BUTLER TWP — Tom Knights can’t say for sure how many pairs of 14D steel-toed Red Wing boots he’s worn out in his career.

Having spent more than a dozen years working in the sunshine on construction and roads, he’s now more of a planner than a digger in his relatively new role as Butler Township’s director of public works.

But still, Knights laces up those boots every morning to investigate infrastructure issues, plan and oversee maintenance and inspect projects.

He has a stake in the success of that work, not only as the township roadmaster but also as a resident.

“The biggest thing is the emphasis on public safety. Attempting to maintain that at all times is the most fundamental part of this job,” he said.

Knights, 44, grew up about 240 miles from here in Bradford County, and he graduated from Troy High School in 1988. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Clarion University in 1992 and followed personal and professional aspirations to Butler County that same year.

Knights worked in construction, including residential and commercial, until he was hired in 2000 as a code enforcement officer for Cranberry Township.

He became the Saxonburg superintendent and the Saxonburg Area Authority director of operations in 2003. He had that job until he was hired by Butler Township in April at a salary of $62,700.

Now, Knights spends more time answering calls and sorting schedules than shoveling or plowing. Although he can and does do both when needed.

Knights inks out a weeklong schedule of work on a dry erase board, divvying up his 12-man staff into two crews daily.

But the weather is always a giant factor as are the calls that come in overnight from residents, police or officials. The road department gets 10 to 20 calls a day relating to the township’s 92 miles of roads, he said.

Some action can be taken immediately on about 75 percent of the calls, he said. Others require long-term planning or budgeting. Or sometimes the problems being reported are not township responsibilities.

Several major roads in the township are state-owned and maintained, including Route 8, Whitestown and North Eberhart.

Even the best of plans can be bumped by a road emergency such as a fallen tree or flooding.

“We drop everything and go to the problem,” Knights said. “Safe, passable roads is always the priority.”

While Knights hasn’t yet been employed by the township through a winter, when much work will be driven by the weather, he said he was surprised to learn “the biggest source of our overtime hours is fallen trees (onto roads.) We get about three a month and that’s not the type of thing that can wait until the morning.”

One of the township’s biggest challenges is the aging infrastructure of its storm sewer system. Many of the underground pipes are galvanized steel, 30 years old and in need of replacement with PVC pipes. Those pipes collect rainwater only, divert them from roads and discharge them in areas where the water doesn’t pose a hazard.

The township budgeted $50,000 for materials related to stormwater this year, a $30,000 increase over the standard allocation.

“I ramped that budget up, and it’s my intention for 2015 to increase that quantumly,” said township manager Ed Kirkwood.

Most drivers go right over the pipes without a thought. But when the pipes break, they cause sink holes in the road.

Rain in July caused one of those problems on Saw Mill Run Road.

The crew is responsible for maintaining the roads, clearing snow, posting signs and fixing township vehicles. The groundwork at the two township parks is handled by someone else.

Mobility also can sometimes be an impediment to getting work done. With a township that is 21.6 square miles, just getting a piece of equipment from one end to the other can take a while. The 2007 Kubota excavator, for example, only travels 3 miles an hour on its own track and goes a bit faster when carted.

“We have to observe weight limits on the roads like everyone else,” he said.

Knights said his experience in the township has been positive.

“The commissioners and manager Ed Kirkwood are very supportive,” he said. “We are all about proactive infrastructure.”

Commissioner Joseph Wiest, who oversees the road department, said Knights’ skills and background are a good fit for the township.

“He has a lot of expertise in solving water problems,” Wiest said. “And he’s very knowledgeable about how to manage a staff. He really knows how to bring out the best in people.”

Kirkwood said it’s not unusual for officials to hear compliments about the road department’s work.

“That means a tremendous amount to all of us,” Kirkwood said. “It’s good to know we are doing quality work.”