The waysides cleaning team at the L.E. Phillips Career Development Center (CDC) recently received two awards for its work maintaining three wayside rest areas and one state historical marker.
A CDC team has been responsible for wayside cleaning and maintenance for more than 20 years, but a new crew took over the job in 2017. Its work was recognized last week by State Inspector Robert Marschke when he presented the Inspector’s Award to crew members Scott Kulig, Dan Ferron and Alex Grill.
Marschke is a waysides inspector for the state Department of Transportation, which owns and oversees management of 126 waysides in 39 Wisconsin counties. The department’s Rest Area Management (RAM) program has been in existence since 1987.
The CDC crew also received a RAM certificate signed by Gov. Scott Walker, in appreciation for its work. Marshcke presented Pursuit of Excellence pins to the waysides team and to CDC staff members.
“To show you how good these guys were, they didn’t have to respond,” Marschke said. “They were way ahead of the game.
“They were calling me and telling me this needs to be done, can we do it? I usually don’t get that and they were fantastic, I didn’t have to worry about them,” he added.
“This is my final year and (they are) the best people I have ever had to work with,” Marschke said.
The CDC crew is responsible for cleaning and mowing the waysides weekly and doing building maintenance – including roof work — as needed. The crew also handles all aspects of lawn care, sidewalks, curbing, weed control and tree trimming.
The Inspector’s Award is conferred periodically, at the inspector’s discretion.
The waysides maintained by the CDC crew are on Highway 27 near Cadott, on Highway 64 near its Red Cedar River crossing and on Highway 85 near Caryville. The historical marker is in the village of Lake Hallie.
All of the state’s year-round rest areas and about half of its seasonal waysides with rustic toilets are maintained through the RAM program. The rest of the seasonal waysides are maintained by county Highway Departments.
CDC is a nonprofit organization that provides services and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities or disadvantages. More information about CDC or the awards is available by calling 715-834-2771.
Note: the home page photo was provided by the Career Development Center. It shows, left to right, CDC’s CEO Gregg Mizerk, CDC accountant Sharri Olsen, Scott Kulig, Alex Grill, State Inspector Robert Marschke and Dan Ferron. Kulig, Grill and Ferron made up the CDC waysides team that received the Inspector’s Award from Marschke.