Public workers prove mettle

For the first time in a month, it seems, the weather forecast for the next week or so does not mention wintery precipitation. Besieged residents will take pleasure in that prediction. Public works and highway department workers in the region are even happier, no doubt, to hear that a more settled and less snowy-and-icy weather pattern appears to be gaining a foothold here.

Recent weather has been difficult for just about everyone. That's especially true for those charged with keeping the region's roads passable and utilities and other infrastructure operational. They've had an especially rough time. Repeated rounds of frozen participation -- exacerbated by low temperatures and brisk winds -- were a formidable challenge. By all accounts, they met the challenge with skill and a devotion to duty that are admirable.

Whether employed by a state, a county or a municipality, the men and women in public works and highway departments worked long hours in difficult conditions -- and did so with remarkably good cheer. Reports of their collective service to their communities as well as accounts of their acts of kindness and assistance to individuals are just starting to become known. Their work, in fact, often went beyond the call of duty.

In Chattanooga, for example, three recent winter weather events required public works and other employees to put in many hours of overtime. They were paid, of course, but no one should begrudge them the added income. The overtime pay was hard-earned and there's little doubt that those who earned it would have preferred to be at home rather than working outdoors in miserable conditions.

The work was arduous. An example: Chattanooga public works employees spread more than 1,700 tons each of salt and of sand and dispensed 75,000 gallons of brine during recent episodes of bad weather. Their endeavors produced positive results. Traffic and other movement was stopped for periods of time, but residents, for the most part were able to resume normal activity in a relatively short period of time.

The work came at a cost. A Chattanooga official says the combined cost of manpower and material to combat the wicked weather was well over a quarter of a million dollars. It was money well spent.

That scenario was repeated by other governments in the region. Department of Transportation workers in Tennessee and Georgia worked hard on behalf of fellow residents, as well. A TDOT spokesman reports that his department spread about 420 tons of salt in the county last weekend, adding that was probably the most used here in a short period since 1993 -- the year of a more than 20-inch snowfall.

Utility workers here and elsewhere performed yeoman service, too. At one point during the Jan. 31 weekend storm, for example, tens of thousands of EPB customers were without power. Company crews, assisted by utility company workers from around the region, restored service to almost all customers within 36 hours. Their efforts are worthy of recognition, too.

Those of a certain age can remember when the Chattanooga area could be paralyzed for days, even a week, by a winter storm. That's not been the case recently. It is hard to maintain normal rhythms of life when confronted by horrid winter weather, but a relatively rapid return to near normalcy is possible. Public works and highway department employees helped speed that process in Chattanooga and much of the surrounding area following the recent storms.