Since I attended  the first Public Works Day in Barrington, I’ve begun noticing their white trucks around town. I see staff watering trees, fixing underground pipes, clearing snow and fallen tree branches from the streets and parking lots, and setting up road barricades to keep our parade marchers safe.

I knew of Public Works as a place to deposit used batteries and get free mulch. But after touring the wastewater treatment plant, gazing at the mountain of salt in the salt shed, and seeing the inside of a fire hydrant, I have a new appreciation for what these people do.

When I asked Director of Public Works, Fred Braun, what a typical day is like, he laughed. “There is no typical day. It’s something different every day.” Utility Foreman Pat Rice nodded in agreement: “I think what public works people like is that there is no routine.”

That variety covers everything from plowing snow and repairing water main breaks to flushing sewer lines to treating water. They lay asphalt, pour concrete, trim trees, maintain ambulances and police cars, and keep village buildings in good shape.

President George W. Bush officially recognized public works employees as first responders in 2003. Braun explained why: “We are often the first on scene and the last to leave.” In the Barrington area major incidents are mostly related to weather, such as snowstorms, flooding, or wind damage. “We’re usually the ones cleaning up the mess and making necessary repairs.”

Their office hours are 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., but their availability is required round-the-clock. “We never know in advance what’s going to happen,” Braun said. Frozen ground in winter can shift creating unpredictable water main breaks that may take five to six hours to fix. Braun said that 80% of the time, they’re called to respond to an incident on Thanksgiving and Christmas. This holiday season, when washing my dishes with clean water, I will think of them.

I learned that Public Works plays a role in every public event. They install decorations, set up, and clean up afterward. This includes parades, marathons, festivals, and concerts. Please know that when Santa’s house magically appears downtown every year, it’s not his elves that bring it. It’s the Public Works people!