Superintendent's Profile May 2023

NEW YORK STATE

Volume 47, Number 516, May 2023

INSIDE

Highways Superintendent David Miller and the Town of Lockport......................................................9

Advertiser / Supplier Index..................................................62

Lots of news, products and services throughout!

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Recently, six Maryland highway workers were killed on the job when a driver of an Acura struck them along a stretch of I-695 outside Baltimore. According to police, the driver was trying to change lanes when she struck the “front corner panel” on the passenger side of another vehicle and careened into a work zone between the Jersey barriers, hitting the workers before her car flipped over.

I’ve been writing in this space for quite a while about the dangers of highway work, which of course, you know all about, as well. This job should not be as dangerous as a police officer’s job. Highway workers and their families shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not they’ll make it home after their shift. It should not have to be that kind of job, but it nonetheless is because of selfishness (if not self-absorption), carelessness, risky driving maneuvers, distractions and so on and so forth. I mean, all it takes is a rudimentary imagination to envision yourself as the person on the side of the road and act as if you are. But what’s being done to minimize the threat to highway workers’ lives?

Well, at the start of National Work Zone Awareness Week from April 17 through April 21, the New York State launched the Automated Work Zone Speed Monitoring Pilot Program and Campaign.

The pilot program was established by legislation signed into law by Gov. Hochul and for the first 30 days of the pilot, beginning on April 17, speeding motorists have been issued warning Notices of Liability, with actual Notices being issued 30 days after the initial rollout.

Under the program, all vehicles detected violating the posted speed limit within a work zone by over an established threshold will be fined. License plate images and speed data collected will be sent to NYSDOT and the Thruway within a week, with violation fines issued to the vehicle’s registered owner by mail.

Fines through the pilot program are:

• $50 for the first violation;

• $75 for the second violation; and

• $100 for the third and subsequent violations within 18 months of the first violation.

While this is at least an attempt to thwart reckless driving through work zones, that’s not a lot of money for acting in a way that could jeopardize someone’s life. But I’m a firm believer in you have to do something to solve the problem and assisting already over-burdened law enforcement officers. Using technology is a start to help them and saving lives is a good start. P

Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • May 2023

Highway Superintendent David Miller and the Town of Lockport

Town of Lockport Highway Superintendent Dave Miller and his crew were taking a lunch break while doing a paving job a few years ago. He grabbed a bite at Ted’s Hotdogs.

By Lori Lovely PROFILE CORRESPONDENT

“While sitting there, I could hear someone choking,” he recalled. “I looked around and saw just about nobody else there, so I asked her to slide out of the bench.” He then proceeded to use the Heimlich maneuver on her. It saved her life.

It’s rare for a highway superintendent to

hadn’t been plowed, leaving thousands of residents trapped at home.

“Everyone was out plowing, so I took the high lift — the big loader,” Dave said.

Once he got to the trailer park, the fire chief jumped into the cab with him, bringing along his GPS to help guide them. They found the man in his car, attempting to drive himself to the hospital. While the chief attended to the man, Dave plowed a turn-around for the ambulance. He’s convinced that clearing the road for ambulance access saved the man’s life.

continued on page 12

A member of the Niagara County Association of Superintendents of Highways Inc., Dave also is the current president of the New York Association of Town Superintendents of Highways Inc.

from page 9

Another project in the works is a box culvert replacement on East High Street, but some of the superintendent’s favorite projects are construction jobs he and his crew do for the town, such as remodeling the town hall and bathrooms, building a new pole barn, garage and gazebo and many other projects that save the town money.

Prior to 2011, Day Road Park had only portable outhouses. Estimates for a contractor to install a restroom were around $250,000. Instead, under Dave’s guidance, the highway crew did 80 percent of the work — subletting plumbing, tiling, exterior cultured stone work and electrical service — for a cost of just $82,400.

The town purchased a 30-foot steelwork octagonal structure in 2014 for Day Park. Dave’s crew poured the concrete foundation and put together the prefab kit — subbing out electrical work. The project cost

$24,000, minus an $8,000 donation.

Four years later, the town put up a heated, finished 24-foot by 36-foot garage, a portion of which they rent to the New York State Troopers to use for storage and plate-reader cars as part of a lease expansion. The town did the bulk of the work on this project — excavating, concrete, roofing, siding, drywall, painting and trim. They subbed out electrical, insulation and garage door installation. Total cost of the project was just $27,325.

The same year, they erected a 32-foot by 48-foot pole barn to be used as a storage facility in Day Road Park. Once again, the department did all the work except the garage door installation, including using a 30foot-reach telehandler, purchased from Bureau of Federal Property Assistance (excess government military equipment). Bids for this job came in at $104,000, but Dave spent only $34,408.

continued on page 18

In May 1937, the Rapids Fire Company erected the “Rapids Owl” in memory of “Uncle Joe Edwards,” a local postmaster, sage, teacher and storekeeper who was revered by his neighbors. The 8-ft.-tall owl with blinking eyes became a beloved landmark for more than 60 years. In the 1990s, the owl was taken down and disappeared.

Park, which has many nature walking trails that were used extensively during the COVID pandemic.

from page 12

Grant money helped pay for the Snyder Road sidewalk project. Bids to install sidewalks from Shimer Drive to the Y on Snyder Drive came in at $144,800. After buying the sidewalk forms to do the work, costs when the project is completed are expected to be under $40,000.

Building a Background

Lockport was able to save so much money on building projects due to Dave’s background in construction. Fresh out of high school, he worked at Frontier Stone for five years, making cement blocks in the block plant.

When the quarry closed, Dave got into construction, working for others and running his own company with a focus on residential and commercial construction. After approximately 20 years in the industry, he

was asked to consider becoming Lockport’s highway superintendent.

“Lou Hagen [then-highway superintendent] came to see me about cutting grass,” Dave said. “He was getting ready to retire but had nobody lined up to take his place. He told me, ‘I’d give it to you in a minute.’ I thought about it for a week.”

At the end of a week, Dave became Lockport’s deputy highway superintendent. With a mere three months of training under his belt — which did not include any winter plowing, he pointed out — he assumed the top spot.

Carving His Own Path

Dave’s first year in office was 2010. One change he made was to alter the brush pickup schedule.

continued on page 24

Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • May 2023

The Day Road Bridge over the Erie Barge Canal.

The Cold Springs Road Bridge over the Erie Barge Canal.

from page 18

“When I first got here, we would pick up brush only three times a year,” he said. “I changed the policy to pick up brush once a month: March through November.”

The change was intended to provide better service. He said that if residents missed the first pickup, they complained about the length of time until the next one. So, every third Monday, nine times a year, he shuts down paving work to pick up brush.

“I saw a need for more frequent pickup. We work for the residents. It doesn’t matter what projects we do, as long as it’s for the good of the town.”

Pleasing the townspeople is important. In addition, Dave enjoys a good relationship with the town’s board in large part because he saves so much money on projects, but he also has a good rapport with the other towns throughout Niagara County.

continued on page 30

The town of Lockport highway department crew. (L-R, back row): Zach Pronti, Chris Geier, Barry Kibbe, Dan Ramos, David Haak, Jeff Schmidt, Scott Reynolds and Matt Rosenberg. (L-R, front row): Tom Berhalter, James Rook, Ronnie Teter and Deputy Scott Donner.

These restrooms at Day Road Park were mostly constructed by the town of Lockport highway department, saving town residents thousands of dollars.

from page 24

“We work with pretty much all the towns in Niagara County,” he said. “We share trucks and equipment throughout the year, especially during paving season. It wouldn’t be unusual to see five or six different town trucks lined up at one town’s paving job.”

A member of the Niagara County Association of Superintendents of Highways Inc., Dave also is the current president of the New York Association of Town Superintendents of Highways Inc., where he is extending his network of cooperation and community. Many of the 934 towns in New York are part of the group.

“We have a strong association and provide a lot of services,” he said.

During his one-year term, he’ll visit other counties and address the highway school and Cornell. He also hopes to revamp the association’s bylaws and initiate better connections with the vendors by including them in meetings and decisions.

continued on page 38

Seen here is the installation of the cupola on top of a pole barn that the highway department town built at Day Road Park. The 36-ft. telehandler used here was purchased by the town from the government surplus program, saving thousands of dollars for the town.

son, children can visit Santa here.

from page 30

He’s also prepared to meet with state senators on budget issues, in the hopes of increasing their CHIPS allotment. Lockport’s CHIPS amount is $339,199.84 (out of a total operating budget of $3,010,650, which includes: EWR — $44,740.59; Pave NY — $54,436.80; and Pop — $36,291.20). “It’s not enough,” he said.

Despite funds from Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (part of the Inflation Reduction Act), he said costs have increased to such an extent that they offset the additional funds.

“There’s been an increase in the cost of fuel, blacktop … we need money for roads, bridges and culvert.”

Budgets, Buildings, Big Equipment

Dave manages Lockport’s highway budget judiciously. While he does buy a big truck every other year, much of his equipment is older, like the 50-year-old paver.

“A new paver costs $450,000,” he said. “That’s two years’ budget.”

Instead, he added, they “maintain equipment the best we can. We just keep fixing it.”

Key in that enterprise is lead mechanic, Barry Kibbe. Not only does he schedule all vehicle maintenance and log maintenance records in the computer, he also explores parts options to save money. And if he can’t find it, sometimes he can make it.

“Our mechanic wired up lights on each end of the front plows on all our big trucks so the drivers can see the edges of the plows, especially in bad weather,” Dave said.

The department’s current equipment list includes:

• 2020 Chevy Silverado pickup

continued on page 44

During warmer weather, one of the crews’ duties is to take care of the local parks, such as the playground at Day Road Park, seen here. “It’s a gem with a playground, two irrigated soccer fields, a walking path, restrooms and a memorial tree program where people can buy a plaque for loved ones,” Dave Miller said.

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from page 38

• 2005 Chevy Silverado pickup

• 2015 Chevy Silverado pickup

• 2013 Chevy Silverado pickup

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• 2013 Kubota tractor

• 1988 Midland paver and 1988 Midland shoulder widener

• New Holland tractor

• John Deere wheel loader

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• Caterpillar vibratory rollers (three)

• Spreaders

Dave has a new truck on order. “We will buy new trucks. It’s important to have reliable trucks.”

He also said the department “could use a new paver and one or two leaf suckers.”

Their main garage is 120 feet by 190 feet with a 25-foot by 150-foot attached office, built in 1976. They also have a 40-foot by 70-foot storage barn, a 40-foot by 50-foot salt shed storage and a 55-foot by 70-foot salt barn with a 25-foot by 70-foot lean-to that can store 3,000 tons of salt. The property also houses the town hall and court/troopers building.

On the Green

Dave’s current four-year term expires December 2025. Contemplating retiring “sooner than later,” especially on those winter weekends when he has to get up at 3 a.m. to check the roads, he knows his future doesn’t allow for a lot of time to sit around his new in-ground pool. He’s already so busy, he sold his 30-foot boat last year because, after 20 years of boating, there just isn’t time for it anymore.

“I’ve always had two jobs my entire life,” he said. “I come from the private sector where you have to bust your butt.”

His present “second job” is overseeing the executive par 3 golf course he created on his 26-acre farm. He designed the course and, with a partner, opened it to the public in 2005.

Having since bought out his partner, Dave built a “nice clubhouse” — an enclosed banquet facility for 150 that features a bar, where a weekly crowd gathers on Saturdays. “It’s my happy place,” he said.

continued on page 48

This Cat roller was purchased from the government surplus program. Mike Swyers of the Parishville highway department crew strips shoulders in the town.

The town of Lockport highway department has a 40-ft. by 70-ft. storage barn. There’s also an old 40-ft. by 50-ft. salt shed storage and a 55-ft. by 70-ft. salt barn with a 25-ft. by 70-ft. lean-to that can store 3,000 tons of salt.

from page 44

“It keeps us here,” he said, including his wife of four decades, Ginny, who manages the golf course and banquet facility when she’s not working as the music director of the local Catholic church, where she sings and plays the organ.

Hometown History

“Here” is his hometown of Lockport, population 20,570, established in 1824, the same year the Erie Canal opened from the Hudson River to the Lockport locks. Today, the Lockport Cave & Underground Boat Ride, offering guided historical tours of the 19th-Century locks, caves and tunnels is a popular attraction.

A popular nearby tourist stop is Blackman Homestead Farm, a 160-acre family-owned and -operated farm for more than 150 years. Located on the Niagara Escarpment, the working farm produces apples and other fruit, cider, fruit butter and more.

The town, still largely rural farmland, is known for organizing the first volunteer regiment of the Civil War in 1861 and for being home to the co-inventor of the steam fire engine, Birdsill Holly, who obtained a patent for the fire hydrant in 1869.

continued on page 52

It has become his social life, but it’s more than that.

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The town of Lockport town hall.

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Family Future

Dave and Ginny were high school sweethearts — even though they went to different high schools.

“She lived two miles away in a different county and went to a different school,” he said. They met at a corner store when he was about 15 … and dating her sister. Things changed quickly once they met. “I married young at 19,” he said.

The couple had three children of their own: David, Rachel and Brian. Their kids grown and gone, they thought they were done raising children, but they took in Ginny’s great-niece and -nephew, SherriLynn, and the late Beau about 17 years ago. They acquired legal custody of the two, saving them from a life in foster care.

Grandfather to six, Dave survived a heart attack two years ago. It hasn’t slowed him down, but he is thinking about cutting down to just one job soon.

Before he does, he has some goals to accomplish, like completing the new pond and athletic field at Day Road Park, adding more trails, updating the playground equipment and continuing maintenance.

“I want to leave it better than [it was] when I got here,” he said, adding that he hopes to be remembered as a superintendent who “did a lot of building and saved a lot of money.”

It’s safe to say that this hometown hero will be remembered for a lot more than that.  P

The John B. Austin Nature Trail is a popular walking and hiking attraction in the town of Lockport.

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