ON THE RECORD/Running public works not for faint of heart
When the electricity goes out during a mid-night snowstorm in Halfway, Ore., Public Works Director Page Frederickson expects a phone call. The sole full-time member of the 345-resident town’s public works department, Frederickson’s job can include everything from testing water to writing tickets for fowl violations. In a recent interview with American City & County, Frederickson shared the unique challenges — and joys — of her never-dull position.
Q: What are your responsibilities as public works director?
A: Being a public works director in a small town, I would think, is a lot different than it is in a larger city. My responsibilities include overseeing all the day-to-day operations of both the water and wastewater systems. I also take care of anything that involves the streets, repairing stop signs that get run into regularly, and ordering parts, making sure that the equipment is maintained. I handle a lot of federal and state reports and am responsible for plans, operation manuals, requirements for water and wastewater testing, snow removal in the winter and, I’m even the dog catcher. Also, living in the country, I’ve had to write tickets for people because their chickens were in their neighbor’s yard. That got a lot of laughs around town.
Q: What are the unique challenges of a small town public works director?
A: I really have to use my creativity and my innovation to get a job done with very little equipment, no extra man power and no money. In small towns there’s no money to operate, but it’s the same thing as in a big town: if the water meter breaks, you have to fix it. As easy as that sounds, our budget is so tight, that it may be fine if one breaks, but what happens if three or five break? Then you are in financial trouble.
Q: What projects or programs are you most proud of?
A: I’m very proud of cleaning up the lagoon area. This last year, we accomplished replacing and upgrading the city’s primary water submersible pump in our main well. I’ve performed a lot of cleanup and some minor repairs of equipment. I was involved in overseeing the construction of a new irrigation system, which allows us to land-deploy the treated wastewater for part of the year. This is the first year that was in operation.
Q: What is it like working primarily with men all the time?
A: I’ve always worked in male-oriented jobs and enjoy physical work. I get a lot of support from other public works directors that I interact with. They know that if I’m in the job, then I can handle it. You just can’t slack off. I usually keep up and do very well. They respect that.
Q: Do you have any advice for other public works directors in similar positions?
A: If there’s any way they can network with other small communities around them and listen to other ideas, there might be something they haven’t thought of. In this part of Oregon, we have several small towns that are far apart, but we are all in the same boat. We get together and we all say, “I’m dealing with this, have you dealt with this?” We exchange ideas so that we can help each other in any way.
Q: What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
A: Halfway sits in one of the most beautiful little valleys that the United States has, so it’s perfect for outdoor activities. I like gardening, hunting, driving in the mountains. I’m also in a woman’s tribal belly dancing group. We have a teacher that lives in the area, and women from some of the nearby towns all get together. We dress up in costumes and perform at jubilees and in parades. It’s great because I get a lot of support from those women.
