(Barrett Wilson) Summer is here. Let the adventures begin. But remember safety first. Don't let distracted driving ruin your summer vacation. Put the phone down and keep your eyes on the road. That message can wait until you arrive. Pay attention to other drivers. And make sure to slow down in work zones. Stay updated on traffic conditions across the state by downloading the MDOT Traffic mobile app and follow @Mississippi DOT on Facebook, X and Instagram. MDOT wishes you a safe and enjoyable summer.

[Music and Intro]

(Drew Hall) MDOT presents The Extra Mile Podcast.

(Paul Katool) Welcome in to another edition of The Extra Mile Podcast presented by the Mississippi Department of Transportation. I'm Paul Katool, and as always, I’m joined by my co-host Will Craft. And today we are happy to get out on the road. We are at the State Maintenance Conference in Biloxi, and uh, we are here to talk to State Maintenance Engineer Matt Dugas, who really heads this event up. Matt, thank you so much for allowing us to come and, and do the Extra Mile Podcast on location here.

(Matt Dugas) I appreciate you guys having me on.

(Paul) Absolutely. For sure. So, we want to get into the event and, uh, give our, uh, listeners, our viewers, some info on that. But first of all, we want to know about you, Matt. So, I understand you've been an an MDOT employee for quite some time. Kind of take us through briefly, uh, your MDOT journey, if you will.

(Matt) Okay, sure. Yeah. I've been at MDOT for, uh, almost 19 years. I started off in Mendenhall in construction in, I guess, 2006. Uh, did about four years there, and then got the lucky opportunity to, to move to maintenance over to the dark side and uh –

(Will Craft) Dark side.

(Matt) So, I went to McComb in 2010, stayed there till last August, and I came to Jackson. Um, so yeah, enjoying State Maintenance Engineer. It's, it's a pretty big challenge, but, uh, I think I'm up for it.

(Paul) Love it. Love to hear it.

(Will) Yeah, absolutely. The background that you're just talking about is, has that helped you in the role that you're in now?

(Matt) Oh, absolutely. Uh, you know, I, I feel like coming from the districts, uh, or one of the districts, I have a unique –

(Will) Sure.

(Matt) perspective that I can bring to Jackson and kind of help bridge some gaps that may, may have been there in the past. But yeah, I, I think it has definitely led me here and prepared me for this role.

(Will) Yeah, no doubt. Great folks over there in the Maintenance Division, we, uh, big fans. Our next-door neighbors in the office. Uh, so gotta love each other. You gotta live next.

(Matt) Absolutely.

(Will) Uh, well, as we kind of get into the day here it is, uh, a, a hot one, uh, for sure. But we got trucks running, we got diesel flowing and, uh, competition’s get started. Where, what's going on out here? What is to, today?

(Matt) Okay, well first, yeah, y'all picked the hottest morning yet to do this, so.

(Paul) Always.

(Matt) But no, it's, it, the weather's been great this week, and I, I feel like it continued through the day. It, I don't think it was hot as last year.

(Will) A little toasty.

(Matt) It was, it was, it was tough last year. So, uh, right behind us, we've got parallel park. So, this is the truck course. Uh, we've got three trucks, uh, set up to run around five different elements. Um. So, we've got a single axle dump truck, a tandem axle dump truck, and a what we call a lowboy. And that's a tractor trailer. I mean, a tra, a tractor truck with a trailer, a long trailer on it. And uh, yeah, we run 'em through, like I said, five different obstacles and, uh, yeah, see who the winner, uh, winner is.

(Will) Who's the, uh, which is the most competitive event out here, you think?

(Matt) Oh man. They're all competitive. Like these guys are here to perform. Uh, like I said, they're um, they're competing for a chance to go to Regionals in Kentucky this year. So, everybody's, you know, on their A game. I would say though, I gotta say the backhoe man. The backhoe is some pretty stiff competition over there about, say it's over here under the trees.

(Will) A little bit off camera.

(Matt) That's right.

(Will) We'll, we'll give you guys an update on the winners, for sure.

(Paul) There we go. So, uh, yeah, so this is a, a big-time event for MDOT. And it's not just a, a competition. I mean, there's, there's some meaning behind this. We're, uh, we're all about safety at the DOT. So, these guys are out here kind of honing their skills, right?

(Matt) That's correct. Yeah. You know, safety's our number one goal. What? Think safe, work safe all the time, right? So, you know, we feel like, or I know, uh, you know, the effort that these guys put into honing their skills for this competition help us in the field. I mean, you know, we mimic, uh, uh, different situations that they experience in the field. Um, and, you know, it, it just, it leads to a safer work environment out there.

(Will) Absolutely.

(Paul) Really, uh, I mean, these are some highly skilled guys out there. They are dropping golf balls using this heavy equipment into little cylinders, so.
Rest assured that you know, the guys, the men and women that are out on our highways, our roadways, I mean they are, these are some skilled individuals, correct?

(Matt) Absolutely, yeah. You can guarantee these are the best of the best out here in the state, and I'd put 'em, uh, against anybody in the country. Um, like I said, regionals in Kentucky, we're gonna be competing against 14 other states. Texas just joined us.

(Will) Ok.

(Matt) Uh, Florida a couple years ago. And so yeah, it's stiff regional competition as well. And uh, yeah, we hang in there. I'm, I'm, we're shooting to win this year.

(Paul) Love it.

(Will) That's right. So just I guess real recap, a real quick recap of that. So, you got, uh, the district competitions take place?

(Matt) That's correct. We do –

(Will) Now are there winners in each category?

(Matt) Yeah, so, we do district competitions in the spring, starting in early March. We do six of those. One for each district and the top two in each event come to state. The top two in each event in the state go to regional.

(Will) Ok. And that's in Kentucky this year?

(Matt) That's right.

(Will) What, when is that later?

(Matt) It'll be in September.

(Will) September, okay.

(Paul) Nice.

(Will) Alright.

(Matt) A little cooler, hopefully.

(Paul) Hopefully so.

(Matt) A little further north.

(Will) So, yeah. Yeah. Just a couple of hairs there. What, uh, what's some of the favorite things I think, that take place there? What, what, what are the, uh, maybe the most enjoyable competition? Probably everybody loves 'em all equally, but.

(Matt) Yeah, I mean, I'm gonna go back to the backhoe for that.

(Will) Okay.

(Matt) You know –

(Will) The crowd favorite.

(Matt) the back, the backhoe's one that I can jump on, and I can actually do, I I I've practiced a –

(Will) That was my next question. Are you competing today at all?

(Matt) Oh, no, not competing today. No competing all, uh, we have had informal judges competitions in the past, uh, with a few of the judges, and that's always enjoyable. Um, but considering, you know that that's one that I can get on –

(Will) Okay.

(Matt) And actually look like I know what I'm doing, that, that's probably one of my favorite.

(Will) That's, that's a good one. No doubt. Absolutely.

(Paul) Alright, so heard rumors that there are just some absolute, uh, menaces to the competition, some betting favorites. So, uh, you know, this competition's going on right now. Let me know, let us know, who are some of the favorites today, in your opinion?

(Matt) Well, I hope you don't get in too much trouble.

(Paul) We'll try not to.

(Matt) But there are definitely some guys out there that I would not bet against. Uh, in the truck competition, I'd probably name, uh, uh, Billy Coward and uh, and Michael Pannell. Um, we got Thomas Goode in the backhoe. He is a veteran, consistent veteran wins.

(Will) Heard that name a lot.

(Matt) Yeah, it's been to regional many times. Uh, and then I wouldn't count Wayne Johnson out in the tractor, so.

(Paul) Okay. Alright, there we go. We heard it here first. Love to hear it. We love to, we love the insider information for sure.

(Will) That's right. We're gonna get this event on the sports books, so we go over here and cast our lots.

(Paul) You know, that's what we're getting at. Oh, yeah.

(Will) We'll get there maybe one day. Who knows? Uh, well, Matt, before we get outta here, we got a couple more fun questions for you, but one, just kind of the package, uh, the, the summary, the mission statement, I guess, what I'm looking for in the Maintenance Division, sort of you, if under umbrella, what all do you guys take care of?

(Matt) Oh, we, there, there's a lot, a lot going on in maintenance division, you know, from, uh, from permits to damage claims to, uh, litter. Um, Lori Reddens out here, she's been great this week.

(Will) Oh, yeah.

(Matt) Our state litter coordinator. Um, we touch on a lot of stuff in maintenance, but you know, our goal, if you ask me what our goal, our mission is, and, and that would be to support the districts to support the district, uh, maintenance forces and what they do.

(Will) Uh, and that is obviously keeping the roadway safe, clear, clean, healthy, out the way.

(Matt) Absolutely. Anything we can do to help them.

(Will) Big fans of the maintenance folks, uh, and everything. You guys do love to be out here at this competition. Let's hit the fun questions.

(Matt) Okay.

(Paul) There we go. So, yeah. Will, you want to hit that first one?

(Will) Sure, absolutely.

(Paul) Good question.

(Will) As we, we talk about all the time on a podcast, if you've watched before, we, uh, like to eat and we like some music. So, uh, you spend a lot of time running the roads, looking at places, getting stuff to eat. Do you have a spot maybe that you don't get to go to very often? That's just a, “Man, we're in the area, we gotta go here.”

(Matt) Okay.

(Will) And I'll say, actually, there was several times over the last podcasting, uh, year of us coming to the southern districts and, and hitting you up about where to go eat.

(Paul) That’s true.

(Will) So, we're looking for some home runs here.

(Matt) That's right. Okay. Okay. So, we're talking about down here?

(Will) Wherever you want!

(Matt) Okay. Well, down here, down here, um, there is a little restaurant.
It's a little out of the way. Um, I, I've only been there once, but District One hits it every time we come down this, down this way. And it's called Taranto's Crawfish. And, uh, I went with, I decided to, to go with 'em the other night, and it really is amazing. So y'all, y'all should check it out.

(Will) Add it to the list.

(Matt) If I had one other down here, um, it is not seafood –

(Paul) Whoa.

(Matt) But it, it, it's, it's Greek. It's called Mr. Greek.

(Will) Mr. Greek.

(Matt) So I, I try to hit Mr. Creek, Mr. Greek, every time I make it down as well.

(Will) All right. Hey, that is a different one. Now, I don't think I've, we've had a non-seafood recommendation, uh, on the coastal area, so.

(Paul) There you go.

(Will) There you go. A little change of pace for the books. Good stuff.

(Matt) Yeah. Yeah. I, so –

(Will) Hey, roll 'em out.

(Matt) Are we, are we gonna go with Jackson?

(Will) Sure. Absolutely.

(Matt) Like the metro area?

(Will) We like food, man. You can give us all the suggestions.

(Matt) I mean, I knew this question was coming, so I kind of prepared.

(Will) Love it.

(Matt) But I, I gotta go with my downtown favorites, okay?

(Will) Okay.

(Matt) So, um, yeah, the ones hanging on down there, like, yeah, we gotta support them, so.

(Paul) Sure.

(Matt) I gotta go Greek again and go Little Keifers.

(Will) Okay. Little so.

(Matt) Little, little Keifers is one of my favorites. And, uh, if you go there. I like the, uh, the traditional gyro, but get 'em to slather little hummus on that pita before they make it. It's killer.

(Will) See, this is why we ask him where to go eat. He's put thought into this stuff.

(Matt) And then I gotta throw in a shout out to Steve's Downtown.

(Will) No doubt.

(Matt) You know, last year, I guess almost a year ago, they, they, they, uh, brought it back under new management, and those guys are doing a great job.

(Will) It’s good stuff too. We love it.

(Paul) Yeah.

(Will) Go down there a good bit.

(Paul) That's, that's a good, I heard they, uh, they rolled out breakfast now.

(Matt) Yeah, they have, they just started that. Last time I, last time I was in there, they were telling me.

(Paul) That's what I'm talking about. Well, hey, those are some good, uh –

(Will) Absolutely.

(Paul) New options on the coast and yeah, if you're downtown Jackson, need all the support we can get. So, hit those restaurants up, for sure. Hey, listen. Okay, the last fun question and just, I'm really excited. I think you're gonna have some good answers with the long hair, little hippy dippy looking. So, music, uh, is there a concert over the years that you've attended, that maybe, uh, sticks out in your head?

(Matt) Okay. Honestly, I was thinking about this question too, and I cannot remember the last concert I went to, but I can tell you the first concert I went to.

(Paul) Perfect.

(Will) That works.

(Paul) We love it.

(Matt) It was George Jones and Willie Nelson.

(Will) What? Wow.

(Matt) In Baton Rouge. Yeah. It was awesome.

(Will) Well, now when was that?

(Matt) Oh, I was probably 12 years old, so what? Uh, 9, 1990.

(Will) That's incredible. Yeah. I mean, yeah. Now that would've been one. Yeah. That'd probably be a bucket list concert for me right there now.

(Matt) That's right.

(Will) That's pretty cool getting to see those two, especially back then. I mean, still rocking and rolling.

(Matt) Right.

(Will) He didn't need no rocking chair, but by the time I was into his music, he kind of did need a rocking chair.

(Paul) There we go.

(Matt) Well, I think Willie's in his nineties and still on tour, right?

(Will) Yeah. Yeah. I believe he is on. Yeah, in Mississippi.

(Matt) That's amazing. So, if you ask me today, I, I don't know, I, I hate, I missed that Stapleton concert the other week, but, uh, I, I couldn't afford that ticket.

(Paul) $800. Yeah. I was looking at myself, you know, Hey, good for him.
Good for him for making that kind of coin.

(Matt) Absolutely.

(Paul) For sure. Absolutely. Well, those are some, uh, really good answers. Uh, Matt, thank you so much for hosting us, having us down here at the State Maintenance Rodeo 2025.

(Matt) Thank y'all.

(Will) Appreciate it, man.

(Paul) Alright, let's go ahead and wrap things up here before it gets too hot. Thank you for our listeners, our viewers, for tuning into the Extra Mile Podcast. You can watch and listen to episodes by visiting GoMDOT.com/TheExtraMile. Follow us on social media, @MississippiDOT is the handle. We want to thank our guys. This is a team effort today that came out here. Drew Hall, Roy Adkins, Billy Bob Sekul,
David Kenney. Thanks for holding things down behind the scenes. And remember to drive smart out there on Mississippi highways.

[Outro Music]