Rick Savage cares for Beach City's roads, cemetery, parks and is the building inspector

BEACH CITY – Rick Savage, the village Road Department supervisor, picked up a nickname early in life you'd think he'd have received on the job – "Tar."

Savage said the name was passed down by family when he was around 7 years old while growing up in the village.

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"I used to chew on (tar) when I was a kid, and I'd pop those (hot tar) bubbles on the road with my bare feet in summer," he recalled.

Beach City's man of many hats

Savage, 62, is viewed as the Swiss Army knife of Beach City, which he has worked for nearly 33 years.

In addition to running the Road Department, where he's the sole worker, he also serves as the village cemetery sexton, park superintendent, building inspector and utility guardsman.

Debbie Rentsch, the Beach City clerk/treasurer, has worked with Savage for two dozen years. She called him an unreplaceable asset.

"(Rick) has such a reputation here because of his time with the village," said Rentsch, noting that Savage has accrued 1,095 sick hours, equating to about 137 days. "He's one of our lifelines."

Responsibilities go beyond job titles, explained Savage, who said snowplowing in the winter and filling potholes in warmer months are paramount. But he also assists the village with fall leaves removal and helps keep vehicles on the road.

More than just a job title, village tasks

Sometimes being on the job doesn't always equate to doing village tasks, Savage said.

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"If someone gets stuck (in the snow), we push 'em out," he said. "We've done that a lot."

Lending a hand to a lady crossing the street to the post office is one of the more personable duties you never mind doing, Savage said.

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If a salt truck breaks down, you do the job by hand using a shovel, according to Savage.

Savage said it's been a pleasure to work in Beach City for so long. He is a 1978 graduate of Fairless High School.

"I'm just happy making a living in my hometown," he said. "This is my Mayberry."

Daily grind of road work

Overall, Savage is responsible for maintaining 7 miles of roadway in the village.

In winter, workdays can start as early as 3 a.m., according to Savage, who said his longest day ever came in at 15 or 16 hours.

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On Feb. 3, Savage celebrated his 62nd birthday by logging a 13-hour shift. Six-to-7 inches of snow fell on top of at least 2 inches of rain-snow mix that day.

"I figured I'd take off that day (to celebrate), but not so much," he said jokingly.

Convenience is one factor that keeps Savage on the job in Beach City.

"I just like being home every night," said Savage, noting that a longtime pastime has been coaching T-ball and Little League baseball. "I still feel good, and like being here."

Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com.

On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Road Department Supervisor Rick Savage wears many hats for Beach City