We were in a Better Middlebury Partnership meeting the other morning, and we spied Israel, Jordan and Stanley ( pictured here) removing the wreaths from the holiday season, and it led to a conversation about how lucky we are to have such a responsive and hard-working town team.
Town collaboration isn’t just about the events you see—it’s about everything that happens quietly, steadily, and cheerfully behind the scenes. This team puts in time during the nights and early mornings, do the heavy lifting, the problem-solving, the details that make the magic possible. Kelly and I simply could not do this work without the timeless, good-humored, can-do support of Middlebury’s Public Works team, headed by David DiBiase. They are a team defined through partnership, showing up again and again so Middlebury can show off its best self.
This is how the sausage gets made—and we’re deeply grateful. Here are just a few facts and figures to illustrate the extent of the work our small yet mighty town team are involved in annually…
🚧 Roads & Infrastructure
-
They maintain about 87 miles of paved and unpaved town roads plus 18 miles of sidewalks — from potholes to painted lines.
-
Seasonal street sweeping: major night sweeps plus ongoing daytime cleanups.
-
Shoulder work, ditching, culvert replacements, and gravel grading keep rural roads passable.
- Paint all the town crosswalks to ensure we are safe ( and during 2025 added the fun multi-colored crosswalks and the Mill Street Parking Lot Street Water Lilly Mural…)
❄️ Winter Warriors
-
Snow plowing and winter maintenance are year-round staples — treating roads, clearing snowbanks, fixing icy hazards, and keeping vehicles moving safely.
- Put up our winter lights and holiday trees and wreaths and flags and VERY MERRY MIDDLEBURY paraphernalia!
🚰 Water & Sewer Services
-
Operate and maintain town water system infrastructure: 54 miles of pipeline with around 2,300 service connections!
-
Handle leak repairs, meter maintenance, hydrant checks, well monitoring and system sampling.
☔ Stormwater & Drainage
-
Clean and maintain storm basins and collection lines using vactor trucks and jetting equipment.
-
Routine stormwater system checks help prevent flooding and protect local streams.
🛠 Signs, Signals & Safety
-
Repair/install traffic signs, fix street lights, maintain traffic signals, and repaint pavement markings.
-
Bridge cleaning, tree trimming and roadside brush removal keep corridors safe.
🌿 Summer Fieldwork
-
Ongoing roadside mowing — all spring and summer long
-
Parks, public spaces, sidewalks and pedestrian ramps all get seasonal upkeep
-
Flags and lights in abundance…
-
And On and On…
We’re endlessly grateful for our Middlebury Crew who say yes, show up, and care deeply about this town—often without fanfare. Thank you Dave Dibiase, Matt Cram, Israel, Jordan, Nathan, Stanley, Jason and Keith, along with Brian and Levi on Building and Grounds. You are the Best Collaborators. Dedication, trust, and shared pride are what keep Middlebury moving forward, and we don’t take that for granted for a second. Thank you to all of you who help make this place work, shine, and feel like home.