Can this be said every year or does it get old? BEST YEAR EVER – AGAIN!!!! 2011 was yet another amazing year for the Department of Public Works.
2011 saw a growth in the size of Black Rock City from previous years, with the addition of streets at the :15 and :45 throughout the back blocks – all thanks to the efforts of the Planning Department.
The DPW labor force maintained its same size as last year but there will be an increase in 2012 due to increase in project sizes and larger populations. Even though the city was bigger, the fence was bigger, and the addition of the streets meant more work, the DPW felt it could do it all with what they had. And they were right. And we’re happy to report that crew morale was at an all-time high.
The DPW once again enjoyed the four additional days on the front end of the work schedule – even with this added time, the Fence crew managed to set up in a record time! Having ample time during both setup and clean-up really helps with morale. Due to the extremely wet winter in 2010/2011, the playa surface was packed well which helped the setup crews and kept the dust down during the event. The 2010 inspection happened in the early part of the summer of 2011 – WE PASSED! We then passed again a few months later for the 2011 event.
DPW logistics had a stellar year in 2011. They lived up to their same standards of excellence. The sanitation and bikes crews had stellar showings in 2011.
We continue to enjoy the generous hospitality of the citizens of Gerlach, NV while we live there during setup and cleanup, and while we conduct our year-round operations on the many properties owned by Burning Man.