In a town where it used to seem that the sidewalks had more cracks than a jigsaw puzzle and the curbs were waiting for a facelift longer than your grandma’s old couch, there are still some who wonder why we need a Public Works Department. A common refrain is that we never needed one in the past, so why do we need one now? But it is exactly because of the infrastructure issues we face that we really need a Public Works Department.
The Sidewalk Assessment Report of 2019 and the Curb and Gutter Assessment of 2016 were a lot like some people’s New Year’s resolutions—well-intentioned but left gathering dust and forgotten after a few weeks. Fast forward to 2022-2024, and the long-awaited work on these projects was finally begun. Why the delay, you ask? Well, it turns out that not having a full-time staff can slow things down a bit. Who knew?
Residents have been dodging potholes and navigating uneven sidewalks like a real-life game of “The Floor is Lava” for years. And while some may have thought that the cracks were just part of the town’s charm, it turns out that these projects were simply waiting for someone to fix them. The Public Works Department, operating with a skeleton crew, had to prioritize projects like a kid with a mountain of homework and only one night to finish it. And when you’re juggling multiple projects with limited staff, it turns out that things just take a little longer.
Despite the delays, the town’s residents are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel—or rather, the smoothness at the end of the sidewalk. The newly repaired curbs and gutters are a sight for sore eyes, and the sidewalks are now safe for walking, jogging, and even the occasional game of hopscotch.
So, what does the full-time Public Works Department do now? Here’s what: continue the good work we’ve started and plan for long-term consistency and continuity so that the rest of the infrastructure plans get accomplished and future generations of residents enjoy well-maintained sewers, streets, sidewalks and other physical aspects of our small town. It is because of our Public Works Department that the town is now armed with a ten-year plan for improvements to all aspects of its infrastructure. And regular assessments and evaluations are necessary to prioritize work and inspect current conditions. Going back to the days of deferred maintenance is not the answer. I think we all agree to this common sense. Or at least, one can dream, right?
In the meantime, let’s all enjoy the newly improved infrastructure and hope that the next round of assessments and improvements doesn’t take another decade to come to fruition. Cheers to progress, and moving forward!
