Public Works
Public Works Blog
Public Works Equipment Roadeo winners headed to state competition
Posted On: September 27, 2017
Four Chelan County Public Works employees will represent the county when they compete next month for state honors at the Equipment Roadeo, an event of the American Public Works Association.
On Sept. 21, Chelan County road crew equipment operators and mechanics gathered to compete on the local level. The local competition, held annually by Chelan County’s Road Maintenance Department, consists of four events that put employees to the test using obstacle courses and skills challenges.
Placing first in the loader competition was Sklyer Opel, who has worked on the Leavenworth road crew district for nearly two years. Opel also placed second in both the truck/snowplow and backhoe competitions.
Placing first in the truck/snowplow competition was Matt Schwader of the Chelan District. Schwader has worked for the county for seven years.
Placing first in the backhoe competition was Chance Hawkins of the Wenatchee District. Hawkins has worked for the county for more than a year.
And placing first in the tech challenge, which tests the skills of public works mechanics, was Kevin Jonassen, who has been with the county for six years.
The first-place finishers now move on to the Washington State APWA competition, which will be held Oct. 3-5 in Kennewick.
Joining our top four in the list of winners also were: Andy Gill, third in truck; Collin Hancock, second in tech/mechanics; Pat King, third in tech/mechanics; Todd Sweeney, third in backhoe; Chris Wall, second in loader; and Jamie Collum, third in loader.
Older Articles
Weekend county snowplow operations differ from weekday operations
Posted On: December 20, 2023
On the weekends, our five road districts each have one operator working. That operator is going to be focused on main arterials, or those Priority 1 r...
Read More arrow_forwardPassion for ‘big trucks’ drives O’Brien’s career with Public Works
Posted On: March 30, 2023
A long-time passion for big trucks steered Donna O’Brien to Chelan County Public Works 14 years ago. While O’Brien is not the first woman at Chelan Co...
Read More arrow_forwardWeight restrictions: They are coming, so be ready!
Posted On: February 08, 2023
It’s that time of the year again, when the warming temps may bring temporary weight restrictions on county roads. While we don’t have any restrictions...
Read More arrow_forwardSnow removal policies apply even in an emergency
Posted On: January 19, 2022
Chelan County is clarifying its snow removal policies with the public after receiving calls from frustrated citizens who were not prepared for the sig...
Read More arrow_forwardPost-wildfire safety measures being put in place near 25-Mile Creek
Posted On: November 22, 2021
While the wildland firefighters are now gone, that doesn’t mean work on the Twenty-Five Mile Fire is over. Chelan County has been not only evaluating ...
Read More arrow_forwardGIS tech creates emergency incidents map for wildfire response
Posted On: October 01, 2021
Chelan County Public Works GIS technician Lori Beidler will be honored in October by the Washington Chapter of the American Public Works Association f...
Read More arrow_forwardCCPW operators respond to cyclist in need of help
Posted On: April 12, 2021
Chelan County Public Works operators Earl Griffith and Curtis McClellan were in the right place at the right time when they came upon a stranded bicyc...
Read More arrow_forward2021 shaping up to be a busy construction year
Posted On: April 05, 2021
2021 is shaping up to be an active construction year for Chelan County Public Works. We are headed into the second year of the largest construction pr...
Read More arrow_forwardWith river construction comes underwater sound monitoring
Posted On: August 12, 2020
At the West Cashmere Bridge replacement project, you might get the chance to see an “acoustician” on site when the contractor is driving steel pilings...
Read More arrow_forwardIn-water work begins July 15 on West Cashmere Bridge project
Posted On: July 13, 2020
With in-water construction related to the West Cashmere Bridge replacement project scheduled to begin July 15, Chelan County reminds recreationists on...
Read More arrow_forward