Riverton to host National Public Works Week equipment expo Friday at City Hall

(Riverton, WY) – Riverton Mayor Tim Hancock read a proclamation Tuesday designating May 17-23 as National Public Works Week in town.

The proclamation notes that public works professionals “focus on infrastructure, facilities, and services that are of vital importance to sustainable and resilient communities and to public health, high quality of life, and well-being of the people of Riverton.”

“These infrastructure, facilities, and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public works professionals, who are engineers, managers, and employees at all levels of government and the private sector (and) who are responsible for rebuilding, improving, and protecting our nation’s transportation, water supply, water treatment and solid waste systems, public buildings, and other structures and facilities essential for our citizens,” Hancock read.

“It is in the public interest for the citizens, civic leaders, and children in Riverton to gain knowledge of and maintain an ongoing interest and understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs in their respective communities, (so) I urge all citizens to join with representatives of the American Public Works Association and government agencies in activities, events, and ceremonies designed to pay tribute to our public works professionals, engineers, managers, and employees, and to recognize the substantial contributions they make to protecting our national health, safety, and advancing quality of life for all.”

To celebrate National Public Works Week, Riverton Public Works Director Brendan Thoman said the city will host an equipment expo from noon to 3 p.m. Friday in the parking lot at Riverton City Hall, 816 N. Federal Blvd.

“We’ve asked any parents, any families, any students, any kids to come out and view the equipment (that) the employees of the city use to take care of the city on a daily basis,” Thoman said.

Attendees will also have a chance to “put in a bid for the new name of the street sweeper,” Thoman added. 

So far, he said names that have been suggested for the new piece of equipment include “Riverton Rumba” and “Dirt Reynolds.”

Hancock expressed a preference for “Dirt Reynolds” but added that he is “open to any and all ideas” the public suggests. 

“I think that’s (a) great way to celebrate public works week,” he said, inviting local residents to stop by the Friday expo. “We would certainly appreciate anyone who wishes to attend (and) appreciate all that public works does in all the different capacities.”