Street commissioner: Critics need to 'get glad' with hands-on approach

Looking for a hero. We may have found one in Commissioner Chuck Genesio who said he has fielded some criticism for his hands-on approach as commissioner in getting down and dirty with department employees during things like water line breaks and mine subsidence.

He said on occasion he has been told that he should let department employees handle it. But, that's not Chuck Genesio. Instead, he moves a backhoe when it needs to be moved. He brought one his own pumps to the site of the major water line break three weeks ago at East South and South Line Streets. He has tossed shovels and stainless steel repair sleeves to workers and has caught the tools and equipment that have come up out of an excavation. "I'm not taking anybody's job," he said.

He's just good at helping.

He minced no words in telling the critics, back benchers and naysayers, you need to "get glad with how I do my job."

Members of the council agreed.