The City of Fredericksburg has a number of services for the citizens of this city. These services include public works, parks, building services, and emergency management. They also have a health department that provides medical services to residents.
Public Works
Public works is a multi-faceted concept in that it combines engineering, construction, and maintenance, and it is a critical component of the federal government. Among other functions, it is also responsible for maintaining the public infrastructure that serves a city. Several departments fall under the umbrella of Public Works, including Highway Maintenance, Engineering Services, and Fleet Maintenance.
The Department of Public Works is actually an amalgam of personnel, equipment, and policies. The department manages about 42 million dollars in assets and employs 52 folks. Its flagship program, the Bureau of Public Roads, is a good example of a large scale enterprise that provides a number of important services to the city of Fredericksburg.
Another notable department is the City of Fredericksburg’s Finance Authority, which handles all financial functions, from accounts payable and receivable to payroll processing. Aside from accounting, the finance authority also performs the mundane duties of a city clerk.
Building Services
The Community Planning and Building Department is split into two divisions, one tasked with the nitty gritty of municipal building and the other with a broader scope of land use regulation and site plans. In the interest of full disclosure, the City of Fredericksburg has a burgeoning housing shortage and is in the midst of a large scale redevelopment initiative. Whether you’re considering relocating to the Colonial Capital of the East or simply redeveloping your existing home, the CPB has your back.
There’s a lot going on in the CPB and its two facets. One of the best things about the department is the variety of services it provides to both residents and businesses. From property maintenance to inspections to land use and building codes, the CPB does it all and more.
Parks
The Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events Department is a division of the City of Fredericksburg. Its goal is to provide facilities and activities for the whole community. Some of its programs include:
The Parks Maintenance Division maintains over 1,200 acres of green space in Fredericksburg. This includes 18 miles of pathways and athletic fields. In addition, the division provides operational support for park programs.
There are two outdoor aquatic facilities in Fredericksburg. These include: Valley View Park and Hurkamp Park. The former was a health resort, while the latter is a historical park in downtown Fredericksburg. Both parks are equestrian-friendly.
In addition to the two parks, the city has nine additional parks. Alum Spring Park, for instance, is a wooded park that features picnic tables, grills and walking paths.
Emergency Management
The Fredericksburg Emergency Services (FES) is a Virginia-based agency that responds to emergencies such as natural disasters, civil unrest, and severe weather events. It works with federal agencies and the state government in order to mitigate these threats to the public’s safety. As the lead agency for these types of emergencies, FES plays a critical role in the safety of the citizens of Fredericksburg.
While the City of Fredericksburg’s emergency management efforts may be small in scale, their impact is significant. The city is considered StormReady, a designation granted to communities that have taken the necessary steps to prepare themselves for disasters. For example, the city has an Emergency Management Agency that is tasked with preparing and implementing an emergency response plan that includes the implementation of the National Incident Management System, which aims to streamline and standardize the processes and procedures used to prepare for, manage, and respond to major incidents.
Gillespie County Health Department
The Gillespie County Health Department and Fredericksburg City Services can help you prevent diseases from spreading. They work to protect the health of residents by conducting risk reduction activities and educating communities. In addition to preventing diseases, they work to promote healthy habits.
A county program called the Gillespie County Indigent Healthcare Program provides medically necessary health care benefits. It offers a sliding scale for patients. Patients are required to bring proof of household income and their insurance card.
Several clinics offer free HIV/STD screenings. They also provide Hepatitis and Chlamydia testing. There are also Gonorrhea and Syphilis screenings. For a patient to be eligible for these services, they must meet eligibility requirements and complete clinical forms.
The Gillespie County Health Department also works to prevent the spread of disease through inspections of public swimming pools, food establishments, foster homes, daycare centers, and hotels. These departments follow the rules and procedures of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC) and the State of Texas.