Sweden’s new highway superintendent isn’t phased by the challenges this winter’s onslaught of snow, ice, wind and bitter temperatures have presented. That’s because he brings a lot of experience to his new job.
“I’ve been with the (Sweden) Highway Department for 15 years,” says Brian Ingraham, who was appointed to the post by the Sweden Town Board following the retirement of Fred Perrine.
Ingraham began his new duties January 1. He had been deputy highway superintendent since August 2012.
He says he’s been interested in highway maintenance for as long as he can remember. His father, Tom – a former Hamlin Highway Superintendent – has always been his inspiration, Ingraham says.
“I would beg to go to work with him and ride in a salt truck or a plow truck,” he remembers.
Ingraham learned much from his father, “I looked up to him,” he says. “I wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
In high school, Ingraham studied hydraulics and heavy equipment at Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES/WEMOCO Career and Technical Education Center. After high school, he received his associate degree in heavy construction equipment technology from the Pennsylvania College of Technology – an affiliate of Penn State University.
He began working for the Sweden Highway Department while a teenager. He co-oped at Sweden while in high school and also worked for the Highway Department during the summers. He was hired full time after college and worked his way up the ranks to deputy superintendent and now highway superintendent.
“It’s exciting and challenging, all at the same time,” he says of the job. “I want to provide the best quality and safest roads I can.”
With current budget challenges, Ingraham says it’s especially important to “get the most out of every dollar.”
Customer service is also a priority. Ingraham says running the Highway Department is somewhat like running a business and he sees residents as his “customers.”
“If there is a problem, I will get back to them as soon as I can and follow through,” he says.
Ingraham also appreciates the highway department staff.
“I’m surrounded by a good team of guys,” he says. “We’ve done a lot of projects over the years since I’ve been here. It would have been tough without these guys.”
In addition to maintaining, constructing, repairing and plowing roads in the town – 161.08 total lane miles including county, town and state miles – the Highway Department maintains cemeteries in the town including Lakeview Cemetery and High Street Cemetery in the Village of Brockport. The department also constructs facilities at the town park on Redman Road and maintains the town’s storm water and sanitary sewer infrastructure.
Ingraham is a member of the Monroe County Association of Town Highway Superintendents and the New York State Association of Town Highway Superintendents.
Ingraham and his wife, Cindy, have a three year old daughter, Ava, and are very involved in various community organizations including Kiwanis and Lions Club.
Both are Salvation Army volunteers for the Brockport service unit. Ingraham says he and his wife worked on the Red Kettle Campaign over the holidays – lining up volunteers, collecting and turning-in donations.
Ingraham says he will have to run for the post in 2014 to complete Fred Perrine’s term and if successful, would have to run again in 2015 for his first full-term.
