Hot weather doesn't beat city street crews

City street crews labor in the hot summer temperatures to lay new asphalt down at the intersection of Ninth and Horton streets. The street workers must rake the 300-degree asphalt to ensure that it is level before the roller flattens it down. Tribune photo/Rayma Silvers

Fort Scott city workers labor in various kinds of weather in order to keep the city's streets repaired and in working condition.

Todd Farrell, street supervisor for the public works department, works alongside his men in the summer heat repairing some streets and laying new asphalt on other streets, Public Works Director Eric Bailey said.

Though Farrell and his team perform many tasks that the public may not see, such as cleaning up after the flood in July and shoveling snow or ice in the winter time, currently this team can be seen fixing the city's streets, Farrell said.

According to Farrell, his workers are all very hard working, skillful men.

"They are very professional, willing to help and talented. They have a lot of knowledge," he said.

Currently the street department is working on re-paving several city streets, Farrell said. Already this summer, the crew has completed Couch Street from Third Street to Fourth Street, Sixth and Lowman to Holbrook Street and the Ninth and Horton intersection, Bailey said.

The time it takes to complete each job varies depending on the size of the road that needs to be repaired and weather conditions, Farrell said. The crew has worked in the midst of some sizzling temperatures this summer, he said. According to Farrell, one sizzling day this summer, the heat index was 106 degrees. A temperature check of the existing asphalt registered 145 degrees. Though this is a hot temperature, Farrell explained that the asphalt that his crew lays down comes out of the truck at approximately 300 degrees. Add extremely hot temperatures to this blazing heat of asphalt and the dangers are evident, he said.

Farrell said that he makes sure his men stay well hydrated and take much-needed breaks under nearby shade trees out of the harmful rays of the sun. This helps prevent heatstroke and other health related problems, he said.

The process Farrell and his crew follow when repaving a street can sometimes be a slow one, he said. Some steps in the process require only one man to perform the tasks while the other men not only wait for him to finish his task but also keep a watchful eye on traffic and potential hazards. This helps to ensure the safety of the man performing the task, Farrell said. After the one-man task is completed, the next task may require all men on the crew to step up and help out, he said.

The street division must also make repairs to roads that have been cut due to water line breaks and other such utility reasons. This is referred to as utility cut patching, Bailey said.

"If we tear up a road, we make sure we fix the road," Bailey said.

Safety is a high priority for the pubic works department. Employees are required to attend monthly safety training meetings. This helps keep the number of injuries to a minimum, Bailey said. The supervisors also conduct training sessions every Monday morning, Farrell said. It is during this time that the crews are informed of the week's schedule, Bailey said.

Bailey said that since Farrell previously worked in road construction for nine years and for Bailey at the water distribution plant for one year, he is well qualified for the position he currently holds. Bailey said Farrell is doing a remarkable job supervising his department.

"Todd does an excellent job," Bailey said. "He tries to make sure his employees know that they are doing a good job."

Farrell said that he and his team really care about the job they are doing for the city.

"We take pride in what we do, whether the general public sees it or not," Farrell said.