It’s National Sanitation Workers’ Day and it’s a time to highlight those who keep our communities safe and clean.

The City of Jefferson has a small sanitation crew that picks up all residential and commercial garbage. Mike Wallace is a full-time employee who has been with the City for three years and John Kersey is a part-time employee who was recently hired this past January. Kersey is temporarily filling in for Kenny Schmidt who has been leave since being injured this past September. They are primarily responsible for the residential garbage routes Monday through Thursday. One of those two will then help Paul Hostetler, who does the commercial routes, on Fridays.

A typical shift for Wallace and Kersey is 6-10:30am and then they help the other city departments as needed. Wallace says their job is physically demanding because they have to lift all of the garbage bags and cans into the back of the six-ton garbage truck and he points out the smell isn’t for the faint of heart.

“The worst one I’ve had is that we had a cleaned out refrigerator that was cleaned out of a deep freeze that had been unplugged for a couple of days. That was the worst I’ve had and that was bad. You’ve got to get used to the smell and the magots.”

Kersey echoes Wallace’s comments and adds that depending on the day, the smell is what stays with you.

“You really can’t get it out of your mind, it’s just like you dump it and pretty much smell it for the rest of the day.”

However, despite the less than glamorous parts of their job, Wallace and Kersey agree that there are some positives. From kids running up and wanting to watch them do their jobs and honking the air horn for the kids, and getting the occasional cookie from grateful customers, they both say it makes the day go smoother. Take time to thank your local sanitation worker during National Sanitation Workers’ Day.