How do Roads Scholars get their start, and what inspires them to go the extra mile? MnLTAP is pleased to share the journeys of recent graduates. In this issue meet Jeff Warzecha, assistant maintenance supervisor with the Crow Wing County Highway Department, who earned a Maintenance Operations and Technical Certificate.
How did you get interested in public works?
I got interested in public works through friends that plowed snow while I was driving truck over the road. They bugged me for a few years and explained how nice it was being home every day and [getting] such a satisfying feeling when plowing snow.
How does the Roads Scholar Certificate help you in your current job and career plans?
Taking part of all the trainings that LTAP provides and being part of the certificate program helped me understand job duties. It also helped me advance my career in Crow Wing County. I started out as a maintenance worker and took trainings and was willing to learn all aspects of public works, from flagging operations to leadership roles. Today I am a supervisor for the Highway Department.
What's a typical day like?
A typical day varies—you never know what is in store as road issues can come up overnight. Scheduling workload for the crew, making sure crews understand the job at hand, making sure crews have the resources they need to do the job, tracking materials and time, handling customers’ complaints, ensuring that the county road system is providing safe travel for the public.
What is your favorite accomplishment at work?
Mentoring the new hires, teaching them about being a public employee. Taking in new ideas and trying to make jobs more efficient.
What can other people learn from your path?
Work hard, take in all knowledge from either trainings or guys that been around the industry for a while. Focus on today and look for tomorrow. There will be hiccups in the road—learn from them, they are only events.
What makes you feel proud at the end of the day?
Knowing that I have gave it my best every day to ensure the county highway system is safe for another day.
How has your job changed over the years?
Over my 20 years (3 years part time in Morrison County, 17 years full time in Crow Wing), the technology in plow trucks and how user-friendly they have become. The monitoring and tracking of chloride usage.
Any funny or surprising incidents while working at a site?
Had a small beaver dam plugging a 4-foot culvert and was standing on the apron of the culvert trying to pull a hook through. I asked my coworker to assist pulling the hook through. While I was only in ankle-deep water, my coworker came down and stepped off the end of the apron, where the water hole was only 5 feet in diameter—but when he stepped off the apron, he went down to his shoulders. Couldn't believe that the hole was that deep. The look on the coworker’s face was priceless.
What do you do for hobbies/fun?
Hunting, especially out west (Montana), hiking, hanging out with family.