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It’s a late winter day, and a storm is brewing to the west. Jay McDonald, Director of the Weld County Department of Public Works, and 207 full-time employees are busy preparing for whatever the afternoon weather may bring. With 2,916 miles of roads to maintain, more than 400 bridges, thousands of culverts and many upcoming projects to complete, weather often plays an impactful role in the day-to-day operations of a team responsible for a safe and efficient transportation system in Colorado’s third largest county.
The task can make a formidable opponent. But it’s one Public Works conquers every year, evidenced by the regional and national awards for excellence — the department’s equivalent to Super Bowl trophies — that hang on the wall outside McDonald’s office. The victories earned each year are many: the completion of Weld County Road 49 on time and under budget in 2017, repairing and reopening the Poudre Trail in 2018, replacing the last of 200 load restricted bridges in 2019, and in 2020, destroying 1,379 acres of noxious weeds, completing the county’s first roundabout, and installing 10 weather stations to assist the snow operations team manage storm events every winter.
But success doesn’t just happen. Similar to a professional sports franchise, McDonald, as the head coach of Public Works, must set clear goals and have a game plan to execute plays, deliver results quickly and most importantly, when faced with challenges — be it changing weather or last-minute needs on a project — have a strong team willing to continually find winning solutions.
“We will strive to be the best,” McDonald said, explaining the overarching goal he set for himself and his staff when he became director in 2014. “We need to each have that mindset to perform at our best to serve the citizens of this county. Weld County is the standout county in Colorado, so I require excellence in myself and expect it from my employees.”
Staff will again strive to meet those expectations as the department embarks on several major projects this year, including managing the construction of the 35th and O Street roundabout, delivering traffic signal improvements to Weld County Road 47 and Highway 392, designing intersection and bridge projects for future years, performing bridge maintenance and delivering paving improvements or gravel road treatments to nine locations throughout the county identified in the 2021 Haul Route Program.
As this team works to complete each project, it will look for ways to become even stronger. Much like how sports teams seek that invaluable free agent every offseason, Public Works seeks hardworking, motivated individuals to fill 55 positions every year as seasonal employees. In an eight- to 10-month timeframe, opportunities in pavement management, gravel road management, road and bridge construction or noxious weed control can help Public Works meet its goals while providing on the job training to increase knowledge and sharpen skills that can produce more versatile employees. And, when opportunity is combined with motivation, it can lead to something far greater.
In 2011, Travis Smith knew he wanted something different. Seeking a more stable schedule and opportunity than his current job provided, he accepted a seasonal position in the gravel road management division. No stranger to physical labor or running heavy equipment, Smith was eager to begin his new role. Armed with goals in mind to learn new skills and become an asset to the department, Smith hoped that if and when a full-time position became available, he would be considered.
Little did he know, when asked to operate a roller as his first task, both goals were achieved sooner than he expected.
“I had experience running equipment before, but it was my first time in a roller,” Smith explained, crediting the lead workers in the division, Public Works Deputy Director Curtis Hall and Gravel Road Management Supervisor Mike Livengood, for helping him learn the equipment and encouraging him to ask questions about things he didn’t understand. “It was a good experience. Any questions I had they were able to answer, and if they didn’t know the answer, they were able to find someone who did. There was always someone to go and talk to.”
The welcoming environment made him feel like part of a team and fostered a desire to continue gaining new skills and knowledge — a process that was expedited when he landed a full-time position just a week after starting as a seasonal employee.
“You can look at the department as a job or career,” McDonald said, explaining the benefit work ethic and motivation can have on seasonal employee’s experience. “If you look at it as a career, you have an excellent chance to succeed and advance.”
Yes, success can be found anywhere. But in Public Works, it equals something far greater than personal achievement; It presents a bigger picture of how to serve others, while making a positive impact on the traveling public and on the award-winning Team Weld.
By Baker Geist, Weld County Communications Specialist
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