Highway Superintendent Kevin Switzer and the Town of Walworth

Lori Lovely – PROFILE CORRESPONDENT - July 2025

Preparing for a snowstorm 2025: One of the department’s drivers loads his truck with salt before he could plow and salt the roads. (Walworth Highway Department photo)

Shelfing Snow 2025: the department does this during high wind conditions to prevent the snow from going back into the roads; this is important for the department to keep the roads safe and clear for its residents.

The town of Walworth highway department has capacity to store 6,800 tons of salt under cover.

The town of Walworth highway department works in one large building that has 12 bays for the trucks and some other equipment.

The town of Walworth highway department’s equipment storage shed.

The town of Walworth highway department crew (L-R) is Charles Keymel, Silas Amsler, Jonathon Switzer, Eric Roberts, James LeMay, Daniel Woodard, Jacob Lutz and Donald Hall. (not pictured is Anthony Fiaretti.)

Seen here is the department’s 2024 International six-wheeler it received in 2025.

The town of Walworth highway department hosts the Construction Wonders Show every year for the town’s recreation department so families and kids can look at all of the highway department’s equipment. Dolomite also brings some heavy equipment for the fun family event.

The department performs in-place grinding of Swaddling Road.

For the town’s Bills Road pipe project in 2023, crews dug across the road to replace a huge culvert pipe that was rotted out.

For the Bills Road pipe project in 2023, the highway department had to dig out 3 ft. of rock to drop pipe per DEC spec.

The highway department sets the pipe into place on the Bills Road pipe project.

This pipe took four days for the crew to complete on the Bills Road pipe project.

The highway department completed the Paved Beaver Creek Drive project in 2024.

Before the highway department could begin paving Beaver Creek Drive in 2024, they needed to replace approximately 30 pipes.

The town of Walworth received a lot of snow during the 2024-2025 winter season: more than 100 in., after not having an exorbitant amount for the previous four to five years.

Highway Department crews were busy plowing roads for months.

"We made 30 trips in December, 54 in January and more than 40 in February," said Highway Superintendent Kevin Switzer.

The problem wasn't just what was falling from the sky.

"It seemed like the wind never stopped blowing."

Altogether, the highway department is responsible for 98.74 center lane miles of state and county roads — plowing 58.74 center lane miles for the municipality, 20 center lane miles for the county and 20 center lane miles for the state, all paved. The work is divided into nine plow routes, which typically take approximately 2.5 hours.

There are a few small hills in the town, which are treated with a 75/25 sand/salt mixture, but subdivisions get straight salt.

"One thing that I implemented procedurally is the ratio in which we mix salt and sand," Kevin said. "Unlike in the past, we are now using a higher ratio of salt to sand content, which greatly benefits the roads and traveling in the snow season."

Walworth has capacity to store 6,800 tons of salt under cover.

Battling that much snow frequently means other work takes a temporary backseat.

"We play catchup after winter," Kevin said. "Keeping the roads plowed and safe is my number one priority, and that takes up most of our time."

When there are breaks in the weather, his crews perform ditch work, sign inventory, tree trimming and brush mowing.

Work Comes First

Kevin knows how to keep his full-time staff of 10 busy. Through the summer, they work Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but in the winter, they work Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., "with a lot of overtime for plowing," he said.

Overtime pay comes out of the $2.4 million budget ($166,000 of which is CHIPS money).

Kevin said his main goal is keeping the roads and residents safe during snow season and making progress repairing those roads that need rehabbed during the other seasons. This year, he plans to pave and grind approximately 1.8 mi. of road and to chip seal another 5 mi.

Last year, his crews used hot mix to pave approximately a mile and a half in the subdivisions.

"Two years ago, we did in-place cold mix because it's flexible," he said. "We widened the road, changed about 28 culvert pipes and did 5 to 7 miles of chip sealing."

Swaddling Road was another road project on which they completed a total reconstruction. For more than a mile, they boxed out the shoulder, added 8 inches of stone and milling, did in-place grinding 4 inches deep and put it down again, added stone and oil and then paved with cold mix.

"When I became highway superintendent, our department got caught up on chip sealing, as well as paving several roads and replacing culverts," he said.

While many of the projects the highway department does are focused on making sure the roads are in good condition, they also have worked on other projects. One of the biggest was a DEC pipe job on Bills Road. The road was collapsing the existing pipe; it had rotted out.

Before they could install the large new 96 x 117 pipe, they had to get through 3 ft. of rock.

"It took four days," Kevin said.

In addition, due to the volume of water flowing through this culvert, which lies within 100 ft. of a buffer zone for the wetlands, the pumps ran day and night.

Although they typically use plastic pipe, this project required steel squash pipe that is wider than it is higher. Altogether, this project lasted approximately six months.

The highway crew also extended the waterline for the town hall and dedicated a few more roads to the town.

No Drama Shop

Getting all that work done requires a sizable, capable crew. Current crew and staff members include:

• James LeMay, deputy highway superintendent

• Charles Keymel, foreman

• Anthony Fiaretti, motor equipment operator

• Daniel Woodard, motor equipment operator

• Donald Hall, motor equipment operator

• Jonathon Switzer, motor equipment operator

• Silas Amsler, motor equipment operator

• Eric Roberts, motor equipment operator

• Jacob Lutz, motor equipment operator

• Amanda Cantwell, highway clerk

If one of those names looks familiar, it's because Kevin's 25-year-old son is on the crew. But with a recent retiree and another employee who left, the superintendent had to perform his least favorite duty: he had to hire new crewmembers.

"Hiring is hard," he said.

Kevin has to screen for their licenses, capabilities and positive attitude. He hired one employee right out of high school and sent him to school to get his CDL license within six months. Luckily, Kevin found a grant that paid for the teen's schooling. He was fortunate that another new hire had worked for the state DOT and had experience, but when it comes to how well they'll fit in and perform, Kevin said, "You never really know until you hire them."

Regardless of the amount of experience they have, all new crew members must go through training, shadowing more experienced crew members until they learn the ropes and the rules, one of which is Kevin's insistence on a "no drama shop." Everyone helps one another.

As head of the department, he sets the tone.

"I don't yell, get excited or fly off the handle," he said. Instead, he evaluates each situation, figures it out and works with it. "That first reaction is everything."

Kevin treats his employees equally and with respect, and he knows how to reward them to boost morale and develop a team spirit. He hosts birthday luncheons, for which his wife makes a cake, holds cookouts, buys pizza and donuts and throws a Christmas party.

"Little things go so far," he said. "Appreciation means more than anything."

Whatever he's doing is working. There is little turnover, with the deputy superintendent putting in 30 years, the foreman 16 and several others seven to eight years.

"I have a great secretary and a great crew," Kevin said. "I wouldn't be where I am without them. I try hard to be a good boss."

Growing Up in Walworth

Kevin said working with his employees and the town's residents is his favorite part of the job. Maybe that's because he was born and raised in Walworth.

"I still live on the same road I grew up on," he said.

East of Rochester, not far from Lake Ontario, Walworth was first settled in 1799 by four brothers — Andrew, John, Samuel and Daniel Millet — who left their Connecticut homes to come to the hamlet of Walworth, where they built log cabins. The first frame house in the area was built in the later 1800s by Stephen Douglas.

An act of the New York State Legislature created the town on April 20, 1829, by separating it from the town of Ontario. The town is named after Reuben Walworth, a state official. As of 2023, the population was 9,314.

Because the soil was so fertile and the climate was favorable, agriculture became an important industry in the town's early days. Crops grown in the region included apples, corn and wheat. Today's farmers' markets, local farm stands and orchards give nod to the region's agricultural heritage.

The scenic countryside attracts people who enjoy hiking, biking and horseback riding. Kevin and his wife, Denise, often take day trips in the area and drive to the Smokey and Appalachian Mountains. "I love the mountains," he said.

Several parks and nature preserves offer wildlife observation areas and picnic spots. Community events and festivals, such as the Construction Wonders show in May, the Festival in the Park and parade in July, the Harvest Moon Festival in October and the Light the Night celebration in December add to the close-knit community bond and embody the core of Americana. The rural, small-town atmosphere of this quaint, Wayne County town exudes a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

Kevin's family is close, epitomizing the Walworth image of community. In addition to working with his son, the superintendent lives just a few doors down from his daughter, Anna, which makes family cookouts convenient. Four dogs complete the family roster.

His wife used to work at the school, but now stays home and tends to their big garden or helps out at a local farm.

"We have three greenhouses on our property," Kevin said of their six-acre property. "We start a lot of plants in there — and we can everything."

He also enjoys golfing and hunting, but there's not a lot of free time with this job.

Becoming the Boss

Kevin took on the role of highway superintendent only three years ago, after running unopposed in 2021. But don't think that means he's inexperienced.

"I was second in command for a lot of years," said the 53-year-old. Twenty-one years, to be exact. He gave up the position of deputy superintendent to take this step up after the previous superintendent retired.

His career with the town of Walworth highway department began in 1993. On his way up the ladder, Kevin learned all the jobs the department performs. He now applies that experience in his position at the top — along with his previous experience as a Class A driver, delivering salt and stone in a tractor trailer.

"The retirement package attracted me to the job," he said.

He also liked being home every night, as opposed to driving a truck over the road. Living just a mile and a half away from the shop can be a blessing or a curse, though. The superintendent is on call 24/7.

"There was a barn fire last night" he said. "I got the call around 11 p.m. I was helping out with that all night."

His wife said, "He takes his job very seriously, and he is very dedicated. It is a family atmosphere there, especially in the winter because he sees his employees more than he can see his family, and the crew spends a lot of time together."

Kevin said he enjoys taking care of his hometown and explained that he "has always been passionate about my job."

To make his town and his department better, he serves as vice president of the Wayne County Highway Association.

"My job specifically is to set up meetings with the committee to talk about goals and current events within the highway departments. We work together to help each other with planning and ideas."

In addition, his department helps the surrounding towns and counties when they need a hand, receiving the same back when called upon.

He attends town board meetings twice a month. These are open to the public, allowing insight into town business.

"We also write up monthly and yearly summaries, which explain the work the highway department completes over each time," Kevin said.

The residents can access these to see what has been going on in the department. He also posts on the town website to let residents know of any projects coming up and send out letters to the residents who might possibly be affected by any project.

Back at the "office," Kevin focuses on the equipment. Inventory includes several dump trucks — a 2022 International, 2010 International, 2014 International, 2020 International, 2012 International, 2015 International, 2017 International, 2007 Sterling, 2005 Sterling — a handful of other trucks — a 2023 Chevy 2500, 2022 F250, 2020 F250, sign truck — and the bigger pieces of equipment, such as an Ingersoll Rand roller, Wacker Neuson roller, Cat excavator, Kubota excavator, John Deere tractor, Kubota tractor, Ford tractor, Bad Boy aero turn, Kubota sweeper, Elgin Pelican sweeper, Salsco chipper, air compressor, Galion grader, John Deere backhoe, John Deere dozer, oil heater, gas fuel pump, diesel fuel pump and a John Deere loader.

Kevin maintains a schedule for the replacement of vehicles after a certain number of years.

"We currently have one new six-wheeler and two new 10-wheelers coming in the next couple of years," he said.

Within the past two or three years, he added a new truck — with two more on order. As he rotates the older equipment out, he either sends it to auction or uses it as a trade-in on new pieces.

Long before anything gets sold, Kevin's crew does regular maintenance and most of the repairs in-house.

"We do regular oil changes on all of our equipment, based on what the manufacturer recommends. In the wintertime, we grease all of our trucks every chance we get, to get out the salt water."

They work in one large building that has 12 bays for the trucks and some other equipment. That same building houses the highway superintendent's office, the highway clerk's office and a shop office used by the other employees for timekeeping, vehicle information and parts orders.

There's one storage shed, one barn for salt storage and one storage shed that contains some equipment, their extra stock of tires and roadwork tools. Some of the buildings were built in 1971, with an addition placed in 2004. Kevin would like to add on or build a new building to store more "stuff" because, he said, the town is growing.

One More Time

The job can consume him, being on call, living close by and giving his all to make life good for his employees and the town's residents. It can be stressful at times.

"Last summer, we were down three employees at the same time. It was difficult to balance the workload that was meant for more people than we had. But, because I have a great crew, we were all able to work together and get the jobs done that we needed to."

His current four-year term expires in 2026. He plans to run again, but with 33 years on the town's books, he said he'll be "looking at retirement after the next term."

In the meantime, he's enjoying his job of keeping the roads in good shape and the residents safe.

"I love my job as a highway superintendent. I am very grateful to work with all the people in my department. My main priorities will always be to keep the roads safe, and make sure our residents are happy."

And, he adds, "any time it isn't snowing, it's a good day." P