The City of Douglas Utilities Department will recognize its utility linemen on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 with a special luncheon for employees in the Douglas Utilities Department. Douglas Utilities employ 10 linemen in the department. Several of these linemen have helped other communities in our state this year following severe weather. Douglas linemen have helped electricity be restored in Albany three times, Thomasville two times, and Ellaville once following storm disasters this year for approximately a total of 23 days.
“We are very proud of the work that our City of Douglas Linemen perform each day,” says Mayor Tony Paulk. “When bad weather rolls in or a power outage occurs, these men roll out in their bucket trucks to ensure that electrical power is returned to our citizens, as well as our Georgia neighbors, in a timely manner. These men deserve our appreciation and we should thank them for risking their lives for us.”
This day was first recognized on April 10, 2013 by the US Senate by Resolution S Res 95. The resolution recognizes the efforts of linemen in keeping the electrical power on and protecting public safety. The first National Lineman Appreciation Day was designated April 18, 2013. Linemen are tradesman who construct and maintain electric power transmission and distribution facilities. The term also refers to those who install and maintain telephone lines, telegraph, cable TV, and fiber optic lines. The occupation began in the 1840s with the widespread use of the telegraph and the term continued with the invention of the telephone in the 1870s and the beginnings of electrification in the 1890s. Electrical power work makes this job more hazardous because of the risk of electrocution. Citizens are encouraged to recognize the men and women who keep the lights on by saying “thank you” to local linemen and if posting on social media use #thankalineman or #NationalLinemanDay on April 18, 2017.
