TO: Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Cale Curtis, City Manager
DATE: June 4, 2025
Title
RECOGNIZING DEES UTILITIES DIVISION LEADER NICK MARAGH’S REGIONAL ACHIEVEMENT CHAMPION OF THE 2025 BACKHOE ROADEO
BACKGROUND: The City of Margate proudly recognizes Nick Maragh, Division Leader in the Department of Environmental and Engineering Services (DEES), for his outstanding performance and 1st place victory at the 5th Annual Public Works Backhoe ROaDEO, held on May 21, 2025, in the City of Coral Springs.
Held in celebration of National Public Works Week, this event was sponsored by American Public Works Association (APWA) and featured 28 skilled equipment operators from across South Florida, representing 11 municipalities and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Competitors were tested on precision, control, and speed through five events: the Hard Hat Drop, Hole-in-One, Bartender, Perfection, and Rings.
Nick distinguished himself from other highly competitive operators, and earned:
• First Place in "Hole-in-One" challenge - which requires to transfer six golf balls from a sand trap into a hole using the backhoe bucket. Nick completed the challenge flawlessly within the two-minute time limit.
• The Overall 2025 Coral Springs Backhoe Roadeo, which means that Nick had the highest combined score across all five challenges.
As the 2025 Regional Champion, Nick will represent the APWA South Florida Branch at the Florida Chapter APWA 2026 Equipment Rodeo in Tampa, taking place April 6-9, 2026. If victorious there, he’ll advance to the APWA National Equipment Championship in Chicago in August 2026, representing the State of Florida on a national stage.
CONTACT PERSON: Curt Keyser, DEES Director