MONROE - Green County Highway Commissioner Dallas Cecil plans to retire Nov. 13.
Cecil, 55, has been with the Highway Department since 1977, when he began inspecting bridge work and other construction projects.
In 1995, the Green County Board of Supervisors appointed him commissioner, to replace retiring commissioner Ken Meyer.
His job has changed over the years, he said, as the state has continually added more rules and regulations as well as paper work to his duties.
There have also been challenges with yearly budgets. Every year he is in charge of making a budget to submit to the county board. Although he's tried to make it as accurate as possible, it's not always easy.
"A budget is really just an guesstimate," he said. "You try to budget the amount of money you'll need for winter but it can always change."
Heavy snows over the past two winters have made it tough on the department's winter maintenance budget. Record and near-record snowfalls have kept road crews busy plowing snow from 5 a.m. to late into the evening.
Heavy snow fall on a weekend means more overtime for highway employees. Preparing a budget in the fall based on weather that is four to five months away is never an exact science. The winter maintenance budget can change by the end of December if there is a lot of snow on the ground.
That's why it's important for Cecil to be able to work closely with the Highway Committee and the county board.
"We've worked well together," he said.
Cecil said he's enjoyed his years with the department, even though at times the days are long and tiring.
For example, there are days in the winter when he's inspecting roads at 3 a.m. to determine if the snow plows need to go out by 5 a.m. During heavy snows, he and the other department supervisors might be on the roads without a break until 8 or 10 p.m.
"You get tired, but you just keep going," he said.
Cecil, 55, has been with the Highway Department since 1977, when he began inspecting bridge work and other construction projects.
In 1995, the Green County Board of Supervisors appointed him commissioner, to replace retiring commissioner Ken Meyer.
His job has changed over the years, he said, as the state has continually added more rules and regulations as well as paper work to his duties.
There have also been challenges with yearly budgets. Every year he is in charge of making a budget to submit to the county board. Although he's tried to make it as accurate as possible, it's not always easy.
"A budget is really just an guesstimate," he said. "You try to budget the amount of money you'll need for winter but it can always change."
Heavy snows over the past two winters have made it tough on the department's winter maintenance budget. Record and near-record snowfalls have kept road crews busy plowing snow from 5 a.m. to late into the evening.
Heavy snow fall on a weekend means more overtime for highway employees. Preparing a budget in the fall based on weather that is four to five months away is never an exact science. The winter maintenance budget can change by the end of December if there is a lot of snow on the ground.
That's why it's important for Cecil to be able to work closely with the Highway Committee and the county board.
"We've worked well together," he said.
Cecil said he's enjoyed his years with the department, even though at times the days are long and tiring.
For example, there are days in the winter when he's inspecting roads at 3 a.m. to determine if the snow plows need to go out by 5 a.m. During heavy snows, he and the other department supervisors might be on the roads without a break until 8 or 10 p.m.
"You get tired, but you just keep going," he said.