We never think about it, but modern life has many conveniences. If you want a cold drink, you simply go to your kitchen, open your refrigerator and pull out the chilled beverage of your choice. Now think about each step of that sequence, and all the things "behind the scenes" that had to be in place for you to enjoy that drink.
I know this wasn't a stretch of the imagination, since many of us are involved, or know someone who is, in the building, or manufacturing, or trucking industries, all critical to getting product into our homes. In fact, we celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September due to the 1882 efforts of either Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, or Matthew Maguire, secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists. (There's some debate.)
But rather than commercial products, I want to talk about something else that we use all the time, yet never really give a second thought to:
If all I want is a glass of water, I turn on the faucet and fill my glass.
If I need to wash off the dirt of the day, I get in the shower.
If I flush the toilet, THE TOILET BETTER FLUSH.
Whether we turn knobs, lift handles or push levers, we fully expect water to come to the house when we ask, and we expect water (as well as other less savory things) to leave the house when we need it. All of this works because of the unseen and unsung efforts of our Municipal Public Works employees.
Which brings us to the title of my essay. Wait, you're probably thinking, "First Responders" should be reserved for law enforcement, firefighters and paramedics. The definition in the U.S. Code does begin with those occupations, but then follows with "or other individual ... who, in the course of his or her professional duties, responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, or other similar emergencies."
Just like their more famous cousins, Public Works employees respond to emergencies at all hours. I know because I used to get the notification texts.
When trees fall after a storm and block the roads, crews get out there immediately and clear the way for people to safely get moving again.
When water mains break and flood out neighborhoods late at night, Public Works can't delay and fit you in next Tuesday. They respond NOW, to ensure water service returns to our residents as soon as possible.
And when a pump impeller fails because it becomes entangled with something we definitely should NOT have dumped in the sewer, everything stops, and a brave Public Works employee has to jump into the tank and dig around the muck until they can free up the machine and restore the plant to operation.
Public Works activities are often dangerous and usually involve heavy equipment, massive pumps, machines and chain saws. And when they don't, there are other hazards. A prime example: During my tenure, an employee was incapacitated because a heavy limb at a site fell and bounced back up into his face, which then required major surgical reconstruction. Nothing a hard hat could have done here.
So, the next time you meet a Public Works employee, consider saying "thanks" for always dealing with the muck, the yuck and the stuck, all without ever asking for those thanks.
Kerry Chin, Former Vice Mayor of Neptune Beach
