Highway Superintendent Pam Miktuk and the Town Villenova

Lori Lovely – PROFILE CORRESPONDENT - October 2026

Pam Miktuk broke the stereotypical New York highway superintendent mold when she was appointed to the position in 2022 — not only because she's female, but because she didn't have a background in highway construction or public service.

A Villenova native, Pam had moved to the town of Ashville for almost 30 years before returning in 2020 after her husband passed away.

“He was the love of my life,” she said with a catch in her throat. “I needed to get away from the memories.”

She had worked alongside him, milking the 40 cows on their farm and later taking care of him through his illness. She also had worked in the John Deere parts and service department for almost 10 years and, for a little while, at a Massey Ferguson dealership before retiring to take care of her husband, Jim.

When Pam returned to Villenova, she met Yvonne, the town supervisor, and became friends. The town needed help in the highway department for October-December 2023, so when her friend asked her to fill in, she agreed to come out of retirement and fill in.

“I was a farmer's wife and had a background in parts and service with John Deere, so they appointed me.”

She credits her brother, Rick Walker, who works in town of Cherry Creek, as having paved the way for her because he is known as a hard worker and is well-respected.

“[Everyone] knew we come from strong stock.

“I was asked as a favor to fill in from September to the end of the year 2022,” Pam added. “I was put on the ballot for one year to finish out the previous superintendent's term, then voted in for another four years. I resigned at the end of 2025, then was appointed for 2026.”

She told the town board she wasn't planning to stay through 2027 and will leave at the end of 2026.

Coming Back Home

The town of Villenova in Chautauqua County has a population of 1,137. The area was first settled circa 1809, and the town itself was formed from part of the town of Hanover in 1823.

A quaint town situated in the rolling hills of upstate New York, Villenova is small but offers many restaurants, shops and other attractions. Residents are known to be friendly and outgoing. In a town this small, Pam has many connections. Her nephew is the deputy highway superintendent.

“We have a number of family members — cousins that have worked for either the county or towns: Mark Lebaron from Charlotte, Jeff Clark Ellery, Jack Clark, Mike Walker and Rick Walker, retired.”

She searches on Ancestry to find many that have been proven to have worked for more than 400 years.

Known for its lush hills, the region is popular for its hiking trails, nearby lakes and parks. The Buffalo ski center near Lake Findlay attracts skiers and nature-lovers year-round, while the Chautauqua Belle offers historic tours of the north end of Chautauqua Lake, including live music and dinner cruises.

“Many presidents have stayed here, including President Garfield, my 5th great-grandfather,” said Pam.

The National Comedy Center presents the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, embodying Lucille Ball's vision for her hometown, nearby Jamestown, to serve as a destination for the celebration of the comedic arts and to showcase new comedic talent from around the country. The festival attracts more than 15,000 attendees annually.

But with all the landscape and laughs available, Pam's favorite pastime is dancing.

“I love to slow dance,” she said. “I used to dance every dance, but now I'm happy with getting a few dances with my partner [Robert Crowell].”

Better Work Environment

Relationships are important to this very giving woman. Pam, mother to two girls, exudes a maternal warmth and expresses concern for seemingly everyone she comes in contact with. She fondly refers to the highway department crew as “the boys” and takes great strides to ensure both their safety and their job satisfaction.

“I worry about my employees,” she said. “It would kill me if someone got hurt.”

She typically accompanies them to check on road conditions.

“I won't leave them out there alone. I put up cones and wait in the truck for Michael [her deputy] to make sure the roads are safe.”

During her tenure, she has concentrated on making a better work environment. It starts with the simple things.

“I always try to say 'please' and 'thank you.' I shake their hands and tell them I'm proud of them. Sometimes I buy them pizza.”

In August, she threw a “just because” party. She invited everyone, not just her small highway department of three. She included the town board, all highway workers and superintendents and friends.

“People I know and care about,” she said. “Pave it forward.”

But it's not all fun and parties. Accountability, responsibility and respect are important to the Chautauqua County Highway Association member — and it starts at the top.

“I made a $3,000 mistake in July. I told the town what I did and offered to pay for it.”

It was easily fixed and the town paid it, but it was important to Pam to take responsibility and acknowledge her error.

“I'm trying to bring the highway department out of the 18th century,” she joked.

She bought a printer and a laptop. She has labeled all the equipment service manuals and writes maintenance hours in them. She even files the filters for the equipment alphabetically and numerically and keeps them in her office.

“I have tried to look forward for things we might need,” she said.

Equipment Overhaul

Despite her efforts to make improvements throughout the department, a meager budget of $805,588 (CHIPS $250,000) has restricted Pam from sweeping changes. She said they have outgrown their only building — one office and seven bays, built around 1957.

“It's very old and needs replacement.”

She said they have to park the trucks so closely together that they could hit their heads on the wings if they're not careful.

Some of the equipment needs updating, as well.

“The excavator is getting very tired,” she said.

However, she has managed to add some new equipment, including five new trucks, two Chevy pickups and three plow trucks — International, Mack and Western Star, a Hyundai loader and a Woods brush chopper.

The current equipment list indicates some recent models, but the superintendent would like to add a new single-axle dump truck to the inventory.

Savings, Loans

Pam has been strategic with the highway budget, saving CHIPS money where she can, to be used elsewhere.

“We'll get some back and put it toward a lean-to for the equipment,” she said. “I don't like to have equipment sitting outside. It's not good for equipment to sit out in the elements.”

When windmills were installed in the area, the roads took a hit. The town received a settlement for the damage.

“We used that money to repair the roads,” she said.

Since Pam has been in office, the highway department has blacktopped more than 15 mi. and sealed 20 mi. of roads. She calls it a group effort.

“Without that, CHIPS and shared services, we couldn't have done all that. None of our towns could do what we accomplish without shared services. It is so vital to all of us.

“Last year, we had a big project,” she added. “The state, county and surrounding towns came. I was lucky enough to have 47-50 trucks come and do almost 9 miles of road in six days. Three came from Cattaraugus County to help. They tell me this is something that has never been done, with so much cooperation and help. All went off without a hitch. The county paving crew also set a record for the number of tons of asphalt laid down in one day: 2,800 tons.”

This year, she asked for 29 trucks to help lay asphalt; 40 trucks showed up.

Self-Reliance

When she doesn't have dozens of trucks rolling in from other municipalities to help with paving, Pam relies on her small crew of three full-time workers to take care of other duties.

“I wish I had another guy — especially in the winter — so they could go on shifts, but it's a poor town.”

Her crew consists of:

• Mike E. Walker, deputy (and her nephew)

• Joey Williams

• Phil Christian

Together, working a schedule of 5 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the winter and 6 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in the summer, they maintain 78.6 lane mi., approximately 10 of which are gravel, and the equipment needed to do so. Basic equipment maintenance, such as oil changes, is performed in-house.

Pam hires a specialist with a computer to run diagnostics for electrical issues before ordering parts.

The top lady is as hands-on as possible.

“I can't climb up on the equipment anymore,” she said. “I am a 76-year-old woman and unable to do many things the men do. My husband always said, 'A woman's body is not made to work like a man's.' He was very right.”

In the winter, they run three plow routes of about 2.5 hours each. They keep approximately 15,000 tons of salt mix, covered.

“Last year, we went through our allotment of salt because we had so much ice,” Pam said.

They also have many piles of sand, which they mix with the salt — although “very lightly for the dirt roads because it tears them up.”

During better weather, the crew works on improving roads. They are currently blacktopping 5 mi. with funding from an award from the windmill damage.

“My biggest regret about leaving is I just got a $1.7 million Bridge New York grant in 2023 and it will be done in 2027,” Pam said. “I like to finish what I start. But I promised my girls I'd stop this time.”

Legacy

A humble woman, Pam doesn't focus much on how she'll be remembered.

“I guess I'd like people to know that I really tried hard.”

She has accomplished much in a short time.

“There are no shelves falling down. It's more organized. I have tried to file and label, so it's easier for the next person. I am sure there are mistakes; that's what makes us human.”

That next person is likely to be her nephew and deputy superintendent, Mike Walker.

“Michael is on the ballot. He'll no doubt do a good job.”

She remembers when he was hired, saying to her, “Aunt Pam, you're going to be my boss.”

Pam has a strong work ethic and a soft heart. She likes to work — although she says she doesn't like being out at 3:30 in the morning during snowstorms.

“I'm afraid of falling. There was so much ice last year. Let's face it, we all don't get around like teenagers anymore.”

She is such a hard worker, she's concerned about what she'll do when she leaves the highway department. The woman who milked cows for 13 years for the same farmer, worked at John Deere for almost 10 years and took care of her husband during his illness is not an idle person.

“I can't watch TV all day.”

Despite knowing it's time for her to move on and retire for good this time, she looks back fondly on her role as highway superintendent.

“I have received more respect than I ever had in my entire life. I am one fortunate and grateful woman, I hold each and every one who has advised, helped, listened and just been there for me dear in my heart.”  P

(All photos courtesy of the town of Villenova Highway Department.)