 ll Road Department operations are directed from the Road Department Office, which is staffed by the Road Supervisor, Assistant Supervisor, Road Department Lead, and the Administrative Aid. Phone calls and personal visits to the office by members of the public are handled on a daily basis. Most are for information or assistance regarding roads, road maintenance, construction requirements, or parceling procedures. Coordination of Road Department activities with other departments or entities takes place here. The office maintains files and records of all the activities of the Department, including payroll, road projects and maintenance functions, vehicle and equipment maintenance, county fuel system, encroachment permits, parcel maps, road maintenance agreements, and serves as support for the Highway Commission and Regional Transportation Commission.
Road Maintenance operations are staffed with one Assistant Road Supervisor, one Road Department Lead, 3 Equipment Operators, and 7 Road Maintenance Workers. Although a majority of the time is spent maintaining unpaved roads, a significant amount of time is expended performing chip seals, pavement overlays, crack sealing and patching paved roads. During the winter season our focus is on replacing, repairing and rehabilitating bridges. Road signs have become a significant part of operations. Over the course of the year many signs are damaged and must be repaired or replaced in accordance with federal guidelines. Major road projects are prioritized within the 5 YEAR ROAD IMPROVEMENT PLAN which is reviewed and modified each year.
Most road projects are accomplished in house, utilizing County Road Department Crews, however some projects must be contracted out to the private sector.
The growth of Churchill County has impacted the road system with accelerated deterioration, which changes priorities set forth in the 5 Year Road Improvement Plan. There are many bridges and culverts connected to the Newlands Project, which conveys water under county roads. Due to the age of the system, many culverts have failed which necessitate immediate repairs. The Road Department in cooperation with TCID has replaced many.
The Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance Garage is staffed by 2 Repair Mechanics. These mechanics are responsible for the repair and maintenance on all large trucks, heavy equipment, and light vehicles assigned to the Road Department. As we look forward to the upcoming year, the Road Department will make every effort to ensure the following goals are met:
-
Strive for excellence in the construction, maintenance and repair of county maintained roads and related infrastructure.
-
Develop and maintain long and short term planning schedules to become as efficient and effective as possible.
|
