Keeping Manteo beautiful

by Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy

The Town of Manteo Public Works staffers are nine heroes who take care of buildings and parks, pick up trash and litter, and help with the array of town-sponsored events held in Dare County’s county seat.

The workers are there before, during and after those events.

They’ll be there for the seasonal Saturday Downtown Market, which runs mid-May through mid-September.

For Dare Days in early June, stages are set up and traffic barriers placed.

On July 4, the town holds a party and fireworks display. Public Works staffers are there.

They erect the town’s Christmas tree for the lighting ceremony and put lights on Town Hall.

And for New Year’s Eve, the town holds another fun time with music and fireworks.

The Town of Manteo always looks good because the Public Works staff tends to grass cutting, tree trimming and edging all the sidewalks inside town limits.

The crew is now responsible for litter patrol on U.S. 64 between Midway Intersection and Pirate’s Cove.

Residential trash trucks run on Monday and Thursdays. Commercial trash pickups are the same days except in the summer, when the commercial pick-up days expand to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The crew also picks up large household items and yard debris when town citizens call for those services.

Manteo Public Works staffers take care of maintenance and landscaping of 13 parks and attractions.

The eight-person crew, is made up of:

Dustin Leary from Creswell, who has worked in Manteo for two-and-ahalf years.

Adam Morgese from Manteo, with a year of Manteo employment.

Robbie Norman, from Manteo, going on six years.

Troy Tugwell from Manteo, with seven years.

Cody Hooker, from Manteo, with four years.

Edward Bryant Jr., from Alligator, coming up on 10 years.

D.J. Moore, from Creswell, with three years of service.

Alvin Sheppard, from Manns Harbor, with four years with Public Works.