The City of Portage la Prairie is celebrating National Public Works Week by acknowledging how much the department does in our community.

Public Works Superintendent Brian Taylor came to Portage from Winnipeg in 1984 and calls this his home for life. He started as a transportation foreman 23 years ago before becoming the manager of public works a year-and-a-half later. Later on, when their fleet changeover took place, he became Superintendent.

Taylor says they cover a lot of ground -- and underground.

"I normally like to say that public works is, anything that's in the public's eye, is normally public works," says Taylor. "Whether it be the parks, the transportation department, waterworks department with the sewer and water maintenance, dealing with the actual parks and the cemetery and whatnot, we're always in the public eye."

Taylor's department has five full-time staff year-round with four more seasonal workers in the summer. He notes they maintain trees on city boulevards and in parks, maintain and repair streets and sidewalks, patch water and sewer main repairs, while also working with cemeteries, garbage and recycling, the tree burn site, composting site, and more.

Mayor Sharilyn Knox officially proclaimed May 21 to 27 Public Works Week in the City.