by Norm Woods, Environmental Utilities
The challenges we face in the world today are serious. With the emergence of Covid-19 in the City of Roseville, the daily operational task we have traditionally performed have been flipped over off the table.
Leaving us to gather information, seek state and medical guidance, and above all; implement safety procedures throughout our city, ensuring the safest work environment possible for city employees, vendors, contractors, residents, and other related groups we may come in contact with.
One of the most difficult realities of working with an infectious disease is inter-agency collaboration projects.
Typically working short-handed (due to reduced staffing patterns), city workers are utilizing their experience and training to accomplish task that were once routine, but now require a heightened level of scrutiny and thought.
As the city travels further down the road of coronavirus realities, the work that must get accomplished doesn’t just disappear. Only so many projects can be postponed or delayed to a later date. Bringing the hesitant reality that we must still find a way to work together during this time to the forefront.
Wastewater Collections crews are one of the most relied upon and requested agencies in the city. Navigating the city daily to vacuum, reduce, patch, or repair; wastewater collections has worked throughout the ongoing pandemic. Performing task that have required 2 to 3 people with innovative work strategies. While adhering to prescribed safety measures.
Being aware of the current dangers of the “unprecedented times” we are working in is a fact no one can or should want to escape. As we cross the summer months of 2020 and slide toward fall, the city will have to confront the inter-agency aspect of the duties we need to perform to best serve our community.
Understanding that we have already been safely implementing this into our daily interacting practices is an assuring groundwork to continue on and build.