City crews work on the splitter-screen project this spring in Caliente. In addition to getting the area ready for Homecoming weekend, workers have been busy with flood control, beautification projects and many other things.
The Caliente City utilities crews have been hard at work, getting the city ready for the Homecoming weekend celebration. “It’s been a busy year,” said Jerry Carter, utilities foreman for the city.
The crews have been active in the flood control project for Spring Heights street. Power was upgraded, with new poles and transformers.
Major street cleaning was done. “Every street, curb, gutters, sidewalk and weeds,” have been cleaned or removed, said Carter.
The creek is an ongoing project for the city crews. The city crews hauled 6,000 yards of dirt, sediment and other debris caused by rains out of the creek.
The parks have been beautified and cleaned. Carter thanked the community, “in their efforts to keep it clean.”
Carter says the crews have checked every water valve to ensure they work and manholes. Between 100 to 150 valves and manholes have been taken care of.
Restoring the gun range and clearing weeds by the dump has also been handled.
“They’re doing phenomenal. They go from doing a power outage to digging a grave,” Carter says as he receives a phone call regarding a dog disturbance. He contacts one of his crew members, who drops what he’s working on to assist. Enforcing the new dog ordinance is also one of their tasks.
On Wednesday, the crew tackled a major water leak at the Caliente Youth Center bridge.
With only half a dozen men on the team, Mayor Stana Hurlburt said, “They really stepped up to the plate.”
Carter says, “I couldn’t ask for a better crew. There’s a lot of camaraderie here.” He also said, “The NDF assisted a lot; [Aaron] Boyce has bent over backwards to help.”
“I’m extremely proud of them, they wear a lot of hats, a lot is expected, said Mayor Hurlburt.
For the upcoming celebration for Homecoming and Memorial Day weekend, we thank the City of Caliente crew for their hard work: Jeremy Davis, lineman apprentice; Chris Glassburn, water/sewer/parks; Burt Mangum, streets/water/sewer; Ozzie Osbourne, sewer/parks/general utilities; Dave Smith, lineman; and Mike Smith, public sanitation.
