FARMINGTON — After logging more than 23,000 hours in a town loader-plow over 22 years, David Hobert, 66, of Farmington, is ready to retire from the Farmington Public Work’s Department. His last day is today, Dec. 8.

Hobert has driven his 19-mile, in-town route through all types of weather, but still claims plowing and building roads are what he’s enjoyed most about the position.

Recent warm temperatures led Hobert to believe he wouldn’t plow this winter, but Saturday changed those thoughts.

“Two weeks ago, he told me it wouldn’t snow before his retirement but one more storm sneaked in Saturday just for him,” said Denis Castonguay, director of the Public Works Department.

Over the years, the hardest part of plowing has been the traffic, Hobert said.

“There’s not enough leeway to do the job,” he said of the large, winged plows that cover a good part of the road. “During the days is the hardest, especially in the downtown area. Everybody’s in such a rush.”

For the first time in a long time when the next storm hits, Hobert’s phone won’t be ringing at all hours.

“It’s hard sometimes, after you’ve already had a long, hard day, and in the middle of the night the phone rings and you have 15 minutes to get back here. But you just toughen into the job,” he said.

Being on-call means responding even if it’s Christmas or a family birthday.

“One year we had to work every single holiday,” he said.

Still, over the years he’s enjoyed working on the town roads and the department’s new garage.

Hobert said Castonguay has been a “good boss” to work for — showing understanding when he lost his wife in April.

For the next couple weeks, he plans to relax before traveling to Florida to visit his son and some other friends this winter. He also enjoys hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and other outside activities, he said.

Replacements have been hired for Hobert and Tim Schanz, who retired earlier this year from the department, Castonguay said.

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David Hobert, 66, of Farmington, will retire from the Farmington Public Work’s Department on Dec. 8. He stands in front of one of the town’s trucks.