|
Most of you probably only think about our Memphis Public Works Division when you experience potholes needing to be filled or during a rare winter storm when the streets are being plowed and de-iced. And even then, you probably just think about that work as part of what “the city” does for our residents.
And you would be right because this division is responsible for so much of what you think about as the city. As the third largest division in City Government, Public Works operates and maintains crucial infrastructure, including streets, sanitary sewers, storm drains, bridges, flood control systems, and the City's publicly owned Treatment Works. The division oversees Code Enforcement, Environmental Enforcement, Commercial Code Enforcement, the Grounds Department, and Memphis City Beautiful. The 900 people of our Public Works department manage and maintain Memphis' 320 square miles with a fleet of 580 vehicles and 250 pieces of heavy equipment.
It is no easy task to keep Public Works running smoothly, but for more than two decades, Director Robert Knecht contributed to the division’s success. Knecht joined the city in 2002 and became the Director of Public Works in 2015. And as many of you know, today is Director Knecht’s last day leading the division.
He has been a transformative force, restructuring the division and pioneering the use of new technology.
When illegal dumping complaints increased by 300% during COVID, Knecht deployed 100 trail cameras, often used by hunters, and hid them in inconspicuous places to catch the dumpers in action. He spearheaded an AI project that placed cameras on city equipment to locate potholes and code violations, and he has worked tirelessly to oversee a $350 million upgrade to the T.E. Maxson Wastewater Treatment Plant.
When we asked Knecht how he was feeling about his retirement this week, he responded in traditional Knecht fashion, sharing his accomplishments with his team: "It's bittersweet. I love this job. I love the people. It has been an amazing opportunity to serve our city along with my amazing team." Knecht looked back at his career, saying some of his highlights were creating the Commercial Code and Environmental Code Enforcement Departments to help tackle blight and illegal dumping.
He hopes his successor will be able to move faster on roadway work by utilizing a recently completed assessment of all Memphis streets. The plan used an industry-standard tool to assess the condition of our roads, helping to determine where to make strategic investments.
His successor will also have the opportunity to finish multiple large Public Works projects currently in the planning stages, such as a $27 million solar project designed to offset electrical use and a greywater facility, which will use sewer water to cool industrial equipment for the TVA-Allen Combined Cycle Plant and possibly the xAI Supercomputer facility.
On behalf of all residents of the city of Memphis, I congratulate Knecht on a job spectacularly done and wish him every success in his future endeavors.
Blight Zero! Our new initiative, following the success of Code Zero, Blight Zero focuses on clean-up efforts in specific high-need areas. Earlier this week, the team worked in the Austin Peay area with GREAT Results!!
Mental Health Matters
I must also address the topic of mental health this week. On Monday, a man took his life at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. This tragic event is a sobering reminder of the silent battles many individuals in our community face every day. Just as we have adopted a holistic approach to address our crime problem, we must also consider mental health issues comprehensively.
A holistic approach to mental health involves addressing a person's emotional, cognitive, physical, and spiritual needs. In Memphis, at the very location where this tragedy occurred, there are resources available that might have provided the necessary support to prevent this outcome.
Our Memphis Public Library system is among the few nationwide that employ social workers. Though based at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, these social workers can assist at any branch, meeting individuals where they are. In addition, Community Outreach Workers are also stationed at several of our branches, ready to offer support.
Social workers and outreach workers can be reached by calling 211. These services are part of a broader network of resources dedicated to helping those in need, providing up-to-date information and guidance, and ensuring that help is just a phone call away.
Solid Waste Fee Increase.
Beginning with the August-dated MLGW invoices, city of Memphis single-family residential customers will notice a $12 monthly increase to your solid waste fee. This fee covers all garbage, recycling, and bulk waste pickup services provided by the city of Memphis.
Some small commercial customers and apartment dwellers will also experience a 23% increase from your previous rate. The senior rate will also go up by 23% from $7.50 to $9.23.
The new fee will be listed on page 2 of your MLGW bill.
Questions? Please reach out to 311 or 901-636-6500.
 Urgent Need for Foster Pet Parents. Our community's furry friends need your help! Memphis Animal Services is seeking compassionate people to foster mama dogs, mama cats, and their litters. We have a particular need for those willing to care for young babies, including some that require bottle feeding. Your temporary care can make a lifelong difference for these animals.
MAS provides all necessary supplies, food, and medical care for foster pets. You supply the love and temporary home, we'll handle the rest!
Interested in fostering? Visit I Want to Foster - Memphis Animal Services for more information and to apply to join our foster network.
Adoption Opportunity: Two adorable guinea pigs are also looking for their forever home. To meet them and other adoptable pets, visit MAS at 2350 Appling City Cove, Memphis, TN 38133 (Mon. - Fri., 1-6 p.m., Sat. & Sun., 12-4 p.m.) or view our them on our website at www.memphisanimalservices.com. By fostering or adopting, you can help create a more compassionate community for all our animal companions.
Weekly Crime Trend
The report below provides our weekly update on Part 1 Crimes. It updates daily and shows a continuous rolling 7-day total compared to the prior 7-day total. The date range for each 7-day period is shown below the table. The charts on the right show the calendar week trend, comparing 2023 to 2024. We maintain two crime dashboards, the Weekly Crime Trend report can be found here, and the Crime Analytics dashboard can be accessed here.
Our Strike Team worked in the following zip codes this week: 38109, 38116, 38118, 38127, and 38128.
Social and Community Shout-outs:
District Dumpster Days. Help keep our streets free of litter and unwanted items by utilizing our FREE dumpster in District 7, this Saturday! See full details here.
American Aspiration Tour. Join us for the American Aspiration Tour with Mayor Paul Young, John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE for an engaging discussion on the future of Memphis. See full details here.
City of Memphis Hiring Event. Join us on July 27, 2024, from 10am to 1pm at the Gaisman Community Center for our Hiring Event! See full details here.
Weekly round-up
🌟 Weekly Round-Up: Celebrating Interns, Engaging with Youth, and Advancing Community Health! 🌟
This week in Memphis was filled with exciting events and notable achievements:
National Intern Day 🎉👩💻👨💻
Youth Engagement 🏛️👦👧
Healthcare Advancements 🏥🎉
Industry Insight 🌬️🏨
Join us in celebrating these milestones and the ongoing commitment to improving our city and engaging with our community! 🌟👏 #MemphisProgress #InternshipSpotlight #YouthEngagement #HealthcareAdvancement #IndustryLeadership
See full post Here. And see how we celebrated National Intern Day here.
Please check out our "We Love Memphis!" compilation and share what you love about Memphis in the comments! Facebook. Instagram. LinkedIn. Youtube.
|
