Indianola Public Works Field Operations Supervisor Robert Spurlock said a lack of qualified manpower is one of the most impactful contributors to the city’s continually failing infrastructure.
Several water leaks and sinkholes have been spotted and reported and residents are beginning to ask what’s being done about it.
Spurlock said employee sicknesses, injuries and a general lack of personnel have left the street department short-handed.
He said they normally operate with a four-person crew, although he needs a minimum of five people; however, he is now struggling to get the job done with just two people and one new person that is still in training.
Spurlock said, “I’m working with what I have.”
The city has also been without a backhoe operator for some time and although he recently returned to work, Spurlock indicated that the worker is scheduled to take vacation time in the near future. Despite the setbacks, Spurlock emphasized that the citizens come first and he is passionate about that.
He indicated that some of the water leaks flow from damaged fire hydrants, so his department and the fire department are working together to locate and identify those and they are in the process of hiring outside contractors to work at repairing the fireplugs.
However, he cautions that the location of the leaking hydrants has to be taken into consideration especially the ones located near the hospital and nursing homes. “You go into a hole, but you don’t know how long you’re going to be there,” he said. The bottom line is…”We’re behind,” Spurlock said.
