Parke County highway superintendent reports extended snow shifts, equipment arrivals and hiring timeline

Parke County Highway Superintendent Matt Romalia told the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 2 that highway crews worked long shifts during the late-January storm and the department is managing replenishment and new equipment while preparing for a personnel transition.

Romalia said "the Highway Department employees worked twelve hours on Sunday and ten hours on Monday during the January 2026 Snowstorm." He reported the department has hauled about 1,200 tons of sand and four tankers of calcium chloride to replace material used during the storm and has replenished beet sand. Romalia explained that calcium chloride is effective until about -17°F and beet juice remains effective to about -39°F.

On equipment, Romalia said a leased Lacerator has arrived at the Westside facility and that the lease cost was lower than expected. He identified the Asphalt Zipper as the machine used to repair the Amish lanes and said a Milestone bid came in $106,000 less than anticipated. The department is awaiting two leased trucks currently at Myers and a triaxle dump truck at Higgs, which Romalia said he hopes to have by the end of February 2026.

Personnel planning was discussed: commissioners were told the Highway Secretary will retire at the end of July 2026. The board approved posting the position internally for five days starting Feb. 9, 2026, then advertising externally beginning Feb. 16 with an application deadline of March 13. The replacement would begin training May 1 at deputy pay and move to regular Highway Secretary pay Aug. 1; if an internal candidate is selected, training time for backfilling that person’s previous role may extend to four months. The auditor will locate the job description and the Highway Superintendent will be involved in selection.

The highway department updates provide a timeline for both equipment deliveries and staffing changes ahead of the spring work season.