NORTHEAST TOWN—The Northeast Town’s public works crew, just like the rest of Manitoulin Island’s municipal and First Nation public works crews, have been working extra hard these past few weeks to keep their highways and byways safe, but some members of the public are not offering them the courtesy they so richly deserve.
At a public works/community services committee meeting last Thursday night, CAO Dave Williamson gave council a heads up about the treatment public works staff have been receiving from some ratepayers.
“Public works has 10 people,” he began. “Those 10 people have been working seven days a week, 60 hours a week. They’ve been getting phone calls; people are flipping them off. Crews are taking abuse.”
Mr. Williamson said the calls begin at about 7 am to both public works garages, Little Current and Howland, and at the municipal office, and said many of those calls contain “colourful language.”
He reminded council that this crew of 10 is responsible for 140 kilometres of rural roads and upwards of 40 kilometres of urban roads and, additionally, sidewalks in Little Current.
“Their priority is to keep the roads open and to keep the sidewalks open, then go clear snow,” Mr. Williamson said, noting that the countless weather events appear to be wearing people down.
“We far and away exceed ministry safety standards,” the CAO continued. “The public works crew should be applauded, not criticized.”
Councillor Dawn Orr said she knows first-hand what it’s like for these employees as she was married to a roads superintendent, the late Wayne Orr.
“These guys should be given a thank you by council, and by the whole town,” she said.
“We appreciate the hard work,” Mayor MacNevin echoed.
