Public Works Open House

As part of National Public Works Week May 21-27, an open house and heavy equipment demonstration at Waterloo Public Works is set for Wednesday, May 24, from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. Located at 625 Glenwood Street in Waterloo, the free event is open to the public and gives visitors an up-close look at heavy equipment like graders, sweepers, lift and garbage trucks—including a chance to ride in them!

This family-friendly celebration also offers a behind-the-scenes facilities tour to check out the skills, tools and equipment required to maintain the city’s infrastructure and provide daily services we often take for granted—like garbage pick-up. Refreshments will be served.

Children must be accompanied by an adult and will be given safety equipment during their visit. Special arrangements can be made for groups to tour earlier that day.

If there is rain or severe weather, the event will be held the next day on Thursday, May 25 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm.

The Waterloo Public Works departments include 120 employees across six divisions:
1. Street Department
2. Sanitation Department
3. Traffic Operations
4. Animal Control Services
5. Waste Management
6. City Fleet Management Department
The departments oversee:
  • 920 miles of roads
  • 198 traffic signals
  • 1,800 street lights and thousands of signs
  • 160 miles of line striping and pavement marking
  • 277 miles of sidewalk
  • 717 pieces of equipment and vehicles; including cars, mowers, trucks, snowplows, street sweepers, fire trucks, ambulances and police cars
  • 23,000 households’ garbage pick-up (over 25,000 garbage carts and 11,000 yard waste carts)
  • Animal Control services for residents of Waterloo, Cedar Falls and UNI
To arrange a tour for groups like students, seniors or those with special needs, please contact Sheila Steffen at 319-291-4440.