Superintendent's Profile January/February 2023

STAFF

Production Mgr. John Pinkerton

Controller Judith Nixon Circulation Mgr. Cathy Printz

Sales/Admin. Asst. Deby Hogeboom

Trade Show Manager Teddy McKeon

Consultant Bob Buckley

You can think about it … just don’t do anything on it.

That’s essentially what a New York State Supreme Court judge told the New York State Department of Transportation recently when he modified his earlier injunction to halt work on the I-81 project in Syracuse.

The justice has now allowed NYSDOT to do the necessary paperwork to award the first construction contract for the $2.25 billion project, but the agency is still prohibited from doing any physical work until a lawsuit aimed at blocking the I-81 project is resolved. Initially, the judge had prohibited NYSDOT from even doing paperwork to be ready for the project until the lawsuit, filed by Renew 81 for All, returns to court in mid-January.

Former Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler has led the Renew 81 fight against NYSDOT’s plans to replace the I-81 viaduct through Syracuse with a street-level community grid. His group claims the plan would increase pollution and traffic jams, among other problems, and instead advocates replacing the viaduct or building a “sky bridge” through the city. NYSDOT approved the community grid plan earlier this year after 14 years of study, but the agency hailed the judge’s recent modified ruling, saying that it will save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars if it were to miss a January 14 deadline to complete the first contract.

So, it’ll all come down to mid-January. Renew 81 wants the community grid plan scrapped for an alternative and NYSDOT says no way … we want the case dismissed. The judge will decide. Regardless of which side of the highway people reside on with this lawsuit, most would agree the project is nonetheless necessary because the interstate serves as an essential travel corridor for the central New York region, especially the downtown Syracuse area. Let’s hope the project moves forward one way or the other. What a way to start the New Year.

Have a great, happy, healthy and successful 2023.

But one last very important item: please see page 54. The village of Camden DPW was recently hit by a massive fire that destroyed its facility and many equipment items. On this page you can learn details of the disaster and contact information if you are able to assist them in any way. I’ll repeat info here: Superintendent Jeff Heller at camdendpw245@yahoo.com or contact the village of Camden at 315/245-0560 or the Camden garage at 315/245-2590. P

Craig Mongeau

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Highway Superintendent Tom Slate and the Town of Pharsalia Highway Department

It doesn’t take long to realize that Tom Slate is the right man for the job. Obviously a man comfortable in his own skin, Tom exudes confidence as he tells of his journey to become the highway superintendent of the town of Pharsalia.

By Mary Yamin-Garone PROFILE CORRESPONDENT

Born in Norwich Hospital, Tom grew up in Plymouth, a neighboring town of Pharsalia.

“After graduating from North High School in 1991, I worked in a body shop nights and Saturdays until 1995,” he said. “Then, I got my CDL license. After that, I drove for my brother’s trucking business,

about working part-time winging and helping out plowing and other things.

“I said yes because with the trucking business and excavating, I didn’t have a job that winter anyway. I went back to work for my brother in the summer of 1998.”

After all that, how did Tom make his way to the super’s seat?

“In October, my boss said a full-time position was open if I wanted it. So, I took it. I worked for the town from 1998 to 2010 as everything from a truck driver, equipment operator and laborer. When my boss retired, I ran for his job in 2009 and took over in 2010. Knock on wood,

The town of Pharsalia crew.

(L-R): Truck Driver Art Grover, HMEO Ray Clapper and Superintendent Tom Slate.

On a Personal Note

Tom is married to wife, Brenda, a former aircraft assembler at what used to be General Electric.

“She had a bout with cancer,” Tom said. “But everything is good and now she’s a homebody.”

This super is the youngest of five siblings: Chuck, Doug, Jenie and Wayne. He also has two stepchildren, Matt Meyer and Kristie Meyer.

In his spare time, this homebody likes “cutting firewood, logging and working in my garage. Those are my off-time stress relievers.”

He also has his own personal garage at home. “I do a lot of work there, fixing my neighbors’ stuff and mine.”

When it comes to retirement, Tom has five more years to go. “That’ll give me about 30 years. I’ll be 55. Hopefully, if nothing happens, I’ll get my 30 in and then see what happens after that.”

continued on page 18

The town of Pharsalia’s park pavilion.

The town of Pharsalia highway department performs road repairs on Billy Brown Road.

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All in a Day’s Work

The highway department’s facilities were built between 1966 and 1967. The main garage is 40 x 60 in a single-story building and the cold storage, which was built in the 1970s, is 40 x 50. The town hall sits on the property where they hold court and have board meetings. Four or five years ago, the highway department built a pavilion at the town park, approximately a half-mile from the town barn.

“There’s no cover salt shed, only sand,” Tom said. “We use hardly any salt unless there’s a bad ice storm. Then, we’ll use it on the dirt roads. You really can’t use salt because it warms the roads up and it turns into mud and flop in the middle of winter and that’s bad.”

Tom also has what they call a satellite for the county highway.

A popular attraction and recreational destination in the town of Pharsalia is Balsam Pond.

Truck Driver Art Grove is a part-time highway department crew member, who is 80 years old.

“They keep some salt and sand mixture here because we’re so far away from Norwich. They’re out there plowing in the middle of the night and run out of sand. They don’t want to go all the way back to town to get more sand to plow the roads. They stop in here and load their piles. Then, they keep plowing and sanding. They call it a satellite so you could say it’s a satellite for listening on the county highway. They keep some salt sand mixture here for their roads.”

As the highway department’s “commander in chief,” Tom is responsible for maintaining the town’s 83.98 lane miles of road and 47.65 of center line miles.

“Most of our roads are still gravel while roughly 10 to 12 miles are paved. That converts into three plow routes that take about 2.5 hours each.”

Tom knows the importance of having a good and loyal staff. His crew consists of two part-time employees, Art Grover and Carmon Lazaro, and full-time employee Raymond Clapper, who help him serve the

town’s 593 residents.

“My staff makes coming to work worthwhile just to see their level of experience and dedication. That’s one of the strengths this department brings to its residents. I’ve seen these guys do some amazing things when the chips are down.”

Challenging Job

“I broke my leg pretty bad last December,” Tom said. “I had surgery and a rod inserted. The towns of Plymouth, Octselic, McDonough and Pitcher were a big help. In the wintertime, me, Ray and a seasonal worker have plow routes. When I went out with a broken leg, it was going to be pretty near impossible for them to do it with two trucks. So, I called those towns. Actually, I was in the North Hospital emergency room calling in town for help the next day because they’d never been able to do it by themselves.”

The town of Pharsalia’s volunteer fire department

Under Tom’s conscientious eye, the highway department runs on a total operating budget of $196,078 that includes salaries and benefits for employees, and an annual CHIPS allocation of $171,723.12 plus $40,315.25 for PAVE NY and $34,375.33 for Extreme Winter Recovery.

To fulfill its responsibilities, the town uses a modest fleet that includes:

• 1985 Caterpillar 936 loader;

• 1993 John Deere 607 road grader;

• 2007 Kobelco SK115 excavator;

• 2003 mowing tractor;

• 1974 Massey Ferguson plus York rake;

• 1988 Ingersoll Rand roller;

• 1987 Gradall G3WD;

• 2003 Bandit brush chipper;

• 1989 Mack 10-wheeler plow truck;

from page 22 continued on page 34

Tom Slate loads a truck after an early December snowfall.

Pharsalia Highway Superintendent Tom Slate works on road repairs in town.

The highway department’s facilities were built between 1966 and 1967. The main garage is 40 x 60 ft. and is a single-story building.

• 2000 and 2005 International 10-wheeler plow trucks;

• 1997 Mack 10-wheeler plow-haul truck;

• 2002 Sterling 10-wheeler plow/haul truck; and

• 2018 GMC 2500 pickup.

Who’s responsible for maintaining the equipment?

“We do all we can in-house,” Tom said. “If we have the time and the room in the garage, we do 90 percent of it, including our own tires, brakes, oil changes. If it comes to anything more major, we use our local truck shop that specializes in heavy equipment.

“I’m probably the most mechanical one,” he added. “Ray Clapper’s the only full-time guy I’ve got. He’s been here 22 years. He’s 66 and was going to retire in November, but I think he’ll wait and put it through in April. I’ve got part-timer Art Grover. He’s 80 years old and been here as long as me. I have another very, very part-timer, Carmen Lazaro. He’s 70.

“That’s all I have for help right now. Art cut his thumb really bad on a table saw accident at home so he’s in the process of healing. Carmen broke his foot at home working on a deck project and Ray was out all summer with a hip replacement. So, it was pretty much just me. Thank God for the other towns.”

When asked if the job is everything he expected, Tom said, “Knock on wood. It’s been pretty good. It’s a small town and I don’t really get many complaints about anything. We do the best we can with what we got and people understand.”

If he could change anything about the job what would it be?

“I don’t know if it’s a job or not, but just getting younger people interested in this kind of work for towns and highway departments,” Tom said. “That’s a challenge right now. It’s not just for me but others too. We’re all down people and it’s taken its toll.”

What’s surprised him the most?

“I don’t know if I’ve had a lot of surprises. I pretty much knew the job well before I ran for it. Like I said, I worked here for 12 years and near the end, I was pretty much running the place.”

What’s the most difficult part of Tom’s job?

from page 28 continued on page 38

The crew performs road repairs in early Fall.

“Keeping the older equipment going. That has nothing to do with being old. They’re simply outdated. We don’t budget for it too much. I know if something came up, I have money in reserve that I could use. I try to put as much money as I can into the infrastructure.

“A newer vibratory roller would be nice,” he added. “We have one, but she’s getting pretty old. I’d also like a deck over equipment trailer to move equipment, like an excavator. That would help instead of driving

the roller from job to job. You can put the roller on the trailer and take it from one job to another. Now, we try to start on one end of town and work our way back to that spot. Then, bring everything back to the barn at the end of the season.”

Favorite part of the job?

“Taking on an old dirt seasonal road or something and making it into something that looks and rides nice.”

The town of Pharsalia town hall.

from page 34

HMEO Ray Clapper works with the department’s 1988 Ingersoll-Rand roller.

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from page 38

The most important part?

“Keeping the residents happy and keeping the roads as best as we can.”

Most challenging?

“Keeping everything running and working as it should.”

Every job has good days and bad. For Tom, a good day is when he can look around at all he’s accomplished as well as receiving positive feedback from the public.

When the time comes to turn over the superintendent’s reins to his successor, how would Tom like to be remembered?

“As someone who always gave a fair and honest opinion, whether they agreed with me or not.”

About the Town of Pharsalia

Pharsalia is an interior town of Chenango County, located in the west-

ern half of the county, northwest of the city of Norwich. It has a population of approximately 570 people as of 2017. The town was named after a commonly accepted name of the decisive battle in the Great Roman Civil War, where Julius Caesar defeated Pompey in 48 BCE.

The town received its first settler in 1797. Pharsalia was founded from part of the town of Norwich in 1806 as “Stonington.” In 1808, the town was renamed “Pharsalia,” meaning goddess of war in Hebrew.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.1 sq. mi., of which 38.8 sq. mi. is land and 0.31 sq. mi. or 0.75 percent is water. New York State Route 23 is an east-west highway through the town.

As of the 2000 census, there were 542 people, 200 households and 154 families residing in the town. The population density was 14.0 people per sq. mi.

(History courtesy of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharsalia,_New_York)  P

The Pharsalia Woods State Forest map shows easy access hiking trails that lead to the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia.

Balsam Pond in the town of Pharsalia.

KAGE’s WingLine Tech Increases Safety, Reduces Plow Damage

Influenced by the company motto of experience driven innovation, Osceola, Wis.-based KAGE Innovation’s latest offering is the WingLine laser plow guide, an easily installed accessory intended primarily for city trucks and addressing many of the pain points typically experienced when operating city trucks with wing plows in the height of winter weather.

By Ruksana Hussain PROFILE CORRESPONDENT

Influenced by the company motto of experience driven innovation, Osceola, Wis.-based KAGE Innovation’s latest offering is the WingLine laser plow guide, an easily installed accessory intended primarily for city trucks and addressing many of the pain points typically experienced when operating city trucks with wing plows in the height of winter weather. Features include wire harness connections that are resistant to harsh weather conditions in the winter as well as to salt environments, and a Class IIIR laser, which is self-contained and maintenance-free.

KAGE Innovation photo

The WingLine mounts inside the cab on the windshield using provided suction cup mounts, allowing the laser to be aimed at the right location ahead of the truck. Being mounted inside the cab also ensures the laser lens doesn’t become dirty or blocked by ice and snow.

A green laser line in front of trucks indicates where the wing plow appears so operators can avoid obstacles such as mailboxes and guard rails or even parked cars, which typically end up damaged or destroyed when not easily visible under heavy snow and ice conditions. The increased visibility with the WingLine removes any guesswork involved and helps city truck operators stay safe and keep their surroundings safe while being much more efficient and productive. A standard smart switch turns the laser on and off automatically when the wing plow is deployed or retracted.

KAGE Innovation photo

Green Lasers Show Operators Where Wing Plow Appears

from page 46

The WingLine mounts inside the cab on the windshield using provided suction cup mounts, allowing the laser to be aimed at the right location ahead of the truck. Being mounted inside the cab also ensures the laser lens doesn’t become dirty or blocked by ice and snow. Benefits include reduced neck strain for operators who are usually trying to see where the wing plow will hit, ensuring their health isn’t compromised in the process of working with snow removal equipment. A simple one-time installation is all it takes for the WingLine, and one kit includes everything needed for the installation, which takes just under an hour. The owner’s manual provides detailed instructions on how to install the WingLine laser plow guide and ensure it is functioning as intended. It also comes with a two-year structural warranty.

A simple one-time installation is all it takes for the WingLine, and one kit includes everything needed for the installation, which takes just under an hour.

KAGE, manufacturer of commercial snowplows and landscaping equipment, is known for its AdvantEdge flexible cutting-edge system; SnowFire snowplow box system; Snow Stake management system; Snow Dozer plow system; and LiquidRage anti-icing spray technology — all practical solutions to make time-consuming everyday tasks a thing of the past and accomplishing more in an efficient manner.

All manufacturing occurs in the company’s 26,000-sq.-ft. facility. KAGE was established in 2009 by president and inventor Mike Stephan and was built upon the experience of his father’s landscaping and horticultural services company. Today the company has more than 10 products as part of its offerings in snow equipment.

“From the very foundation of KAGE, we have witnessed the value of showing snowplow operators what the KAGE product can do,” said Kaydence Stephan, of KAGE sales and marketing support. “We strongly believe in getting the operators excited about this revolutionary design and the amount of time the KAGE plow system saves. Not to mention how much less fatigued they feel when they use the KAGE system. The operators have a hard enough job as it is, and our core motive is to make it easy for them.

“Our ‘Sea of Blue’ brand covers the snow belt of North America, and we are always striving to reach more potential customers, not only in the snow and ice industry but also in the commercial landscape industry.”

Despite the pandemic, KAGE customers did not experience any pastdue deliveries directly caused by the company. KAGE remained fully staffed and continued to deliver products on time.

“Currently, we are working hard to find the right people, that want to set the stage and start a career here,” said Stephan. “We put our best foot forward to find the right people and put them in the right place. We have experienced some slowdowns within production due to the number of staff we had this summer and fall, but our employees have a great atti-

A green laser line in front of trucks indicates where the wing plow appears so operators can avoid obstacles such as mailboxes and guard rails or even other parked cars, which typically end up damaged or destroyed when not easily visible under heavy snow and ice conditions.

tude about working overtime and they have what is best for the company at the forefront of their minds. Fortunately, we are close to being fully staffed and have production turned all the way up getting plows out the door every day.”

Aside from creating and providing employment opportunities in the area, the company also is heavily invested in the local community. This year KAGE sponsored the local car and airshow, Wheels and Wings, and had the opportunity to sponsor the Kinship of Polk County’s luau. Kinship is an organization helping children who need support and offering a relationship with a caring mentor. KAGE also has received local recognition, including the Polk County EDC Business of the Year in May 2018. The company continues to innovate and introduce revolutionary products in snow removal and landscaping.

“Next year, we will have the opportunity to go to SIMA, Equip Expo, APWA and others. We look forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting potential customers,” Stephan said. “Tradeshows are a great opportunity to hear customer feedback and collaborate with them on new ideas or improvements.”

KAGE Innovation photo

KAGE Innovation photo

We are on the Onondaga County Contract

Village of Camden DPW Loses Its Facility, Equipment to Fire

The village of Camden DPW building and all its equipment inside was deemed a “total loss” after a fire engulfed the structure on Dec. 13, 2022.

According to officials, two snowplows (one recently purchased this year) and multiple pieces of smaller equipment were lost in the disaster.

“It’s tough because that stuff’s expensive and when you finally get a chance to replace something like that and have something like that happen, thank God for insurance,” village of Camden Deputy Mayor Jeff Oatman told localsyr.com.

Dustin Hite, a Camden firefighter and public information officer, said crews were not able to get inside the building because the barn doors had already collapsed and there were propane tank explosions and other chemicals housed inside the building.

The first calls to Camden’s fire department were received shortly before 9:30 a.m. Mutual aid calls went out to six neighboring fire companies to join Camden in their efforts. Joining at the scene, aside from Camden, were Florence, Taberg, McConnellsville, Cleveland, Sylvan Beach and Lee Center.

No injuries were reported.

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