NORWICH – County officials focused in on the highway department more closely this year, helping employees transition to a new director, putting aside more funding for road maintenance next year, and coming up with ways to trim equipment costs.

Taking time to get to know employees has been a personal mission for Chenango County Public Works Committee Chairman Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia. Brown spent a lot of time at the DPW office in Norwich this past year, visiting employees and management often, including twice just yesterday.

“Our employees are our most valuable resource, and they need to know how important they are to everyone in the county, in all of the towns,” the supervisor said.

A lot of emphasis was placed on reaching out to the towns to share road maintenance and equipment whenever possible, and to rent excavators, gradalls, big dozers and other larger equipment instead of buying. The county DPW has tried to maintain a good relationship with the towns, and particularly counts on the most farflung highway departments, like Greene’s and Bainbridge’s, for support.

After his first year on the job, Chenango County Director of Public Works Shawn Fry had big shoes to fill after 36-year director Randy Gibbon retired last fall. But he said the department’s 85 employees have adjusted to the management change and are working well together.