Public works staffs are unsung heroes

National Public Works Week runs through May 23. It's a great time to thank the many public works men and women who keep our communities healthy, safe and on the move.

The services we have grown to expect like fire and police protection, community health, and environmental stewardship would not be possible without our public works professionals.

We expect turning on the faucet and having a supply of clean water, a sanitation system that is always working, safe and diverse modes of transportation, and roads to keep us moving.

When a water main breaks, public works responds to the repair. When there is storm damage, public works responds to clear the streets.

These services are the result of the quiet dedication of the public works professionals - our unsung heroes serving the public good every day.

National Public Works Week started in 1960 as a public education campaign to highlight the importance of public works in community life. Many Public Works Departments will be hosting an Open House giving us the opportunity to meet the professionals and view the equipment and facilities needed to keep us moving.

I encourage everyone to take this opportunity to meet our unsung heroes and recognize all they do.

Steve Frerichs

Schaumburg