Superintendent's Profile September 2023

NEW YORK STATE

Highway Superintendent Mike Andrews Jr. and the Town of Malone........................................................9

Advertiser / Supplier Index..................................................70

Lots of news, products and services throughout!

STAFF

President/Publisher

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Editor In Chief Craig Mongeau

Sales Manager Kent Hogeboom

Production Mgr.

Controller

John Pinkerton

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Circulation Mgr. Cathy Printz

Sales/Admin. Asst. Deby Hogeboom

Trade Show Manager

Consultant

Teddy McKeon

Bob Buckley

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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 18, 2023 • SYRACUSE, NEW YORK

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© 2023 PROFILE PUBLICATIONS PROFILE PUBLICATIONS, SUPERINTENDENT'S PROFILE & PRODUCT-SERVICE DIRECTORY, NYS HIGHWAY & PUBLIC WORKS EXPO & SNOWPLOW ROADEO ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS

The 2023 NYS Highway & Public Works Expo is fast approaching and now is as good a time as any to remind all of you why you should attend or exhibit. Here are the top five reasons why you should exhibit or attend the big show in Syracuse on Oct. 18:

1) Networking Opportunities: For attendees, the Expo provides an ideal platform to connect with your peers, which can lead to valuable relationships and partnerships — and it’s also a great forum to bounce ideas off of one another on how you serve your towns and villages. For exhibitors, you’ll be connecting with a lot of potential buyers in just one location over the course of a few hours. That’s a pretty efficient use of time.

2) Cutting-Edge Innovations and Product Showcasing: Attendees will discover the latest advancements in highway and public works technologies, equipment and solutions in essentially a one-stop shop.

3) Brand Awareness and Recognition: Superintendents will remember your company and its offerings long after the event, increasing your brand presence. If your competitor down the road is not attending, you have a leg up.

4) Affordable and Minimal Time: We at Superintendent’s Profile pride ourselves on keeping costs for the Expo as low as possible. We know our exhibitors are busy, and we know our attendees are busy. With an easy setup and tear-down process, your team and crews will be home for dinner.

5) Free Lunch — Chance to win Buffalo Bills or Watkins Glen tickets: Nothing is free, but thanks to the exhibitors that sponsor the lunch, it is free for the attendees who have a ticket (please visit an exhibitor to obtain one.) A BBQ lunch is served, and we typically have the drawing for the tickets after lunch. We pick out of the hat from all the show tickets handed in at the front door!

Attending and exhibiting at the 2023 NYS Highway and Public Works Trade Show in Syracuse, N.Y., offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect, learn, innovate and collaborate within the highway and public works sector. Booth sales continue to be strong, and just like last year, we expect a full house, so now is the time to act if you’re leaning toward exhibiting.

In this issue, please check out page 58 for a little retro of last year’s record-breaking Expo. Also, in the next issue of Superintendent’s Profile we’ll be publishing a comprehensive exhibitor listing, which will not only give you a heads up of who will be showcasing their products and services during the Expo, but it also will give you the opportunity to plan out your booth visits in advance.

Look forward to seeing you there! P

Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com

• September 2023

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Highway Superintendent Mike Andrews Jr. and the Town of Malone

Michael Andrews Jr. had worked in the town of Malone highway department for 17 years, was union shop president for eight years and was part of the contract negotiation committee for 12 years. For two years, he served as deputy highway superintendent.

By Lori Lovely PROFILE CORRESPONDENT

Despite his experience, he didn’t have plans to run for election for highway superintendent in 2022 until the crew approached him. The current superintendent wasn’t on the ballot, and an outsider was running for the position.

“The guys in the garage asked me to run,” Mike said. “That meant a lot to me.”

After he won the election, he started turning back the clock to organize the shop like it had been under previous administrations. His immediate predecessor had drifted away from the preceding superintendent’s way of running the garage.

“It wasn’t working,” Mike said simply. “I wanted to get things back to the way they were. It’s old school, but it worked.”

Old Ways Are Good Ways

Mike overhauled just about everything, starting with “basic stuff, like

maintenance.” He reinstated the old schedule of hauling in sand after Labor Day and putting the trucks together in October to be ready for snow by Halloween. In March, his crews start putting the sweepers together. In May, they dig ditches and install culverts.

Every piece of equipment gets a full-service twice a year (spring and fall). In between, regular greasing and filter cleanings are completed. “Basic maintenance is done as needed,” Mike said.

The new highway superintendent instituted a road maintenance schedule for “regular, basic road maintenance” that relies on early prevention. By dividing the town into five regions, Mike and his crews can keep on top of maintenance. For example, each month they cut the shoulders in a different region.

“We use a sand-salt mix because we can’t afford straight salt,” he said.

They spread it with a pull-behind broom that sweeps sand to the shoulder. As the mixture piles up higher and higher, it contains water on the road, preventing run-off. This creates puddling, which creates potholes. Maintaining a regular schedule of cutting the shoulders alleviates that problem.

continued on page 12

The town of Malone highway department crew are Kallie Poirer (seasonal), John Manley, Cindy Gadway, Matt Casey, Kiel Otis, Mark Lamondie, Bruce Deleon, Kaden Barney, Josh Cartier, Craig Bombard, Mike Andrews (in red), Scott Spalding, Josh Brown and Neil Beaney.

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from page 9

Changing It Up

Mike isn’t sticking to an old script, however. He’s busy making improvements to the department and throughout the town. Improvement starts at home. Most of the highway department’s facilities were built in the 1950s and 1960s. The 18,000-sq.-ft. garage with superintendent office, clerk office, mechanic office, parts room and two mechanic bays needed updating — even more so because it’s upstairs.

“It’s not safe, not public-friendly, not handicapped-accessible and it has only one restroom,” Mike said.

To address those issues, a project to build a new office is currently under way. To save money, his crew is doing all the work. In addition, they’re using ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money to redo and enlarge the breakroom.

Additional renovations Mike has done to the facilities include creating a new mechanic bay in the garage.

“For 17 years, part of the garage was used as a catch-all,” he said.

This 30-ft. by 60-ft. cold storage area was full of junk. First, he cleared it out by holding a “garage sale.” Then, his crew moved the furnace to the back room, added work benches and windows and sprayed insulation. Once again, the crew did the work.

The town of Malone highway department crew sand bags Veterans Field.

The crew performs blacktopping in the town of Malone. continued on page 18

from page 12

“We have an HVAC-certified guy on the crew, and some of the guys are electricians.”

To complete the task, they moved in an unused truck lift.

Making use of unused, unwanted or forgotten items to save the town money is one of Mike’s specialties — and it came in handy when a semi-pro baseball team — the Border Hounds — wanted to move to Malone.

The town had to prepare a facility to host games. However, Mike recalled, the town board couldn’t tie the space into the local sewer system. Fortunately, one of the highway crewmen had the skills to install a raised bed sewer system. To create a parking lot, Mike came up with the idea of asking the state for the millings from a resurfacing project on nearby State Road 11. The New York State DOT, through shared services, gave them free of charge. The highway department crew hauled them and did the work after hours.

It Takes a Town

Another innovation Mike introduced is regular employee evaluations every six months. He considers it important to let the employees know about their job performance and areas for improvement — and to allow them a forum to provide feedback.

“The employees like it,” he said. He believes it’s one way to let them know they’re more than just a number. “That’s key. Management leads to performance.”

Employee evaluations also allow the union to approach the board about raises for the employees. Although Mike was once union shop president, he’s no longer a member since elected positions can’t be in the union. However, because of his long association with the union, he said, “The guys know I know what can and can’t be done.”

One thing he can’t do is work alongside beside his crew if it means he’s taking work away from them. That may be part of the reason he’s so insistent on training for everyone on the crew.

continued on page 22

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

Town of Malone Highway Department Clerk Cindy Gadway and mascot, Sophie.

from page 18

Although he likes to pair each employee with the task they’re best at, he insists on giving everyone an opportunity to run every piece of equipment.

“I like to let every employee experience the job from A to Z.”

He also rotates the crew so that they work with everyone at one time or another. “It helps morale and builds a team.”

Craig Bombard, MEO, was employed at a different municipality for 20 years when he decided to make a change and come to Malone.

“I came from a small township to a much larger township — one which in turn means more work to do and a larger staff to work with,” he said.

Feeling that he made the right choice, he added, “Mike may be classified as a boss, but I see him as a leader and a friend among his employees. The guys here are willing to work and get the job done, no matter the task. I’m proud to be part of it.”

That loyalty is evident throughout the staff, extending to other town employees. Andrea Stewart, current town supervisor, began as town clerk/receiver of taxes in 1985, rising through the ranks to become budg-

et officer and assistant to the town supervisor, a position she held for 26 years. Two years after she retired, she returned as town supervisor and is now in her second term.

“Over those many years, I have worked for and with seven superintendents and countless highway employees,” she said. “The current highway employees and their leader are the most dedicated, knowledgeable and hard-working team I have ever had the pleasure to work with.”

She praised their experience for saving the taxpayers thousands of dollars and credits collaboration with the department for achieving an “aggressive road improvement plan.”

That dedicated highway department crew includes 11 full-time staff, one part-time clerk and two seasonal helpers from April to September:

• Mark Lamondie, mechanic

• Neil Beaney, mechanic

• Bruce Deleon, laborer

• Scott Spalding, HEO

• Kiel Otis, HEO

• Matt Casey, HEO

continued on page 26

The crew constructs new offices.

from page 22

• John Manley, MEO

• Josh Cartier, MEO

• Josh Brown, MEO

• Craig Bombard, MEO

• Kaden Barney, MEO

• Cindy Gadway, highway clerk

Together, they work a schedule of 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday, MaySeptember; and 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, October to April. While Mike is quick to say he doesn’t micromanage, he does make sure each employee knows what’s expected of them every day. “The guys know what they’re doing tomorrow.” Mike posts two weeks’ worth of schedule on a 6x8 dry erase board in the breakroom.

The superintendent’s implementation of training and evaluation programs seems to be working, because in 2023, the highway department received the American Legion Red, White and Blue award — a certificate of appreciation presented for the development of quality, leadership and service.

continued on page 30

Inspecting road washout caused by a recent storm.

Scott Spalding performs roadside work in a Gradall in the town of Malone.

from page 26

Nevertheless, Mike said there’s not enough recognition for the guys. “This is not the Mike Andrews Show. They make or break me.”

The Paperwork

Another thing that can make or break a highway superintendent is the paperwork. While many cringe when they speak of that aspect of the job, Mike enjoys it.

“Paperwork is my job!” he said. “I want to read everything.”

It’s how he learns and it’s how he saves the town money. Most importantly, he said it’s how he makes the job easier for his crew.

Running the highway department is like running a business, he believes.

“You must know how to spend money responsibly and look for the best prices to save money in the budget.”

The budget for the Malone highway department is $1.6 million. No CHIPS money has been allocated, but that will probably change.

“The previous superintendent didn’t have his CHIPS paperwork done prior to the budget,” Mike said. “You have to show where the money came out of the budget … and you have to submit by the deadline in order to receive reimbursement. It’s hard to allocate CHIPS into the budget if you don’t know how much you’re getting.”

continued on page 34

Matt Casey, Keil Otis, Bruce Deleon and Kallie Poirer pave a town road.

from page 30

The new superintendent keeps a close eye on the budget — something he learned when he worked in sales. All the work he did before becoming highway superintendent taught him valuable skills he now relies on. His first job out of high school was in construction. That taught him building skills, deadlines and timelines. His experience as union shop president gave him knowledge of contracts and laws.

Malone and the Mountain Mike grew up in Malone, located in Franklin County near the Canadian border. With a population of 14,545 according to the 2010 census, the town nestled in the middle of farmlands, forests, lakes and streams has a few claims to fame.

It’s the location of the Almonzo Wilder homestead, of Little House on the Prairie fame, and was once home to the country’s 19th vice president, William Almond Wheeler, whose mansion on Elm Street is now the site of the Elks Lodge. It also was part of the underground railroad. The town is currently reconditioning the church on Main Street where former enslaved people hid on their escape route to Canada.

continued on page

The crew performs hot patch work on a town road.

40 A Western Star hauls in the department’s new Cat excavator.

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Formed from part of the town of Chateauqay in 1805 and originally named Harison after Richard Harison, who purchased the land and founded the town, Malone went through another name change in 1808, when it was called Ezraville after Ezra L’Hommedieu. Its current name finally stuck in 1812, around the time the village was sacked by British troops during the War of 1812.

These days, Malone — the county seat — is better known for winter sports, due in part to the Titus Mountain Family Ski Resort, which has been dubbed the number-one family-friendly resort in the Northeast and the second-best overall resort in North America. The popular ski resort, located in the Adirondack Mountains, offers skiing, tubing, snowmobiling, snowboarding, golf and more.

However, Titus, as it’s known, is accessed by a seasonal road that isn’t maintained in the winter. If it’s impassible due to weather, tourists have to drive 5 to 6 mi. around to reach it. Mike talked to the board and the resort owners about changing the gravel road’s status and is hoping to find agreement for it to become a maintained gravel road by fall.

continued on page 46

Josh Cartier and John Manley putting up a new town sign.

With a population of 14,545 according to the 2010 census, the town of Malone is nestled in the middle of farmlands, forests, lakes and streams.

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Goals On Gravel

The highway department is already maintaining 20 gravel and 44 paved roads, for a total of 187.08 lane miles. It’s divided into six plow routes, which take approximately four hours each. Their block building holds 100 tons of salt to help deal with the snow. With an average snowfall of 95 inches, Mike’s crew is frequently out plowing.

During milder weather, they’re busy with road maintenance and blacktopping gravel roads. One of the superintendent’s goals is to reduce the number of gravel roads.

“They’re time-consuming to maintain,” he said.

Working toward that goal, his crew recently finished a 9-mi. blacktop and installed more than 1,000 ft. of new culverts throughout the town.

In addition to road work, the crew mows three cemeteries, maintains a boat launch and a fishing park and oversees full maintenance of Malone Dufort Airport, including snow clearing. When they have time to help other towns, they haul millings, blacktop and sand, and help with paving. Mike carefully logs what they give and receive for shared services.

“The board looks at the cost savings and turns it into the state,” he said.

Budget Buster

Part of the paperwork Mike labors over is known as a 284 — the paperwork he presents to the board on jobs he wants to do the following year. In addition to making paving plans, he budgets money every year for equipment.

His current inventory includes:

• 1998 Ford dump truck

• 2015 Western Star dump truck

• 2019 Western Star dump truck

• 2023 Western Star dump truck

• 2016 Western Star tractor

• 2011 XL4100 Gradall

• 2013 mini-excavator

• Four 2017 F-350

• 2023 Chevy Silverado

continued on page 52

The town of Malone highway department installs 500 ft. of culverts.

• 2023 loader

• 2022 Cat excavator

• 2019 blacktop roller

One piece of equipment Mike hopes to add to the list is a street sweeper.

“We still sweep roads with the tractor and brooms,” he said. “Dust is not employee- or resident-friendly.”

A sweeper would stop the constant buildup on the shoulders and be safer for the environment.

Much of the equipment is fairly new and a six- to seven-year plan of rotation has been put forward. Mike said the shorter rotation is strongly supported by one board member who is a former DOT sergeant, and is enabled by careful budgeting, along with two “garage” sales that brought in almost $300,000.

“There was so much stuff in the garage we no longer used,” he said. “I held a couple sales and used that money to help buy new equipment.”

from page 46 continued on page 54

Matt Casey clears snow at the airport.

Matt Casey and Bruce Deleon perform drainage work in the town of Malone.

from page

He also cuts costs by using available resources. For instance, when the crew takes down roadside trees, they cut firewood for the steam boiler system and two huge wood stoves they use for heat in the shop.

Just Another Day On the Job

Being able to help keep the community he was raised in safe and affordable is Mike’s favorite part of the job.

“Every day on the job is my best day,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to help people. That’s why I got elected.”

Communication is important to the devoted superintendent. He keeps the town supervisor informed of developments, includes a Motorola digital radio system in every piece of equipment so he can stay in touch with his crew, and maintains six points of communication with the public: the highway department office phone, email, fax, two cell phones, social media and personal contact.

Although he jokes that his wife, Jodi, would say he’s not home enough, he quickly added, “She knows I love my job and enjoy talking with people.”

Whether doing daily road checks or traveling to attend a meeting with

the Franklin County Traffic and Safety Board, he often stops to visit with residents. If road work is planned for their area, he calls residents ahead of time. The courtesy is reciprocated.

“The public brings things to the shop almost daily — cookies, cake… ”

As much as he loves his job, Mike also appreciates the fact that he can depend on his deputy superintendent and crew to manage when he takes time off. He and his wife of 17 years take a week or two off every year to travel. This year’s destinations were Jamaica and Cancun.

A family man with two children (Justin and Rylee), he serves as a coach for Franklin Academy modified baseball and ran the Little League for 12 years. He also breeds and raises Coonhounds, traveling all over the country with them for competitions.

It doesn’t matter if he planned to run for highway superintendent in 2022 or not. Mike feels rewarded by this 365-day-a-year job, and gratified by seeing his crew enjoy their jobs and take pride in their work.

“My best day on the job was Day One, knowing I have the opportunity to help the community I was raised in,” he said. “The public loves to see clean roads, trees cut and blacktop.”  P

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Get Ready for the 2023 NYS Highway & Public Works Expo

Last year’s NYS Highway & Public Works Expo was a resounding success with more than 1,800 in attendance. And that was thanks to all of you who attended and exhibited.

At the 2022 show, representatives from highway departments from as far away as Shelter Island in the Hamptons to a bus load of highway superintendents from Niagara County attended the big show at the New York State Fairgrounds.

With more than 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and more than 150 exhibits, each year the N.Y.S. Highway & Public Works Expo proves to be the largest collection of highway and municipal equipment on display in the northeast. And we’re happy to report that the 2023 NYS Highway & Public Works Expo is shaping up to be an incredible show, as well.

Innovative new products will once again be on display, essentially covering any item that a highway or public works department would need.

Here’s just a sampling of last year’s show, and we look forward to seeing all of you in Syracuse on Oct. 18.  P

More than 100,000 sq. ft. of equipment and services were on display from more than 150 companies.

We offer our thanks to the busload of highwaymen who chartered a bus all the way from Niagara County (Niagara Falls region of the state).

A long line of attendees enter the raffle for valuable door prizes.

Teddy McKeon (L), N.Y.S. Highway & Public Works Expo show manager, presents Mark Savage of the town of Theresa highway department the grand prize of two tickets to the Buffalo Bills vs. the New England Patriots.

Teddy McKeon (L), N.Y.S. Highway & Public Works Expo show manager, presents Kenneth Cook of the Montezuma highway department the grand prize of two tickets to the 2023 NASCAR race weekend at Watkins Glen International Speedway.

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essential nutrients that will serve future vegetation.”

Diamond Mowers offers its Disc Mulcher Pro X in two sizes — a 48 in. unit optimal for smaller skid-steers operating in compact spaces, and a 60 in. unit ideal for tackling projects in open, rural areas with a need to clear large areas quickly. No matter the cutting width, both attachments can slice through trees and brush up to 14 in. in diameter and shred material up to 6 in. in diameter into a fine mulch.

Introduced at ConExpo 2023 in March, Diamond’s new Disc Mulcher Belt Drive Pro X is engineered for world-class productivity and ideally suited for contractors and mulching professionals who specialize in land clearing, vegetation and forestry management, and pasture reclamation. It features increased torque to quickly and efficiently reprocess anything in its path without slowing down, recovers twice as fast as other mulchers, and boasts an efficient design that promotes lower hydraulic temperatures for maximum uptime and carrier life.

Drum Mulcher

A drum mulcher serves various needs from meadow and pasture reclamation to mitigating the spread of invasive species. These heavyduty mulchers get their name from their cylindrical, drum-like shape. They are engineered to shred small trees and brush with a forward spinning motion. This quality makes them great options for quick brush and

Its carbide teeth also make it ideal for tackling rough, rocky terrain.”

Historically, open drum models have been known to create a less refined mulch. However, Diamond’s newest model, the Drum Mulcher OD Pro X, offers a hybrid design that fuses the best performance features of depth control and open drum mulchers into one versatile attachment, according to the manufacturer.

Strategically engineered to allow for heavy ground engagement, this model features an optimized infeed system that produces a smaller, more uniform and aesthetically pleasing fine mulch after the first pass.

Stump Grinder

A stump grinder is another essential tool for any landowner faced with cleaning up tree stumps left behind after cutting, storms, or fires. This handy attachment uses a rotating cutting disc to mulch tree stumps into small pieces — an important process for maintaining safety and aesthetics and preventing invasive species from re-sprouting.

Diamond’s Reflex Stump Grinder is an excellent choice for land clearing and rural grinding applications. It uses the skid-steer’s lift arm to position its heavy-duty wheel in the stump before driving it through the wood with the machine’s wheels or tracks. This easy-to-operate grinder is equipped with a cushioning device that protects the wheel from too much pressure, alleviating overload by flexing and keeping the wheel out of harm’s way.

Grinding wheels are available in 24 or 26 in. cutting widths and are paired with an appropriately sized motor to match the machine’s hydraulic flow.

Diamond also offers its Miller Stump Grinder, which can cut stumps up to 36 in. in diameter without having to move the carrier. The 26 in., 6way grinding wheel features swing, lift and telescoping functions that allow operators to process a stump while the loader is parked in one position, reducing the risk of soil or turf damage, and making it an ideal solution for settings where aesthetics are important.

For more information, visit diamondmowers.com. 

undergrowth removal.

“There are two common types of drum mulcher attachments — depth control and open drum,” said Nelson. “Primarily used for largescale brush clearing, undergrowth removal and vegetation management where there is limited ground contact, depth control mulchers excel at taking down trees and large vegetation. Alternately, an open drum mulcher is designed for greater ground interaction. This attachment engages the entire surface of the tool at ground level for larger bites and maximum productivity.

Diamond’s new Disc Mulcher Belt Drive Pro X is ideally suited for contractors and mulching professionals who specialize in land clearing, vegetation and forestry management and pasture reclamation.

The Drum Mulcher OD Pro X offers a hybrid design that fuses the best performance features of depth control and open drum mulchers into one versatile attachment, according to the manufacturer.

KAGE Innovation Releases New SnowFire Blast Snow Pusher

Once again, KAGE Innovation has pushed snow removal to a new level — this time with the release of its new advanced snow pusher — the KAGE SnowFire Blast.

This snow box takes the simplicity of a standard snow pusher and adds in many of the safety and performance-enhancing features found in its famous SnowFire 2-in-1 plow and pusher system.

The SnowFire Blast is a trip edge box plow with floating skids. This means you can plow right up to, and over, curbs for a closer scrape and minimal damage. It also means that you no longer need to settle for rubber cutting edges on your pusher.

Designed for skid steers, compact utility tractors and compact wheel loaders, the SnowFire Blast accommodates steel, sectional carbide and poly cutting edges with universal DOT highway punches. That means you can use your favorite cutting edge without worrying about damaging curbs, manhole covers or your pusher.

The SnowFire Blast still includes the same 12 degrees of oscillation found on the traditional SnowFire system and added extra float to the quick attach system.

Where you’ll see the biggest difference between the Blast snow pusher the traditional SnowFire system is that the side panels are bolted in place, rather than set up for quick removal and reattachment.

The SnowFire Blast also has an optional back drag kit that enables full utilization of the containment box while back dragging.

It has no hydraulics running to the plow itself. This brings the moldboard closer to the cab and eliminates the option for angle plowing. It also lowers the price tag significantly, according to the manufacturer.

KAGE SnowFire Blasts are available in five different sizes, ranging from 6 ft. to 12 ft. wide.

For more information, visit kageinnovation.com. 

Designed for skid steers, compact utility tractors and compact wheel loaders, the SnowFire Blast accommodates steel, sectional carbide and poly cutting edges with universal DOT highway punches.