Pandemic presents its own challenges for public works managers

Craig Bakay | Apr 01, 2020

As the Spring season emerges, municipal public works departments normally are gearing up for all their summer projects. But given our current circumstances, ‘normal’ is a relative term these days.

So, The Frontenac News put the question to Public Works Managers in our coverage area: Are the potholes getting filled in?

“It’s a challenge,” said Public Works Foreman Gregg Wise in North Frontenac, who’s filling in while Darwyn Sproule is off. “But we’re managing . . . the guys are all on board . . . we’re taking some precautions.

“(But) The work never stops.”

He said they’re concentrating on patching holes on paved roads.

“And we’re closely watching the water levels.”

In Addington Highlands, the paved roads are in pretty good shape, said Supervisor Brett Reavie.

“We’re doing a limited amount but the half-loads restrictions are still affecting us,” he said. “We’re working to the best of our capabilities but the spring thaw is as much an issue on our gravel roads as anything.”

But, he said: “There is a pandemic.

“Things take longer as everybody is doing social distancing. We may have to send two vehicles to a site.”

“This is nuts!” said South Frontenac’s Director of Public Services Marg Segsworth. “Potholes? We’re trying to fix the bigger ones.

“We’re trying our best to keep the gravel roads graded, pick up the garbage and recycling and keep an eye on the beaver dams — those cute little rascals.”

Segsworth said they haven’t had to deal with anything major, but with an inch of rain in the weekend forecast, that could change in a hurray.

“The weather dictates a lot,” he said. “Right now, we’re just providing basic services.”

He said that to a certain extent, being between seasons means there is less to do.

“The grass hasn’t started growing yet,” he said. “We’re managing.

“But we’re also trying to do our part (with social distancing and such) which means that things are taking longer to do.”

He said also that things are changing so fast, it’s hard to know what to expect.

“Last Friday seems like it was ago,” he said. “Where the hell are we going to be next Friday?”

Segsworth has been at this a long time and couldn’t help making comparisons to the last time area municipalities declared states of emergency — the Ice Storm of 1998.

“At least in the Ice Storm, you knew what you had to do,” Segsworth said. “And you could see some progress.

“With this, the tsunami’s coming — but you don’t know when and you can’t leave.”

But, he said, his department is still there and will keep on keeping on.

“I’m going to keep going until I can’t go any more,” he said. “But it’s not business as usual.”

For Tyson Myers, Central Frontenac’s Public Works Manager, it’s not business as usual either but “we’re doing OK, we’re making it work.”

He said they’re managing to observe social distancing as much as possible.

“We’ve implemented a one operator per piece of equipment rule and two per vehicle,” he said. “And in a way, it’s a little easier for us than some of the larger municipalities because we only have eight staff per shop so when a couple of them are out on a job, they can keep distance between them.”

He said they’ve changed some shifts around and instituted some other measures that allow for smaller numbers of workers in the office.

He said the public has been supportive and they’re getting good feedback.

“We’ve had people tell us that their roads have been graded earlier than usual and that we’ve fixed the potholes in front of their place quickly,” he said.

Like his counterparts, he’s been keeping an eye on water levels but thanks to a program they implemented last fall, he’s optimistic this spring.

“Before the winter freeze up, we went around and cleaned out a lot of culverts and beaver dams,” he said. “A lot of our foremen are locals who know the trouble spots so we tried to get ahead of it.

“And, we have a lot of trappers who’ve been working hard.”

He said the biggest change for him in these times is trying to keep his staff safe and in good spirits.

“I’d really like to thank my staff, they’ve been great,” he said. “And the public for their understanding.”