Source: https://cityofaurora.org/departments/street-department/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 12:19:15+00:00

Document:
The Water, Sewer, and Street Departments are responsible for all activities and/or maintenance associated to the City’s water, sewer, and street infrastructure.
The City of Aurora water system covers nearly 2,000 acres and consists of approximately 55 miles of water main ranging in size from 2” to 16”. The system is supplied by six municipal water wells and a 300,000-gallon water storage tower. The city wells were constructed in 1956, 1965 (re-drilled in 2005), 1973, 1978, 1999, and 2016. The water tower was constructed in 1956. Based on our 2017 water usage data the wells pumped an average of 923,240 gallons per day and an annual total of 336,982,500 gallons.
The sewer collection system covers nearly 2,000 acres and consists of approximately 45 miles of sewer main ranging in size from 4” to 24”. The system includes four lift stations and approximately 7,500 lineal feet of 8” force main. The collection system carries approximately 900,000 gallons per day to our waste water treatment facility.
The 2010 census population of Aurora was 4,479. The water system currently serves approximately 2,000 resident connections and approximately 29 non-resident connections (outside corporate limits). The sewer collection system currently serves approximately 2,000 resident connections and approximately 90 non-resident connections (outside corporate limits).
The City street infrastructure consists of approximately 96 lane miles of concrete, brick, asphalt, and gravel streets. The city is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the streets as well as curbs, bridges, drainage culverts, pedestrian and school crosswalks, traffic signals, installation and repairs, traffic control and signage, pavement markings, city storm sewer and drainage system, street sweeping, mowing and noxious weed control of public right-of-ways and properties, grading, ice control and snow removal operations, storm damage and cleanup, traffic control for emergency services and City Council approved community events.
Pursuant to the statutes of the State of Nebraska, including Neb. RS 18-1917, no person shall engage in or work at the business of master plumber or journeyman plumber in the city until licensed as a master plumber or journeyman plumber. Application for licensing shall be made in writing to the City Clerk- Treasurer, showing the name and residence of the applicant, the business location of the applicant and other information as the Clerk-Treasurer may require. Before laying out and installing electrical wiring, apparatus and equipment for major electrical home equipment on the load side of the main service, an electrical installer’s license (or higher) must also be obtained from the State Electrical Board and the inspection requirements met pursuant to § 113.02 of this code of ordinances.
Pursuant to the statutes of the State of Nebraska, including Neb. RS 17-121, 17-123 and 17-145, each plumber shall be required to provide the city with a personal surety bond in an amount as set by City Council resolution signed by one or more sufficient sureties, or a bond in that amount from an approved corporate surety, conditioned that the licensee shall indemnify and hold harmless the city from all accidents, damage, liability, claims, judgments, costs or expense caused by any negligence arising from a failure to adequately protect plumbing work, by unfinished, unskilled or inadequate work, or arising out of furnishing defective material; and that the licensee shall adhere to the rules, regulations and requirements of the city. All bonds tendered by the applicant for a license shall be approved as to form and substance by the City Attorney before being signed by the Mayor.
(A)	In accordance with the statutes of the State of Nebraska, including Neb. RS 17-145, application for a license and examination of a master plumber shall be made in writing at the office of the City Clerk-Treasurer on forms furnished which shall show the name and residence of the applicant, the business location of the applicant and any other information as may be required by the Clerk-Treasurer. The applicant shall pay an examination fee in an amount set by City Council resolution which shall be non-refundable in the event that the applicant is denied the license.
(B)	A master plumber’s license shall not be issued unless the applicant shall have first successfully passed an examination, paid an initial license fee as set by City Council resolution, and has posted the bond required. The applicant shall satisfy the Sewer Commissioner by a written examination that the applicant possesses the qualifications and fitness to install plumbing, and if the Commissioner is satisfied that the applicant possesses the necessary qualifications, the Commissioner shall recommend the issuance of a license to the Mayor and Council. The license shall thereafter be renewed annually upon payment of a license fee in an amount set by City Council resolution and the continuance of the required bond.
(C)	A license may be issued to a journeyman plumber upon application made in writing by the master plumber under whose supervision the journeyman plumber will be working, at the office of the City Clerk-Treasurer on forms furnished by the City Clerk-Treasurer which shall show the name and residence of the journeyman plumber, and the name and address of the master plumber under whose supervision the journeyman plumber will be working. A license shall be issued upon payment of an annual fee as set by City Council resolution, and the license shall be reissued each year so long as the applicant remains under the direct supervision of the master plumber named in the application.
§ 112.04 REGISTRATION OF FIRM.
Any firm may be registered hereunder as a master plumber in the name of the firm, provided that the firm shall have a master plumber who is duly registered as provided in this chapter and who is a bona fide officer of the firm or an employee who is regularly employed by the firm and is actually engaged in the planning, superintending and practical installation of plumbing and drainage. The master plumber shall be in actual charge of and responsible for the installation, removal or repair of any plumbing or drainage work done by the firm.
§ 112.05 EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL OF REGISTRATIONS.
All registrations shall expire on April 30 of each year and shall not be assignable. Certificates of registration may be renewed at expiration upon the recommendation of the Sewer Commissioner, without an examination, upon payment of the required registration fee.
§ 112.06 UNLAWFUL TO TRANSFER CERTIFICATE.
No registered plumber shall allow another person to use his or her name, directly or indirectly, to obtain a permit for the installation of any work; and if any registered plumber violates this provision, the Mayor and Council shall forthwith revoke the certificate of registration issued to that registered plumber, and the registered plumber may be prosecuted under the penalty section of this chapter.
The provisions of this chapter relating to plumbers shall not apply to any public utility company serving the city and its inhabitants under a franchise agreement with the city, nor to its agents and employees, and shall not be construed as a limitation or restriction upon any franchises heretofore granted by the city.
(A)	In accordance with the statutes of the State of Nebraska, including Neb. RS 17-505, any person who shall violate or refuse to comply with the enforcement of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $500 for any one offense, recoverable with costs.
(B)	A new violation shall be deemed to have been committed every 24 hours of failure to comply.
§ 113.01 LICENSE AND OCCUPATION TAX CERTIFICATE.
Pursuant to the statutes of the State of Nebraska, including Neb. RS 81-2121, 81-2124, 81-2125, 81-2129 and 81-2132, all new electrical installations for commercial or industrial applications, including installations both inside and outside of the buildings, and for public-use buildings and facilities and any installation at the request of the owner shall be subject to the inspection and enforcement provisions of the State Electrical Act. Nothing, however, shall prohibit an owner of property from performing work on his or her principal residence or farm property, excluding commercial or industrial installations or installations in public use buildings or facilities. No electrical installation subject to inspection shall be newly connected or reconnected for use until there is filed with the electrical utility supplying power a certificate of the property owner or licensed electrician directing the work that inspection has been requested and that the conditions of the installation are safe for energization. The work of employees of municipal corporations public power districts, public power and irrigation districts, railroads, electric membership or cooperative associations, public utility corporations or telephone or telegraph systems shall not required to be inspected while those employees are acting within the scope of their employment.
Pursuant to the statutes of the State of Nebraska, including Neb. RS 17-123, 17-136 and 17-549, each holder of the occupation tax certificate shall be required to provide the city with a personal surety bond in an amount as set by City Council resolution, signed by one or more sufficient sureties or a bond in that amount from an approved corporate surety, conditioned that the holder shall indemnify and hold harmless the city from all accidents, damage, liability, claims, judgments, costs or expense caused by any negligence arising from a failure to adequately protect electrical work, by unfinished, unskilled or inadequate work, or arising out of furnishing defective material; and that the holder shall adhere to the rules, regulations and requirements of the city and state. All bonds tendered by the applicant for a license shall be approved as to form and substance by the City Attorney before being signed by the Mayor.
§ 113.04 APPLICATION FOR OCCUPATION TAX CERTIFICATE.
In accordance with the statutes of the State of Nebraska, including Neb. RS 17-525, application for an occupation tax certificate shall be made in writing at the office of the City Clerk-Treasurer on forms furnished by the Clerk-Treasurer which shall show the name and residence of the applicant, the business location of the applicant and any other information as may be required by the Clerk-Treasurer. The applicant shall pay a fee as set by City Council resolution which shall be non-refundable and which shall be credited to the General Fund. Each occupation tax certificate shall expire on December 31 of each year. The certificate may thereafter be renewed annually upon the payment of a fee in an amount set by City Council resolution, the continuation of the required bond and a satisfactory showing that the required license has been issued by the State of Nebraska.
(A) In accordance with the statutes of the State of Nebraska, including Neb. RS 17-505, any person who shall violate or refuse to comply with the enforcement of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $500 for any one offense, recoverable with costs.
During light snowfalls, and when streets are icy, street crews will spread a mixture of salt and sand on major arterials, downtown, and at intersections with stop signs.
When enough snow has accumulated (2-6″), crews begin to plow the streets. After emergency marked streets that are designated snow routes have been plowed, work will begin on residential streets.
The City Street Department removes snow from all streets within the City Limits of Aurora. It is the Nebraska Department of Roads responsibility through a maintenance agreement with the Nebraska Department of Roads to remove snow from both Highways 34 and 14.
It is not practical to try to clear the streets of snow during daytime hours due to the amount of traffic and parked vehicles. The snow removal in the business district is usually done the night following the snowstorm. Depending on the amount of snow, the business district is generally windrowed to the center of the streets and avenues, and hauled out. If necessary, parallel parking is only allowed on streets that have been windrowed, until the snow has been removed.
Depending on the severity of the snowstorm, residential streets are usually plowed within 12 hours after the storm ends. Of course, it may take longer to clear all city streets in case of a blizzard or equipment failure.
The City Code further states that no person shall deposit, throw, blow, or otherwise dispose of any snow, ice, or hard packed snow on any public property, street, alley, or other public way except for the sidewalks in the downtown area, which snow shall be returned to the curb-line dividing the streets and sidewalks in said designated area.
What if my mailbox becomes covered with snow?
Again, because crews have no place to put the snow, curbside mailboxes may become blocked. Since the City does not have the personnel to remove snow from the mailbox area, we ask that you clear the snow from your mailbox area, according to City Code, to allow the Post Office to deliver your mail.
What is meant by a snow emergency?
When the Mayor declares a snow emergency, it simply means no vehicles may be parked on streets where you see emergency route signs. If necessary, the snow emergency may be extended to prohibit or restrict parking on arterial and residential streets. Should a snow emergency be declared, notice will be given by radio, television, and, if feasible, in the newspaper. A list of emergency routes can be found here.
Call the Police Department at 911.
The City of Aurora removes snow from 96 lane miles of streets.
Darrell has been a reliable employee of the City going on 15 years. His experience and understanding of the infrastructure and the necessity to protect the public, property, and environment including the safety of his co-workers is essential to the success of the projects and/or maintenance the City has and will be undertaking in the future. He is in constant communication with the utilities superintendent while planning and performing the day to day operations of the department. In his role as the supervisor of the Water/ Sewer/ Street departments Darrell is responsible for all aspects of the city’s infrastructure.

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§ 112

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