Jobs well done: One mission, two men, 81 years of service

“I think my generation grew up with the inspiration of John F. Kennedy and the ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can for it type of mentality. And we had a lot of role models like that — the Kennedys and Martin Luther King Jr. — growing up,” said Warden. “I think it led a lot of us to public service. That kind of became our calling, and we found it rewarding.”

Warden, who has worked for 32 Weld County Commissioners during his tenure, actually began his career in Alameda County, California, where he was the Chief of Budgeting and Accounting Services when he was just in his 20s. He was later hired by Weld County at the ripe old age of 31.

“I got into county government when county government was really growing,” reflected Warden. “It had been kind of a sleepy little part of government that no one really noticed. The devolution of Nixon basically wanting to push down programs to the local level, and Lyndon Johnson’s war on poverty created a lot of our social programs. ... As a result, county government is where a lot of those programs landed.”

Moreno, too, started his public service career in his 20s when he was hired on at the Clerk and Recorder’s Office in his hometown of La Junta (Otero County), Colorado. Shortly after, Moreno joined the team in Weld County where he worked up the ranks from front-line motor vehicle clerk to Deputy Clerk and Recorder before making the leap to elected office — serving three terms as the elected Clerk and Recorder and then two terms as a Weld County Commissioner.

“I’ve always enjoyed customer service, serving people and being engaged in the community,” said Moreno. “Wanting to help people, and more importantly, wanting to listen to people - that has been something I take pride in.”

Being a good listener, in fact, is one of the attributes that led former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper to ask him to participate on a task force on state and local regulation of oil and gas operations back in 2014, prior to Moreno winning elected office as commissioner.

 “I think it’s a big reason why people have put their trust in me,” reflected Moreno. “Listening and being respectful – that is what I have always tried to do.”

Their skills, be it number crunching or active listening, helped both throughout their lengthy careers with the county and aided in their professional growth but also in the professional growth of other county staff.

“Weld County is a great employer,” said Warden. “There’s lots of people I’ve watched mature over the years. … They’ve all been good people, and their primary driver was doing the best they could for the citizens of Weld County.”

That fact, in part, is what makes leaving the county a bit easier for both: The work ethic and tradition of how Weld County does business is engrained in the employees who work here.

“We work smarter, not harder,” said Moreno, who went on to talk about the foresight the county has had that helps set up local government for continued success, such as maintaining a low mill levy, paying for projects in cash, and having a fund reserve that helps maintain public services when energy revenue fluctuates.

“Yes, you’ve got to deal with the day-to-day management of the issues,” said Warden, “but I think the really important part, and where you’re really successful, is you’ve got to be thinking about where do we want to be in five years? We’ve got to start laying the groundwork to deal with those issues five years from now.”

Preparing for what the future brings to Weld County, however, is dependent on one thing, according to Warden.

“Government needs to sell the issue of public service more and attract some of the best and brightest young people like it did 30 to 40 years ago. We need to sell public service to our younger generations," he said.

Moreno agreed: “The whole process, the role of a county commissioner, is that you are entrusted to make decisions on behalf of citizens and employees. We need people who are engaged and understand. We are public servants only here for a short time, and you want to be as impactful as you can.”

While Warden and Moreno are leaving their day jobs, they aren’t leaving their public-service ethos behind. Warden has been asked to consider assisting with some nonprofit organizations, and Moreno will continue serving on the United Way of Weld County Board as well as the board of the Election Center, a national organization that certifies election officials. 

But it won’t be all work in retirement for these two. Warden has plans to catch up on a stack of books that have been patiently waiting for his attention and travel with his wife. Moreno is going to focus on his health and start chipping away at his honey-do list  (he may consider taking up golf).

Regardless of what the next chapter holds for them, however, one thing will always remain true: The accomplishments they achieved during their careers here will continue to benefit residents for generations to come, and that is the true reward of public service.

Roughly one year after the wagon road from Julesburg to Ft. Lupton was built, residents were charged 65 cents for each horse- or cattle-drawn vehicle traveling the road. An extra 10 cents was charged for oxen and one cent for each sheep or hog used to pull vehicles. This (page 80) and other interesting historical gems lie within the St. Vrain County Record Book at https://history.weldgov.com/St.-Vrain-County-Record-Book.

In the next issue of County Roots, we'll give you a behind the scenes look into the Weld County Department of Public Safety Communications. We'll highlight the experiences of 911 dispatchers as well as the standard of excellence within the department that has helped it gain international recognition for excellence.