Jacob Johnson (Highway Department)
Jacob Johnson: Jericho’s New Highway Foreman
Jacob Johnson has been here before. He worked for the Jericho Highway Department from 2015 to 2018 before leaving to take a job in his hometown of Huntington as a highway maintenance worker. He did that for a year and a half before becoming Bolton’s Road Commissioner, but when the position of Highway Foreman opened up here, he was happy to return. “I have some family here,” Johnson said “and Jericho is a town I enjoyed working in.” Johnson enjoys the fact that Jericho has both rural areas and a busier section on Route 15 although he admits that he prefers the rural parts because of the lack of traffic and the opportunity to enjoy the natural environment.
Johnson presides over a six-person department. He said all the employees can be considered jack-of-all-trades although there is one person who is a designated mechanic and two who specialize in using the grader and excavator. The department has four tandem dump trucks, two pick-up trucks, and an International low pro which is in between the sizes of the other trucks.
Johnson enjoys the fact that his job has many different aspects. “I generally have a plan of what we’re doing throughout the week,” he said. “Even with that plan, it can change based on weather or some other road emergency that occurs.” Johnson noted that storm damage can vary from road to road. “One road might receive a lot of wind damage or tree debris,” he said “while others might have washouts or erosion. We’re only six guys and we have to figure out where we’re needed the most.”
Jericho has 65 miles of roads and Johnson said each member of the department has a route they clear of snow during the winter. “We try to do it safely for ourselves and the others on the road,” he said. “When people are in a rush that can make it difficult, but safety is our priority.” Johnson said he appreciates the feedback he gets from residents who may alert the department to downed trees or debris that the crew might not otherwise be aware of.
Storms don’t necessarily occur on schedule and Johnson notes that the crew will work on Christmas eve or the Fourth of July if the weather requires their presence. “That’s time that is taken away from our families,” he said. “It might be 2 am or 10 pm but we’re doing everything we can to make sure everyone is safe. We’re there when any storm happens.”
In his spare time, Johnson enjoys spending time with his family. He is a hunter and angler and likes to travel to New Hampshire where he goes side-by-siding in his four-wheeler. 
Johnson is glad to have returned to Jericho. “I’m very happy to have come to a town where the highway department has a great team,” he said. “The folks in the office are very helpful and everyone is very focused on trying to listen to the residents, hear their opinions and look out for the best interest of the town itself.”
