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Citizens wanting the opportunity to learn firsthand about the inner workings and operations of Suffolk Public Works will soon have their chance.

The Suffolk Public Works Department is hosting its first Public Works Citizen Academy beginning in October, according to a news release.

Sessions will be broken down to provide an overview of the wide array of services the department provides to the city, from building multi-million dollar infrastructure projects to emptying trash cans.  Officials said the program will involve not only classroom instruction, but also tours of our facilities and equipment plus hands-on lessons.

This free six week academy is set for 6-8 p.m. Thursdays, running from Oct. 13 through Nov. 17 with a graduation ceremony.

“The academy is our chance to share not only what we do, but the reasons why we do it,” Director of Public Works Robert Lewis said in the news release. “It is our goal to provide the best services we can for the citizens of Suffolk and this is a chance for them to learn firsthand about those services and get answers to any questions they might have from our team.”

Through a series of presentations, demonstrations and hands-on activities citizens are given an inside look of day-to-day Public Works operations. Topics to be covered include an introduction to local government, welcome to public works, roadways, traffic engineering, refuse and recycling, mosquito control, fleet, Suffolk transit, stormwater, engineering, development and emergency management.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and a Suffolk resident.  Spaces are limited.

Applications can be downloaded from the website at www.suffolkva.us/1655/Public-Works-Citizen-Academy or can be obtained at Public Works Engineering in City Hall, 442 West Washington St., or Public Works Operations, 800 Carolina Rd.

For questions or to request an application, contact Community Outreach Coordinator Wayne Jones, (757) 514-7716 wjones@suffolkva.us.