For the last five weeks my son Vinnie and I have had the opportunity to take part in the Rolling Meadows Public Works Citizens Academy. Power point presentations were presented with hands on examples of repairs and improvements.
The training is organized by the various departments in public works and presented with examples of the jobs they are trained and required to do.
For the past five weeks we've met every Thursday night for about three hours and listened to the employees describe and show by example, what they are presented and challenged with on any given work shift.
Speakers from Traffic and Lighting, Electrical, Forestry, Streets and Sanitation, Water, Waste Collection and associated Departments spoke to us about hazards, projects, maintenance and emergencies.
Despite his special needs issues, all the associates and participants involved accepted Vinnie and encourage him to take part in all the hands on activities offered to us.
Vinnie got the opportunity to ride in a garbage truck and collect at various pickup spots on a practice route. We learned that there is a preferred way of setting out refuse. Who knew? We do now! Vinnie learned about caring for trees and how and why to trim and maintain them. He took there offer up and helped trim some lower branches that needed to be removed. We learned about forest diversity and its benefits. Also the pests and dangers that can damage trees.
Vinnie and I toured the town's pump houses and wells. We saw the types of water hydrants and what the different colors mean.
We visited a "dig project" where a sanitary line had to be replaced as well as a potable water supply. We saw a submersible sewer camera in action as it video-recorded the inside the inside of the main line. We watched a "sewer sucker" vacuum the curbside sewer sump and remove about eleven feet of leaves, rocks and other garbage from sewer sump in about three minutes.
During all this activity, the various public works employees took the time to explain what and why the tasks proceeded a certain way. To the man, every public works employee took the time to make sure Vinnie understood what was happening.
And we learned that EVERYONE plows when there is snow. All the divisions of public works are part of the coordination when it comes to keeping the streets and sidewalks clear.
If we privatize any aspect of public works, flexibility is lost and the city suffers.
Vinnie now lets everyone he knows about how the city works and has told Annie and me that this "adventure" has been a lot of fun.
From the Father/Son aspect I have enjoyed these activities with Vinnie and look forward to doing other adventures with him.
