There are a few different jobs and positions that go into helping make sure that a County’s Secondary Roads Department runs smoothly.

Guthrie County Engineer Josh Sebern says that he oversees the department, and within the immediate office, there is an Assistant to the County Engineer and a couple of engineer technicians. He mentions that this group handles the contract administration for highway projects, along with road and bridge inspections. Sebern tells Raccoon Valley Radio that there are also some employees who oversee Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management, and some of the specialized education they undergo to help keep weeds and plants along roadsides manageable.

“That’s training provided by the county to handle those chemicals and administer those, and that’s regulated, and documented, and inspected. So we know where our chemicals are going and the rates that are being applied, and that’s all monitored through some software that we utilize.”

Sebern explains that the largest part of the department is the maintenance crew. He adds that this group includes the motor grader and truck operators, along with the mechanics that help keep the fleet up and running to make sure that Guthrie County’s roads are navigable for residents and travelers. Sebern mentions that in the Guthrie County Secondary Roads Department, there are a total of 37 employees.