A survival guide for highway supers with frayed nerves and a half-empty coffee mug. The Anatomy of a Board-Induced Migraine Town boards are like asphalt mixes: every batch is a little different, and sometimes you get one with too much aggregate and not nearly enough binder. One meeting they’re praising your pothole-patching prowess, the next … Read more
Let’s be honest. No one dreams of paperwork when they sign up to run a highway crew. But a good, simple work order can save a road supervisor from all kinds of headaches later on. Whether it’s a routine pothole patch or a full-day ditching job, having the right info on a work order helps … Read more
Let’s face it: if you’ve got a seat at the department head table, and there’s a Town Board in the room, sooner or later you’re going to butt heads. It’s not personal. It’s not even unusual. It’s practically a job requirement. Town Board members come from all walks of life – teachers, retired farmers, business … Read more
Dealing with the Loudmouths: Managing Difficult Personalities in Your Highway Department If you’ve been in this line of work long enough, you know the type. The loudmouth. The guy (or gal) who never misses an opportunity to make themselves the center of attention at the shop. Who constantly peppers meetings with “Well, that’s not how … Read more
Let’s be honest, recruiting good people for highway department jobs isn’t getting any easier. You’re often competing with private contractors who can offer higher wages, especially when it comes to drivers with a Class B CDL in their pocket. Civil servant pay? It’s not exactly going to make the top of the Best Jobs in … Read more
Let’s be honest. Highway departments aren’t exactly swimming in cash. Budgets are ALWAYS tight, equipment is expensive, and the wish list always seems longer than the purchase list. But here’s a smart move more and more towns are using: inter-municipal agreements (IMAs). In plain terms, an IMA is just a formal agreement between two (or … Read more