The Mid-Atlantic chapter of the American Public Works Association is holding its annual conference at the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center from May 10 – 12. Fredericksburg’s Department of Public Works has been actively involved in the event’s organization with support from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism.
Approximately 300 public works professionals from Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and West Virginia will be in Fredericksburg for the three-day conference that will feature a number of presentations covering road construction, stormwater management, community relations, work-zone safety, environmental protection, snow removal, pedestrian-friendly streets, solid waste, keeping communities clean and more. Among the presenters will be Fredericksburg’s Assistant City Manager Doug Fawcett, who will discuss best practices in customer service.
Companies that provide public works equipment, materials, supplies and services will be on display in the exposition hall of the Expo Center. One of the highlights of the meeting will be the annual “roadeo” competition, which will feature public works equipment operators vying with each other to best navigate various types of heavy equipment through obstacle courses. Students from Hugh Mercer Elementary school will be attending the competition and learning about the various types of equipment used in various public works related operations.
The conference will include a community service project, with volunteers planting approximately ten trees along a recently widened segment of Fall Hill Avenue where trees have been removed for the roadway project.
