roof on the Facilities and Animal Control building.
• Replace the roof on the IRC Courthouse.
• Replace the roof on the Road and Bridge Buildings.
• Replace ceiling tiles in the North County Library.
• Replace concrete at the entrances of the Admin. Buildings.
• Continue changing lighting to LED to save the County on utility bills.
• Continue the acquisition of right-of-way for 66th Avenue Widening 1505B and Project #1356 58th Avenue/33rd Street.
• Continue to manage commercial properties, and lease the vacant unit at Sebastian Corners.
• Manage County leases on properties acquired for road projects.
• Assist departments with inquiries for appraisals, easements, deeds and purchase agreements. • Complete roadway construction and site plan projects for: 66th Avenue/8th Street Intersection – Signalization, 43rd Avenue (18th Street to 26th Street) (SR 60), 58th Avenue (49th Street to 57th Street – Waterway Village), 58th Avenue (57th Street to CR510), 4th Street Culvert Replacement at 90th Avenue, Moorhen Marsh LEAPS Stormwater Facility.
• Continue to shift the document and record keeping process to an Electronic Data Management System which will allow for the increased efficiency in data sharing between County Staff/Consultants/Contractors, ensure our compliance with Sunshine Law requirements, improve our ability to rapidly respond to public information requests, and minimize the resources and staff time required for the record data retrieval processes.
• Continue to upgrade the Engineering Divisions computer and related IT systems in order to increase staff productivity and facilitate a continued shift towards an electronic data-based environment.
• Continue countywide beach profile survey as part of the Beach Preservation Plan.
• Continue to construct artificial reefs offshore of Indian River County.
• Continue sea turtle monitoring under Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).
• Continue to implement outreach programs on sea turtles, natural resources, and dune vegetation.
• Complete construction of Phase 1 of the Sector 3 Beach and Dune Restoration project.
• Construct Phase 2 of the Sector 3 Beach and Dune Restoration project.
• Obtain remaining easements within the Sector 7 project area to begin construction in the 2022/2023 construction season.
• Pursue funds for the Plan Development Phase of the Management Plan.
• Secure State funds for shoreline mapping.
• Continue to work with the local regulatory offices with regards to derelict vessel identification and removal within the Indian River Lagoon. • Develop the Indian River County Indian River Lagoon Plan.
• Continue working with the FDEP on their BMAP refinement efforts to appropriately identify nitrogen and phosphorus loadings to the Lagoon and targeted Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) reductions that will be required for Indian River County to meet.
• Partner with municipal neighbors to begin Lagoon-wide shoreline mapping.
• Explore and implement opportunities to improve the overall health and water quality within the Indian River Lagoon.
• Complete design and permitting of Oyster Reef/Living shoreline project in the Indian River Lagoon.
• Complete construction of Moorhen Marsh Low Energy Aquatic Plant System (Moorhen Marsh), a regional stormwater pollution control facility that will remove pollution from the IRFWCD North Relief Canal water.
• Begin Moorhen Marsh operation.
• Continue monitoring water quality on the Indian River Farms Water Control District's North, South, and Main Relief Canals.
• Continue to educate citizens and businesses, and enforce the Fertilizer Ordinance County-wide, including the City of Vero Beach and the Town of Indian River Shores.
• Continue with Pavement Marking Improvements: Re-strip 45 Lane Miles of faded or worn pavement marking (various locations).
• Traffic Signal Upgrades for Brightline signals and crossings, FDOT RRR projects, 1st St SW and 27th Avenue, 45th St & Old Dixie Hwy, 41st St & Old Dixie Hwy, 11th Drive & 36th Street, 69th & 58th Ave. beacon to signal.
• Replace Fleet Management fuel island canopy and fuel pumps.
• Paint Fleet Management building doors and strip and repaint Shop floors with non-slip paint.
• Resurface 11.2 miles of roadway.
• Replace approximately 100 failing culverts throughout the County.