A Hot Day's Work

Count the employees as Salinians who’ll be happy when hottest heat wave since 1995 ends Monday. On Wednesday, under the baking sun, Ron Hogan and Joe Radenbaugh were digging up the site of a future sculpture exhibit on North Ann Arbor Street. Their shirts were soaked through with sweat after completing a day working in 95-degree weather.

Hogan admits it’s a little discouraging to wake up for work when he knows he’ll be greeted with oppressive heat and humidty.

“You pray it was a vacation day,” he joked.

In some ways, the toughest part of working on a day like this is getting out of the sun, Hogan said.

“When you’re out working, it’s hard. But when we go for lunch at the shop and get in the air conditioning and cool off, and then have to go back out into the oven, that’s really hard,” Hogan said.

Wednesday’s work on the sculpture site didn’t look like a walk in the park, but as DPW jobs go, it wasn’t bad. Sprinklers sprayed cold water on the pair as they worked.

“Our boss gave us this job today. They’re aware of the conditions. They’re not going to kill us. They work with with us,” Radenbaugh said.

What would be worse than digging up the earth in 100-degree weather?

“Asphalt,” Radenbaugh and Hogan replied in unison.

“When you’re laying down 350-degree asphalt, there is no way to escape the heat,” Hogan said. 

They know. They spent Monday on asphalt duty.

When it's this hot, and the work needs to get done, there aren't many options.

"We've got deadlines like everyone else. We need to get these jobs done. All we can do is drink a lot of water, stay hydrated, and maybe take it a little bit slower," Hogan said.

Hogan and Radenbaugh said they are looking forward to the end of the heat wave.

“We’ve had a few hot days in a row before. But I don’t think we’ve anything like this in a long time,” Radenbaugh said. "it'll be nice when it cools down a little."