New Preservation Team Program Provides Service Opportunities for Employees

With the popularity of the yearly Day of Caring projects and to better meet challenges in our community, the City has created a new Preservation Team Program that will give employees the opportunity to serve throughout the year without having to use accumulated leave.

As part of the new program, employee volunteers, in coordination with their supervisors and department directors, will have an opportunity to assist with exterior clean-up projects at residential properties who have homeowners that are in great need of assistance and are not maintaining their properties to a community standard. Those being helped will include seniors, singles mothers/fathers, and those that are disabled. Team members may also help with clean-up projects in general areas/fence lines such as Orem Blvd., on public right of ways, and at parks and other city properties.  The main focus of the program, however, will be residential homes and properties.

Neighborhood Preservation Unit (NPU) Officers will identify potential properties and will manage most of the projects with help from Community Services and Public Works.  It is expected that there will be one to two project opportunities per month.  A mobile tool library has been created to provide the needed tools and equipment for all the projects.

Employee service opportunities will be posted on Walter and in the Ditty. Project sign-ups will be online and will be available for individuals and department teams.  The first Preservation Team project is being planned for sometime in October.

The City sees this as a way to encourage team building, provide employees the opportunity to give back to their community, help residents in need, and spruce up neighborhoods.

For questions and information, please contact Kena Mathews at (801) 229-7023 or kjmathews@orem.org.