Lowndes County Assistant Road Manager Tommy Kidd has been working to better the county”s roads for more than 26 years.
Kidd, a husband and father of two sons, has lived in Lowndes County his entire life, and has worked his way nearly to the top of the department throughout the years.
“I like all the employees over there pretty well,” Kidd laughed as he stood next to a white Ford F-150 marked with a county decal. “I hope they like me pretty well too.”
Has anyone there been working longer than you have?
Well, a few people did at one point, but I think I may be the oldest one there now.
What are some of the things you and the road department do on a regular basis?
As the assistant road manager, I help to plan the work that needs to be done. I enjoy my job, I really do.
Does it ever get difficult to be outside all day during this time of year or during the winter?
It”s actually not too bad during this time of year. We buy a lot of Gatorade for the men, and when it gets real hot we let them take a lot of breaks. Like if they are bush hogging, we will let them bush hog about half a day and then get off the tractors and do something different the rest of the day. We keep everyone cool. We don”t let them get too hot.
During the winter time, we do a lot of ditch work. We are mostly in heated cabs and stuff and inside a good bit.
What are some of the things that have changed since you started working at the department?
Some things have changed. I worked my way up to assistant road manager, and am working with a new road manager now. Me and him have a great working relationship. We are doing pretty good over there.
How about equipment? How has it changed throughout the years?
Most everything we have now is air conditioned, so that”s definitely an advantage of the newer equipment. We try to buy equipment with air every time we buy new stuff. Years ago, we didn”t have that kind of stuff, so it makes you really enjoy what we have now.
What”s something you”ve learned about the people in Lowndes County or at the road department throughout the years?
I meet a lot of people through my job, and we always try to help everyone any way we can. No matter who it is, we try to do what we can for them. Every problem is a problem we try to take care of. I guess what I”m trying to say is that everyone is important, regardless of who they are.
Has there been a particular job that you”ve done that”s stuck out in your mind throughout the years?
Well, paving is definitely the thing I have done the most, so it really sticks out in my mind.
How many miles of road would you say you have worked on since you started working here?
Oh, hundreds and hundreds without a doubt. I”m not certain, but I think we have 500 or so miles of roads in Lowndes County. I”ve worked in every area of the county. I go all over the place. My job is based in all five districts, so every day I go all over the county. Definitely not all 500 miles, but I go all over the place every day.
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