Spotlight Series: Meet the Street Department Leader, Luke Horkey

Each month, we shine a light on one of our city departments and the vital work they do for our community. This month, we’re featuring the Street Department—the team that keeps our roads safe, our town clean, and so much more. Team members include Luke Horkey, Breckin Bomgaars, and a recent addition to the department, Wyatt Dagel.

At the helm is Luke Horkey, who has served as Street Department Supervisor for the past three years. Before that, he spent 14 years as a street crewman. His team’s responsibilities go far beyond just maintaining roads—they remove snow, sweep streets, mow city property, manage the grass and tree piles, trim trees, haul dirt for city projects, and handle signage repairs.

Luke jokes that their crew is often called the “Catch-All Department” because of their wide range of tasks!

From sanding icy roads to clearing snow, the Street Department plays a crucial role in keeping Orange City’s roads safe, especially in winter. And if you’ve ever admired how clean and well-kept our town looks, you have this hardworking crew to thank!

No two days are the same for Luke and his team. Each morning starts with Iowa One Call locates before they jump into a variety of tasks—whether that’s road maintenance, weed control, street sign repairs, or seasonal projects.

Luke loves the variety his job offers and enjoys seeing residents appreciate the work his team does to keep Orange City vibrant. He and his wife, Katie, live in Alton with their three kids—Lane, Riley, and Aubrey. They love small-town life and the sense of community that makes Orange City special. Outside of work, Luke enjoys coaching his kids’ sports teams, helping on the family farm, and spending time hunting and fishing.