The City of Knoxville's Department of Public Works is responsible for maintenance and preservation of municipal infrastructure. The City maintains over 120 miles of streets, three public parks, the Graceland Cemetery, and operates a municipal wastewater plant. Streets and sewers are the city's most expensive investments and the City works very hard to preserve these. In 2001, the City of Knoxville adopted (PDF) the Statewide Urban Design Specifications Manual, or SUDAS, which influences design and specifications of infrastructure projects.
The department has 13 full-time employees and three divisions - Streets, Cemetery and Sewer. Each of the divisions report to the City Manager who oversees the operations of the department. Each year, the City Council approves construction and improvement projects which improve the quality of life for residents and visitors in Knoxville.