Wayne Haefele, Friday Harbor’s new Public Works director, knows there’s more to repairing Spring Street than putting in the new water main and repaving the south side of the street.

So he’s sending letters, e-mails and town employees to business and property owners on both sides of Spring Street, from Argyle Avenue to Front Street, keeping everybody updated and giving them his telephone number and direct line to report problems. And he’s posting progress reports on the town’s website.

So far, everyone appears to be happy and the $74,000 project is progressing smoothly, according to Haefle.

Laura Flaume of the General Store and Deli, right on top of the project on the south side of the street, knows she’s lost some business, but she’s satisfied that the town and Richard Lawson Construction are doing their best to keep the work moving ahead steadily and the information flowing.

“I can see they’re working hard and the town has been understanding and informative all along,” Flaume said. “Plus, the work crew is coming in for sandwiches and coffee, which I attribute to the quality of the coffee rather than sympathy for my lost business.”

Haefele thinks the new water main will be operational sometime next week, and the street will be repaved by mid-November, or as soon as the rain quits and the ground temperature is above 50 degrees.

The new town administrator, Duncan Wilson, and new public works director may be well on their way to passing their first test.

— Steve Wehrly