Local Option:
ONONDAGA COUNTY CONTRACT
BID #8996 & ONGOV-106-9 OGS MINI BID CONTRACT PC68946
National Option: SOURCEWELL CONTRACT #060920-NVS
Highway Superintendent Rick Granger and the Town of Coventry......................................................9 Lots of news, products and services throughout!
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
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
Amanda Hogeboom-Guilfoyle: General Manager of the NYS Highway & Public Works Show 518-396-7659 email: aguilfoyle@cegltd.com 215-885-2900 email: tmckeonjr@cegltd.com
OCTOBER TBD 2025 • SYRACUSE, NEW YORK
Mailed 11 times a year by name, to every Town, County, Village and City Highway Superintendent, Public Works Director and D.O.T. official in NY State.
Subscriptions are available to all interested persons at a cost of $25.00 per year within the USA. To subscribe, send your check, voucher or money order for $25.00 to the address above. Single issues $3.00 each With the exception of Highway Superintendents, Public Works Directors & D.O.T. Officials, material may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.
We at Superintendent’s Profile hope all of you had a happy, healthy and safe holiday season.
As we begin 2025, I thought maybe I could do some research and find the consensus of what the top five predictions are for the new year. So, I looked around on the web and saw lots of different ideas and so forth, but then it occurred to me: what am I doing? Why not ask AI? I mean, if it’s so smart (well, artificially intelligent), then shouldn’t it be pretty good at predicting stuff? So, I asked and here’s what it said:
Number one on the list was “AI and Automation Will Revolutionize Work and Productivity.” Wonderful, AI has already grown full of itself and puts itself on the top of the list. Now, I think I fear it even more.
Number two was “The Global Shift Toward Clean Energy Will Accelerate.” I’m not so certain about this one. I guess that depends on how fast AI thinks it will be accelerating, but it didn’t say.
Number three was “Advancements in Biotechnology and Healthcare.” Pretty general. There’s always going to be advancements in healthcare, pharmaceuticals and what not, so this seems a bit of a safe, non-controversial prediction. So, AI has learned how to hedge its bets.
Number four was “The Expansion of Virtual and Augmented Reality.” Again, self-absorbed technology-based generalities. I wonder how a virtual reality highway department would work?
And number five was “Geopolitical and Economic Shifts.” Brilliant. This has been going on every year for thousands of years. This is like saying, we’ll have some good days and some bad days in the world for 2025.
So, there you have it: now you know what to expect in 2025 and to prepare accordingly for it.
While I am not as smart as AI, I’m going to offer this one prediction, at least as far as Superintendent’s Profile is concerned: we’re going to keep telling stories about the great work all of you do in 2025, beginning with this issue and we’re going to work hard to put on another successful N.Y.S. Highway & Public Works Expo later this year.
Happy New Year to all! P
Craig Mongeau
SW #060122 - A ATTE
Roadway Paving & Maintenance Equipment
SW #011723-HCE
OGS #PC69513
SW #011723-HTI
Wheel Loaders &Excavators
Earthmoving & Material Handling & Excavators
SW #011723-KBL
Excavators: Compact, Full Size & Short-Radius
OCC #0010914
Sewer Vac Trucks
SW #06222-AGI
Snow Blowers, Airport and Municlipal Vehicles
OCC #0010914
OGS #PC68966
Various Models Class 3-8
HGAC #SM10-16
Asphalt & Soil Compaction Rollers
SW #011723-CNH-2
OGS #PC67265
CompactEquipment
Compact Equipment
SW #031721-MBI Tree maintenance Equipment
OCC #0010914
SW #093021-SWZ
Public Utility & Airport
O POWER OF FOAAM - a simple, cost-
•Mobile Foam Unit with Dakota Wash
HD Foam neutralizes & eliminates salts, ther chlorides, & o r corrosive chemicals!
•Washesawaygrease&grime
•Washes away grease & grime.
•Biodegradable, user-friendly, safe on paint, engine compartments, & electronics.
•Snow & ice removal equipment faces costly corrosion from harsh roadway deicing chemicals.
•Corrosion & buildup leads to frequent
•Repairs can strain budgets & slow dow
When the town of Coventry in Chenango County was devastated by flooding in 2006, Rick Granger was one of many volunteers that helped the overwhelmed highway department restore the roads of his town. Little did he know then he’d one day be serving as the town’s highway superintendent.
Having experience in the trucking industry since the age of 13, starting as a floor sweeper for a local lime spreading outfit (working after school), to driver, then moving up to owner operator to regional trainer for a large dry bulk tanker company as a driver trainer for 13 terminals on the east coast, Rick’s ease in operating and repairing all types of trucks and trailers came in handy. His last “over-the-road” trucking job as owner operator was in the flatbed/oversize division hauling, mostly in the northeast.
Rick volunteered for a little more than a month driving trucks and operating equipment to help the town, but when he returned to work, the highway superintendent came calling.
“He said he would not be seeking another term and felt I would be a good fit for the town highway department,” he said. “I enquired at
elections and filed the paperwork to be on the ballot. I have not regretted one day of that decision. I still enjoy every day at work.”
Born in Jacksonville, N.C., at Camp Lejeune while his father served in the Marines in Vietnam, Rick’s family moved to Coventry when he was two years old. He has called Coventry home ever since — 56 years and counting.
His first term as the town of Coventry’s highway superintendent was 2010 to 2012, but Rick took over office in 2009 because the then highway superintendent ended his term early. Rick was already campaigning for the position and when he won in November, his first official day of office was on Jan. 1, 2010. He has been the town’s highway superintendent for 15 years now, currently serving his latest two-year term of 20232025.
Among his mentors, he is quick to remember retired highway superintendent of the town of Oxford, Tim Tefft, who helped him through his first five or six years in the office.
“He helped me with how to figure out the CHIPS program, how to tackle roads,” Rick said. “I was an over-the-road truck driver, I spent a lot of time on the road, but not
continued on page 12
from page 9
Coventry’s highway department’s full-time crew includes Deputy Highway Superintendent and MEO Trevor Grant, MEO Jason Hawkins and MEO Doug Young. They have one open position for a full-time MEO but no other part-time crew. The hours of service are from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the winter and from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the summer.
Together, they serve the 1,650 residents of the municipality, with a total annual operating budget of $775,000, and that includes an annual CHIPS allocation of $286,000.
They are responsible for 100 lane mi. and 50 center lane mi. of roads/streets. All 50 mi. of maintained roads are the responsibility of the town highway department. There are 10 mi. of gravel roads and 40 mi. of paved roads. They have four plowing truck routes and one pickup truck route. It takes four hours to complete a full route and two loads of sand per truck.
continued on page 18
SYRACUSE 5985 Court Street Syracuse, NY 1320 (315) 437-2611
17 Northway Lane Latham, NY 12110 (518) 220-9500 Road 6
The department is not responsible for any bridges because Chenango County has ownership of all bridges that cross town roads, but other responsibilities include tree removal in cemeteries and plowing the fire station.
The office premises include a repair shop and office/breakroom, which was built in the 1950s with concrete blocks and a steel roof. It is 40 ft. wide by 100 ft. long — one end has concrete floors and the other has dirt floors used for cold storage only. The truck barn is a 50-ft. by 80ft. insulated pole barn, built in the early 1980s and used for parking loaded trucks during the winter months. The department does not have a need for bulk salt storage because it does not use any salt during plowing operations.
Truck-installed VHF radios and Wal-mart handheld walkie talkies are used for onsite communications between the crew. Rick has one com-
puter in the office that is used to send payroll hours and answer e-mails. Interaction with municipality residents occurs via a local newspaper and the town website where the highway department posts major work projects and anything else that the public should be aware of, such as road conditions and future work announcements and updates.
Equipment and trucks in the fleet, none leased, include:
• 2014 Mack plow 10-wheeler
• 2010 Mack plow six-wheeler
• 2006 International plow 10-wheeler
• 2005 International plow six-wheeler
• 2004 International plow 10-wheeler
• 2005 Gradall 3100XL
• 1998 John Deere 770BH grader
• 2018 John Deere 544K loader
continued on page 22
from page 18
• 2000 Champion paver
• 2023 Dodge pickup truck
• 2005 John Deere 5510 tractor/ mower
• Enclosed trailer
• Dump trailer
• Equipment trailer
• Pull trailer sweepers
“We strive to continue to update equipment with newer models as needed,” Rick said. “We currently do not budget for purchasing new equipment. All trucks get oil changes every 250 hours. We do not put a lot of miles on trucks, but they do run continuously from the time we leave the barn until we finish plowing and put them away.”
The department participates in shared services with neighboring towns and sends as well as receives help when requested.
continued on page 28
Current projects under way include a large culvert for Ives Road stream crossing that was washed out during tropical storm Debby in August in 2024 and then a larger culvert for Cahoon Road stream crossing.
On the topic of culverts, Rick shared about the town partnering with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and conservation nonprofit Trout Unlimited to replace five undersized culverts with flood resilient culverts in the Wylie Brook area.
“These projects upgraded our infrastructure at these crossings to benefit the traveling public as well as the natural habitat for fish migration,” he said. “These upgrades would not have been possible without the support from our partners. Each culvert had become perched and unstable due to increasing plunge pools at the outlet and hindered, if not completely blocking, the migration of aquatic wildlife. These were some of the effects of the 2006 and 2011 floods that had destroyed much of the town’s culvert infrastructure.”
When Rick approached the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in Cortland — David Lemon was the expert there — to help him deal with a damaged culvert that had just been replaced in 2006 and was damaged again in 2011, it led to meeting with USFWS staff member Gian Dodici. That was the first time Rick heard of bottomless culverts as a solution to making working streams more fish friendly. USFWS and TU provided the funding and materials while the town provided manual labor and equipment for installation. Fast forward and they are now six years in, working on their sixth culvert with that same program on the same brook. from page 22
continued on page 36
From new buildings to new covers and existing building maintenance, Hybrid Building Solutions is the number 1 fabric building choice for New York State Highway Superintendents.
www.sourcewell-mn.gov
Y needs are unique. You are not contractors; competition is not a driver
e know that your environment is different, and that your ou’ve told us what matters to you. W Yo
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
chair for Chenango County Highway Superintendents Association.
“Everywhere in our township where Wylie Brook crosses a town road, we have replaced the culverts they purchased,” Rick said. “We’ve had no road structure failure, a lot less flooding. As far as having to rebuild the road where one of these culverts is, that’s been zero.”
Witnessing projects come to fruition for the betterment of the town makes Rick’s day.
“I enjoy coming to work every day — challenges with new situations and obstacles to figure out. I have a great group of guys that work well together, and we can figure out the best course of action. It’s not always my way that works best. It’s a collective of minds that keep the roads together in our town.”
His favorite part of the job is running equipment, paving and plowing snow, but the parts not on his favorites list are office work, paperwork and public speaking, some of which he must partake in as committee
He admits he doesn’t have much tolerance in “dealing with people that don’t know the facts. They are convinced that what they see and don’t like is the only thing that matters, and the entire town must change laws and policies to please them.”
On long-term plans, Rick said, “I would like to see our town become less susceptible to damage from weather events by building better roads that last longer, using better materials and upgrading the stream crossings and having fewer power outages from trees dying along the roadsides and falling each time the wind blows. I would like to see the town government start to prepare for equipment replacements and develop a plan for building upgrades.” from page 28
continued on page 40
from page 36
Much of the infrastructure in Coventry was designed for the weather the town used to get — plenty of snow in winter that only slowly melted away in spring. But recent years have seen the climate change, with more storms and hurricanes traveling further up the coast.
“All our rainstorms now are torrential downpours, so we need the infrastructure to take that flush of water,” Rick said.
Add to that the fact that Coventry is uniquely located on top of a hill and it’s all downhill in every direction.
The roads in Coventry face a similar conundrum, having been built in the 1950s and ’60s. The town owned its own shale pits and built roads using that material since it was freely accessible. That worked in the ’70s when there weren’t more than 400 cars a day on a town road.
continued on page 52
“Now there is that, and bigger log trucks, and bigger milk trucks and supersized farm equipment. Back then, it was little tractors, now manure spreaders are pushing hundred thousand pounds, and heavy combines take up the whole road. My point is everything has evolved except for the structure of our roads, so I want to build up the base layers in our road to be able to take that kind of weight, build everything up stronger and wider, make our roads more durable and use better materials,” Rick said, stating turning all town roads to oil and stone would help reduce maintenance costs and preserve longevity of this crucial part of public infrastructure.
“It’s very rare that you won’t find me at work,” Rick said. Even on his days off, he enjoys traveling around town inspecting infrastructure or planning another project.
His wife, Katherine Granger, and he have been married since 1988 and have one married daughter, Kailee Pixley. They love spending time at their camp in Beaver River on the Stillwater Reservoir and watching their granddaughters, Genevieve (3) and Thea (1.5).
Although, Rick shared, he hasn’t had the time to spare to spend more leisurely days at the camp. Their home burned down in a fire this past September. While they were blessed to immediately find accommodation within the town, rebuilding their lives after that incident has occu-
This is the department’s snow fighting lineup of trucks: 2006 International, 2010 Mack, 2014 Mack, 2005 International, 2004 International.
pied much of his time outside of work.
Between office hours serving the community, rebuilding his home and lending friends and neighbors a helping hand, Rick’s days are busy.
But if he weren’t in his current role as highway superintendent, he thinks he might enjoy being a farmer, having lived in a farm community. Rick also lives near several neighbors who are farmers and whom he helps whenever needed.
“You’ll find me on a farm tractor somewhere, one of my neighbors will need a helping hand and I will be out there. I just love that lifestyle, it’s a hard one but a good one.” P
(All photos courtesy of the town of Coventry highway department.)
Seen here is the Wylie Brook bottomless culvert project on Wylie Horton Road.
During the Holiday Season more than ever, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible. And in this spirit we say, simply but sincerely: Thank You and Best Wishes for the Holiday Season & a Happy New Year.
Tool Boxes, Tarp Systems, Lift Gates, Light Bars, Plows, Hitches, Dump Bodies, Service Bodies, Sanders, Lift Axles, Flat Beds, Roll-Offs
VALLEY FAB & EQUIPMENT, INC.
9776 TREVETT ROAD, BOSTON, NY 14025
Phone: (716) 941-6644 www.vfabe.com
Toll Free: 1(888) 231-5437
“HIGHEST QUALITY WITH SUPERIOR SERVICE”
Empire Radiator Service 606 Hague Street Rochester, NY 14606 585-254-7140 www.empireradiator.com
Fuel Tank Restoration and Repair
We are the only full service fuel tank restoration and repair facility in up-state New York. New U.S. made aluminum tanks.
TitanX original equipment quality radiators for Mack MR Series and other trucks.
Call for availability and price.
Radiators, Charge Air Coolers, Oil Coolers
New, Recores, Repairs, Custom Designed aluminum and copper brass
DPF, DOC, and EGR Cleaning
Controlled burn baking and dual forced air and suction ensures all cells are cleaned. Damaged fittings can be repaired or replaced
Burn Off Oven
Complete removal of paint and grease from your parts and equipment.
Fluid Lines
Hydraulic, including steel, AC and Brake lines
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.
The MowerMax offers multitasking capabilities, even weight distribution and improved visibility compared to traditional agricultural tractors. It is all-wheel drive and steer, providing better control and ergonomics for the operator.
In the heart of New York, where highways abut forested terrains and municipalities wrestle with nature’s ever-expanding grasp, one machine is revolutionizing maintenance – MowerMax.
In 2008, during the economic downturn, Tim Ward, founder of Atmax Equipment Company, was forced to rethink his business strategy. With equipment sales declining, he shifted his focus to a niche market: boom mowing.
“We saw a gap,” he said. “A demand for machinery purpose-built for precision in challenging terrains.”
Seven years of intensive research and development followed, leading to the creation of MowerMax in 2015.
Ward’s vision wasn’t just to build a machine but to deliver a solution tailored for the unique needs of municipalities, highway departments and contractors.
“We weren’t just engineering equipment; we were engineering trust,” Ward said.
The MowerMax is more than a mower; it is designed for versatility.
With a universal skid steer mount, the machine offers municipalities the flexibility to perform multiple tasks beyond mowing. Attachments for sweeping, snowplowing, trenching, asphalt milling and more mean that this equipment doesn’t sit idle when the grass stops growing. As Kent Peters, one of MowerMax’s representatives, said, “The big difference is the multitasking capabilities … It will do multiple jobs for the township.”
Traditional mowing systems typically involve heavy agricultural tractors paired with boom mower attachments. While functional, these setups come with significant downsides. Tractors are often heavily
weighted on one side to counterbalance the boom, leading to premature wear on axles and uneven stress distribution.
The MowerMax addresses this by having counterweights integrated low into the frame, ensuring even torque distribution across all axles. This translates to a longer lifespan for the equipment and reduced maintenance costs – a win for taxpayers and municipal budgets, the manufacturer said.
Another hallmark of the MowerMax is its operator-centric design.
With a low center of gravity, all-wheel drive and multiple steering modes (two-wheel, four-wheel and crab steer), operators can maneuver this machine with enhanced precision. The cab itself offers operators improved visibility, reduced strain and intuitive controls.
The machine’s hydrostatic drive eliminates the clutch and gears found in traditional agricultural tractors. By using five hydraulic pumps powered by the engine, the system offers smooth, seamless operation — a significant draw for operators used to the jerky transitions of gear-based systems, the manufacturer said.
While the upfront cost of the MowerMax is comparable to traditional boom mower setups, its multitasking nature provides municipalities with a significant return on investment, the manufacturer said. Instead of purchasing separate equipment for snowplowing or asphalt milling, towns can rely on one versatile machine. This adaptability not only saves money but also ensures that the equipment is utilized year-round.
Fast forward to the launch of MowerMax at the New York State Highway & Public Works Expo in Syracuse, N.Y., where Peters presented the product.
continued on page 62
from page 56
“It was surreal,” Peters said. “The response was overwhelming. Crews would gather around like I was a Ginsu knife salesman at the mall.”
New York represents one of the largest markets for MowerMax, Peters said.
“When we introduced it, the potential was immediately evident. Now, two years in, it feels like we’ve barely scratched the surface.”
Atmax Equipment Company, the manufacturer of MowerMax, refrains from using traditional dealer distribution. Instead, MowerMax operates with a direct-to-customer approach, supported by specialized technicians.
“Our trucks are fully equipped, and our technicians are trained exclusively on MowerMax. That’s how we ensure reliability.”
This model, while unconventional, resonates with customers. Whether it’s deploying a technician to the bustling highways of Albany or the rural backroads of Western Connecticut, Atmax guarantees service rooted in expertise and efficiency, the company said.
With numerous units in operation and an expanding market presence, MowerMax is shaping the future of boom mowing. For Peters, each sale represents more than a transaction; it’s a relationship.
“Every municipality has unique challenges. MowerMax isn’t just about solving problems; it’s about building confidence.” P
(All photographs courtesy of MowerMax.)
