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NEW YORK STATE
INSIDE
Commissioner of Public Works Louis J. Ingrassia Jr. and the Town of Wallkill........................................................9
Lots of news, products and services throughout!
STAFF
President/Publisher Edwin M. McKeon Jr.
Editor In Chief Craig Mongeau
Sales Manager Kent Hogeboom
Production Mgr. John Pinkerton
Controller Judith Nixon
Circulation Mgr. Cathy Printz
Sales/Admin. Asst. Deby Hogeboom
Trade Show Manager Teddy McKeon
Consultant Bob Buckley
361 Shoemaker Road Mohawk NY 13407 Phone 315/866-1423
E-Mail - khogeboom@cegltd.com
PRODUCERS OF THE ANNUAL NEW YORK STATE HIGHWAY & PUBLIC WORKS EXPO
Teddy McKeon: General Manager of the NYS Highway and Public Works Show 215-885-2900 email: tmckeonjr@cegltd.com 800/992-7116 email: bbuckley@cegltd.com
OCTOBER 23, 2024 • SYRACUSE, NEW YORK
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A question I get asked a lot these days is if we use artificial intelligence, or AI, for any of the stories we publish in Superintendent’s Profile or the other publications we do. The simple is answer is no, but AI, or ChatGPT, the popular online platform that provides responses to prompts is pretty good. If you were to ask it, “Write me a 500-word story on the history of snowplows,” it’ll do it and do it well. So, the question really should be, “Is it right to use AI to create stories?”
Again, the simple answer is no, for me, anyway. When we ask ChatGPT the question about snowplows, all it’s really doing is rapidly scanning the Internet and returning an article based on existing information. So, in a way, it’s like a supercharged research tool. It’s created an article in a second that would take hours to research yourself. Pretty helpful, right? But is it right to simply take what ChatGPT created and pass it off as your own work, as-is? My answer is an emphatic no. To me, that is unethical, but I believe it can be used to help research a topic and then take what you get back and turn it into something original.
For example: why can’t AI cure any form of cancer? It can’t because it’s merely taking existing knowledge of the subject and presenting it in a new way. It can’t create or extrapolate knowledge of how cancer happens and then determine how to eradicate it. Maybe someday it will, but right now, it is, in my opinion, a great thief of other people’s ideas and I remain committed to creating human-generated original content, even with all its inherent imperfections. I’ll happily accept something taking longer to produce than to be done in a matter of seconds, but be unoriginal and in effect, lie to our readers.
Now, shifting gears without the help of AI and using only the brain cells I have still functioning relatively well, this month’s issue went to press before the N.Y.S. Highway & Public Works Expo on Oct. 23, 2024. Please look for complete coverage of the big show in next month’s issue. As you’ve heard me say for several months now, we expect this year’s Expo to be the biggest ever, and I look forward to reporting the results to you in the December issue. And I hope all of you have a great Thanksgiving. P
Craig Mongeau
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REBUILDS
By Lori Lovely PROFILE CORRESPONDENT
Louis J. Ingrassia Jr. and the Town of Wallkill
continued on page 12
from page 9
“The town re-invented the DPW,” Lou said. “They had a commissioner, but when I took office, they put all of DPW under me.”
As a commissioner, he is responsible for all the town buildings, parks, the golf course, cemeteries, campground, water, sewer and the highway department in the town.
“The benefit is there’s one point person for large projects,” he said.
But, he added, it’s a big town, with a population of 31,000. One person can’t handle all the daily responsibilities. Thus, the Wallkill highway department is run by the highway supervisor, Bill Fedun, who has been in the position for one year since the old supervisor retired.
continued on page 16
Crews pave Ballard Road in the town of Wallkill.
A Caterpillar wheel loader moves playground equipment at Circleville Park.
Climbing the Ladder of Community Service
At age 16, Lou joined the Howells Fire Company as a junior firefighter. He’s still a volunteer firefighter today — elected fire district commissioner — but he took employment with the town of Wallkill in 1986, first working as a laborer in the water/sewer department. He eventually became a New York State-certified water/sewer operator and, in 2008, superintendent, a position he held until his appointment as DPW commissioner in 2013.
Now, he oversees a union shop with more than 60 full-time employees and 10 part-timers. Lou, a self-professed workaholic, take prides in
his team. “It takes a lot of people to be successful. You’re only as good as your people — and we have great people.”
He takes care of those great people. Since he took office, Lou has overseen the implementation of DPW Training and Appreciation Day every December for annual training and recognition of the employees’ efforts through the year. “We also implemented a DPW Leaders meeting on a monthly basis to review projects and plan for the future,” he said.
Not only did they recently ratify a five-year contract, providing stability in the workforce, but he takes pride in being one of a handful of employers to get essential pay after COVID. from page 12
continued on page 20
The town of Wallkill crew compacts blacktop on Sands Road.
5985 Court Street Syracuse, NY 1320 (315) 437-2611
17 Northway Lane Latham, NY 12110 (518) 220-9500 Road
from page 16
“We got a $2.50 per hour stipend from March 2020 to May 2021,” he said. “I lobbied hard for that. We never shut down. Our DPW forces came to work every day of the pandemic.”
Daily Detail
With the pandemic in the rearview mirror, his crew works Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The highway department’s summer hours are Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Together, they maintain 165 lane mi. — three gravel, 690 paved — and six bridges. In the winter, they work 25 plow routes, each taking approximately four hours.
In warmer seasons, they mow 13 parks, cemeteries, a campground and a golf course. They also work with neighboring towns to provide trucks for paving and tree trimming.
And they always maintain the roads.
“We bought a commercial street paver so we can do all the work in-house,” Lou said.
continued on page 24
A restroom building is set at Stephen Avenue Park.
Circleville Park in the fall.
In addition to cutting costs, he said it gives them a sense of accomplishment and insight. He also uses it for training purposes.
With the paver, several rollers and a tack cart, they can put down a 20ft.-wide strip of blacktop. Lou estimates they pave 10-14 mi. a year.
“We no longer oil and chip roads,” he said, although they do still do some micro-sealing and micro-paving. Most of what they do is fulldepth milling and reclamation. After hiring out the milling, they do the paving in-house. Lou estimated they’ve saved approximately $30 million that way.
The crew maintains more than 100 pieces of equipment, including 25 large dumps, 25 pickups, multiple excavators, loaders and Bobcats. Inventory is continually updated as needed.
“We have a robust shop and crew,” he said. They use a computerized
program to track vehicle maintenance and perform routine maintenance in-house.
“Our budget is pretty stout, [with] about $15 million, of which the highway fund is $8.2 million, with $850,000 in CHIPS money,” Lou said, adding they prioritize maintenance schedules, with equipment that runs 24/7 at the top of the list, behind only breakdowns. Next, they look at the number of hours on the equipment to determine scheduled downtime for maintenance.
They also maintain more than 50 buildings, including the town hall complex, police station and court, highway garage, building maintenance garage, three main water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plant and parks garage.
continued on page 26
Lou Ingrassia Jr. stands in front of the dedication plaque for the town of Wallkill recreation center in Circleville Park.
Plenty of Projects
The list of projects completed under Lou’s watch is extensive, such as:
• New salt storage facility — 2015;
• New recreation center and boys/girls administration building — 2014;
• Seven new pickleball courts with three-season bathroom;
• Installation of lighting at two Little League fields;
• Inclusion playground and dog park at Circleville Park; and
• Vietnam War Memorial with 13 granite panels at Memorial Park.
His crew has completely refurbished the highway facilities, with new concrete floors, vehicle lifts, paved parking areas and a salt storage building built in 2015, which holds approximately 7,000 tons undercover.
Lou said the town has been diligent in applying for grants that enable them to supplement their budget to improve and update their infrastruc-
ture. Thanks to DPW Administrator Michele Baker, the town has secured grants and zero-interest loans through NYS EFC for drainage and pavement improvements in the Patio Road neighborhood, sidewalks on Carpenter and Winser avenues, paving improvements at Circleville Park and other projects.
One project Lou is particularly satisfied with was rebuilding two clarifiers at the wastewater treatment plant. “It was a huge upgrade,” he said.
The $7 million project saw the replacement of raw sewage pumps at the 35-year-old plant with a grit classifier that protects the sewer plant from non-bio waste in incoming material.
“Contractors are doing the work, but we’re involved,” he said, adding that his crews are charged with keeping the plant functioning during repairs. The plant treats 4 million gallons a day of municipal water.
DPW crews repair water and sewer main breaks. They also perform some water projects. One large project currently under way is the rehabilitation of two water tanks at Inwood and Tower Drive.
continued on page 30
Lou Ingrassia Jr. stands in front of the salt shed at the highway department.
from page 26
Without a reservoir to rely upon, the town uses 21 wells to pump water into the system — and the growth of the town means a needed expansion of the number of wells. Continuing to upgrade the water treatment facilities to meet the needs of the growing community is one of Lou’s longterm goals.
Additional projects currently in the works include:
• Water filter upgrades at the Crystal Run water treatment plant;
• New Western Avenue sewer pump station;
• New wells at the Rykowski Wellfields;
• Upgrade to 6,500 cellular reading water meters; and
• New deck and complete restoration of the Midway Bridge.
Lou serves as the town of Wallkill’s codirector of emergency management with Police Chief Robert Hertman. With the assistance of OEM Coordinator Joseph Andr, they bring several lifetimes of experience to the Wallkill OEM and have become a model for Offices of Emergency Management throughout the Hudson Valley.
continued on page 34
Seen here are the new pickleball courts at Circleville Park.
The town of Wallkill recreation building.
UN R FOR THE LONG
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open communication, and respect. Our equipment is for the long run – so are we. listened. Our focus is on establishing relationships that are built on clear understanding, e have , but trust is. W r, Yo
Town of Wallkill
Lou has lived in Wallkill for 58 years — with “the same driveway,” he said. Born on a “black dirt” farm on Ingrassia Road in Orange County, he said that glacial deposits and peat bogs make the region a prime growing spot for root vegetables.
In the heart of the scenic Hudson Valley, Wallkill was established in 1772, although a land patent was taken out as early as 1724, with little settlement for several decades. During the American Revolution, gunpowder was produced in nearby factories.
Today, the area is better known for its parks, wineries, a wildlife refuge, retail stores, shopping centers and restaurants.
“We are at the crossroads of I-84 and I-85 and just an hour and a half from New York City,” Lou said. “There are a lot of hotels, shopping … like the Galleria at Crystal Run. It’s a very busy area.”
There are numerous outdoor attractions, which suits Lou since he likes to do “anything outdoors.” Highland Lake, a small lake near the town’s western border, is part of Highland Lakes State Park, an undeveloped state park. The town also owns its own golf club.
continued on page 38 Lou Ingrassia Jr. stands in front of the
highway department’s Caterpillar paver.
Lou Ingrassia Jr. has plenty of culvert pipe on standby at the highway department.
from page 34
The Orange County Fair is an annual attraction that began in 1808 — sort of. Lack of local interest stalled plans for 10 years, but the agricultural society promoting it failed to draw a crowd, as they did again in 1825. When the Orange County Agricultural Society was formed in 1841, they gained enough support to finally (and successfully) hold the first fair that November. For the first few years, the location of the fair rotated between towns, but it was permanently assigned to Wallkill in 1897.
The fair hosts a concert series that features some big names in the rock and pop music industries. The fairgrounds also are home to the Orange County Fair Speedway — a 5/8-mi. dirt track that is the oldest continuously operating dirt track in the United States, with races having been run since 1919. Although the track isn’t big enough to host a NASCAR race, it’s part of the landscape of Lou’s life.
The most familiar landscape in his life is that driveway and the road leading to it.
“The grassy road was named after my grandfather, who was the longest registered voter in the area when they started to convert the dirt farm roads to actual paved roads in the 1940s,” he said.
He built a house on the family compound behind his parents’ home where he grew up. Luckily, he considers lawn care a hobby, because in addition to mowing 5 acres of his own, he still takes care of his parents’ property and pool. His daughter, Andrea, also lives on the family compound, although son, Louie III, moved upstate after college and now lives in Watertown.
continued on page 40
Memorial Park in the town of Wallkill. In warmer seasons, the crew mows 13 parks, cemeteries, a campground and a golf course.
Seen here is just some of the highway fleet.
Lou’s wife of 30 years, Jacqueline, said, “My husband is the most dedicated man I’ve ever met — dedicated to his family, his job and his community.”
Following Family Footsteps
That dedication comes naturally. Lou’s parents were public servants.
“I grew up with a sense of community,” he said. “My dad was on the town zoning and planning boards, the Middletown school board and the Wallkill town board. He also served as state assemblyman in the 1970s. My mom was the elected tax receiver for over 25 years and my sister, Louisa, is the elected Wallkill town clerk for the past 28 years.
“I took this position due to a lifetime of dedicated service to the town and a desire to help the public,” he added.
His duty to community service led him to belong to “a lot of organi-
zations” because he believes that you “build a strong community by being part of the community.”
He’s current chairman of the Hudson Valley Waterworks Conference and vice chair of the Hudson Valley Damage Prevention Council for UDIG NY 811. He serves on the Orange County Water Authority and was recently elected chairman of the board of the Hudson Valley Honor Flight. He also is a past president of the Orange County Highway Superintendent Association, the Orange County Fire Chiefs Association and the Orange County Fire Districts Association.
Although his term as DPW commissioner has no expiration, he is retiring at the end of the year because he has entered the race for the NYS legislature in the 100th Assembly District. “It’s the lower house, with 150 assembly members,” he said, adding that he finds the prospect of becoming an assemblyman “intriguing.”
continued on page 42
from page 38
Lou J. Ingrassia Jr. (L) and Water Treatment Plant Operator Luke Mortenson discuss repairs being made to the treatment plant.
from page 40
Running as a Republican/conservative, with friends on both sides of the aisle, he believes his experience from 38 years of constituent service at different levels, including having lobbied for CHIPS and water/sewer and highway money at the state capitol, may qualify him as a “subject matter expert” on some issues. His goal is to take that expertise to the state level and serve as a beneficial source on various committees.
He’ll also likely take his attitude of cooperation and optimism to his new position, should he win. Sounding like a natural-born politician, the commissioner said his favorite part of his current job is interacting with
employees and the public.
“I haven’t had too many bad days in 38 years,” he said.
On the threshold of beginning a new career, he looks back over his current position and hopes he’ll be remembered as a responsive and accessible commissioner and that the town’s residents will think he left the town in better shape than he found it.
If he wins his seat, Lou will continue his family’s tradition of serving the public, as he has done all his life. But, he says, “Win or lose, I win.” P
(All photos courtesy of the town of Wallkill public works department.)
Lou J. Ingrassia Jr. and his wife, Jacqueline.
New Magnum Building in Marcy, NY
The all-new PRO-PLOW 3 line of straight blade plows offers the first stainless steel straight blade model from Western Products
Western Reveals First Stainless Steel Straight Blade Snowplow
Western Products, a manufacturer of snow and ice control equipment, generated a lot of excitement at the 2024 SIMA Snow & Ice Symposium in Pittsburgh when it revealed three new product lines.
“SIMA is the perfect time for us to share our new product offerings with the snow and ice control industry,” said Erin Hunt, snow control product manager of Western Products. “The quality, technology and innovation in our processes and products…it’s all for our customers. Our motivation is to give them exactly what they need to get the job done faster so they can service their clients and get out of the elements sooner.”
PRO-PLOW 3 Snowplow
The PRO-PLOW 3 Snowplow is a professional-grade straight blade with a 70-degree attack angle that’s simple to operate and easy to maintain. It comes equipped with a high-carbon steel cutting edge to reduce wear and extend the life of the blade. Featuring the WESTERN POWER BAR for structural reinforcement, it offers the choice between an ULTRAFINISH powder coat surface or stainless steel option — the first ever stainless steel straight blade offered by Western Products.
PILE DRIVER XL Hydraulic-Wing Pusher Plow
The PILE DRIVER XL hydraulic-wing pusher plow is available in 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 ft. widths, and features hydraulic, independent 3 ft. wings that provide 180-degree variable wing placement. With such ver-
satility, this pusher plow can scoop and stack snow, and maneuver curbs and wide-open spaces alike.
The independent 2 ft. sections of the cutting edge and the 3 ft. wing sections raise, oscillate and trip to adjust to surface contours and obstacles, ensuring consistent plowing performance and productivity. This maximizes the scraping performance of the plow, reducing the amount of salt needed for post-treatment.
MARAUDER Poly Hopper Spreader
The MARAUDER poly hopper spreader is professional-grade and available in 1.5 and 2.2 cu. yd. capacities with the option of either a pintle chain delivery system for thick, heavy deicing materials, or the allnew HELIXX shaftless auger for precise rock salt application.
Made with durable, corrosion-resistant polyethylene, it features an extended-chute design to deliver smooth material flow with minimal leakage. The Tri-Shield Pre-wet and Direct Liquid Application System accessory can be added to spread, pre-wet or spray all with one tool.
“Adding pre-wetting and direct application capabilities with TriShield increases your versatility,” said Seth Bergerud, CSP, Parts & Accessories product manager of Western Products. “It allows any contractor to add brine and other deicing liquids to their granular capabilities, so they can optimize material usage and deliver superior service in any conditions.”
(Photo courtesy of Western Products.)
NYS OGS
Tracey Road Holds Annual Open
Tracey Road Equipment held its annual open house Oct. 3, 2024, at the company’s corporate headquarters in East Syracuse, N.Y.
Tracey’s annual event is highly anticipated by contractors, municipalities and landscapers, as well as trucking companies across New York State with this year’s event drawing more than 2,500 attendees. Tracey’s product offerings are so diverse that a visit to the company’s annual open house is much like attending a trade show.
In addition to 45 vendors, six food trucks were available, as well as live musical entertainment. This year’s event also included a visit from Optimus Prime, the ultimate Transformers-themed experience. The only full-scale replica of the Optimus Prime truck was made popular in Transformers: Age of Extinction.
As is the case each year, during this customer appreciation event guests were able to register for door prizes and giveaways made available from Tracey Road Equipment and its many supporting vendors.
P
(All photographs in this article are Copyright 2024 Superintendent’s Profile.. All Rights Reserved.)
Tracey Road Equipment has been one of Kobelco’s largest dealers with a relationship that goes back to when the product was first introduced to the North American market.
Astec was one of the largest exhibits at the event featuring its complete line of paving and aggregate producing equipment.
This young fellow checks out the controls of a Mauldin paver.
Optimus Prime, the world’s only full-scale replica from the Transformers movie series, made a special guest appearance.
House in East Syracuse, N.Y.
Manufacturer representatives discuss some of the latest technologies available for the truck and construction equipment industries.
An aerial view of Tracey Road Equipment’s massive annual open house.
Tracey Road Equipment’s customer appreciation event featured a free meal from an assortment of Syracuse area food trucks.
Via Napoli Express offered visitors delicious authentic wood-fired pizzas.
Kiki’s provided great Greek cuisine, compliments of Tracey Road Equipment.
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Other Services
Aluminum and steel welding. Press brake, mill, lathe, notchers and sheers. Wet and dry sand blasting, caustic boil out, acid and solvent cleaning, high pressure wash.
Optimus Prime Truck Makes Appearance at Tracy Road Event
Liebherr is known worldwide for its durability and advanced technologies.
asphalt rollers and soil compaction equipment is being used by some of the top heavy highway and paving contractors in the state.
When Hitachi changed its distribution model, Tracey Road Equipment was one of the manufacturer’s first named distributors. Tracey Road offers the largest Hitachi inventory available in the northeast.
Sakai
