News Flash

Montrose County News

Posted on: December 14, 2022

Waschbusch Wins County Manager of the Year Nod

Waschbusch and Commissioner Hansen

Waschbusch and Commissioner HansenMontrose, COLO.— Colorado Counties Inc., and the Association of City and County Managers awarded Montrose County Manager Jon Waschbusch the County Manager of the Year award last night at the annual awards banquet.  

“The success we have at Montrose County is due to the hard work and talent of our employees. My thanks goes to each of them, our Board and the very special community that we serve,” said Waschbusch.

“On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, we could not be more pleased with this award,” said Commissioner Sue Hansen. “Jon is an incredibly talented manager who excels at strategic initiatives, project management, long-range planning, and operational efficiency. His 17 years of public service as a county employee provide him a multi-departmental understanding that is invaluable. His leadership has been an asset to the county and has contributed to the strong financial position that we are in today.” 

Some of Mr. Waschbusch’s major accomplishments cited in the nomination include the 2022 comprehensive compensation plan, which provided state and regional data used to update salary schedules. These changes were implemented concurrent with a new countywide compensation policy geared towards continuing the focus on recruitment and retention. This is the first time this project has been accomplished at this level, and Mr. Waschbusch’s relationships across the region were critical in the completion of this project.

Moreover, Mr. Waschbusch worked to improve overall communications, with internal and external town hall meetings to provide increased engagement with county leadership. These meetings  will continue in 2023. He also directed staff to organized an employee appreciation event in 2023 to recognize the employees for their service to the community.  

When it comes to operational efficiency, Mr. Waschbusch initiated perhaps one of the biggest changes yet—a digital, fully-integrated payroll and human resources management system. This system reduced the reliance on paper forms while streamlining payroll and HR processes. Additionally, he worked with the planning and development department to transition to an online permitting and payment system for the convenience of the public. Another key public facing improvement is the addition of the “report a concern” system on the front page of the website. Residents can use this feature to report an issue with a county road and Mr. Waschbusch has worked with staff to assure prompt responses. This feature has been growing in popularity and helps the county staff keep an eye on the nearly 1,400 miles of maintained county roads.

In addition to his commitment to the employees, Mr. Waschbusch has worked to expand private contracting opportunities across departments including at the event center, public health, road and bridge, facilities and the airport. These contracts have improved services, saved taxpayer dollars and created additional opportunities for private business. 

Mr. Waschbusch’s leadership is setting the county up for success in the future.  There are currently six major capital projects in progress from design/site plan to construction. These projects range in expanse from a few hundred thousand to over $40 million dollars for an airport expansion and renovation. These projects are moving forward steadily through his initiative and long-term planning. Mr. Waschbusch and the financial team continue to model for the future and make sure that the county is saving and preparing for these projects and can afford them with minimal debt service

Mr. Waschbusch has worked at the county since 2005. He provides oversight and leadership to 15 directors without the assistance of a deputy county manager. The board appointed him Montrose County Manager in July of 2021 following a tenure as Deputy County Manager. In addition to regular  county work, Mr. Waschbusch currently serves on the Region 10 Board of Directors and Montrose Economic Development Corporation Board, and was previously the Chairman of the Board of Directors for NuVista Federal Credit Union. 

 

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Montrose County News

2023 JOLT Conference

Northwest Colorado Energy Summit

Posted on: June 6, 2023
Photo of muddle 25 mesa

25 Mesa Road is Open

Posted on: May 26, 2023
Road closure map of Carnation Road

Carnation Road Closure

Posted on: May 15, 2023
050823 Divide 90

25 Mesa and Divide Road

Posted on: May 8, 2023
Map of 6075 Road Closure

6075 Road Closure

Posted on: April 19, 2023
041923 Clerk Closed for Moving

Clerk and Recorder Closed for Moving

Posted on: April 19, 2023
Spring 2023 Free Landfill Day

Free Landfill Day

Posted on: April 18, 2023
041423 Spring Canyon Traila

Road Closure: Spring Canyon Road

Posted on: April 14, 2023
2023 Child Abuse Prevention Month

Child Abuse Prevention Month

Posted on: April 5, 2023
Map showing road closure of a portion of Gunnison Road for culvert projects.

Upcoming Gunnison Road Closure

Posted on: March 23, 2023
Public Works County Map Open House

Open House for 2022 Road Map

Posted on: March 22, 2023
Photo of Sheep Being Moved in Montrose County

Happy National Ag Day

Posted on: March 21, 2023
Map of Closure of South River Road

Upcoming South River Road Closure

Posted on: February 16, 2023
Weather closure 2 (1)

Weather Closure Update

Posted on: February 15, 2023
IS CLOSED (1)

Weather Closure

Posted on: February 14, 2023
2023 MLK Graphic

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Posted on: January 13, 2023
Happy New Year 2023

Happy New Year

Posted on: December 30, 2022
2022 County Christmas

Merry Christmas from Montrose County

Posted on: December 22, 2022
NFP team Santa 2022

Santa Visits NFP Program Christmas Party

Posted on: December 22, 2022
Montrose County News Release

LEAP Applications Open Now!

Posted on: December 8, 2022
Photo of West Slope Water Summit 2022

2022 West Slope Water Summit Recording

Posted on: November 15, 2022
Oak Grove Road

Oak Grove Road Opens

Posted on: November 2, 2022
Road and Bridge Thumbnail

Safe Roads Equal Safe Communities

Posted on: May 25, 2022
MTJ Airport Construction Video

MTJ Airport Construction Information

Posted on: February 24, 2022
Montrose County Commissioners Video

BOCC: The Future of Montrose County

Posted on: February 22, 2022
010721 Healthcare Job Fair

Healthcare Job Fair January 7th, 2022

Posted on: December 21, 2021
Montrose County Human Services is now accepting Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) applicat

LEAP Applications Open Now!

Posted on: November 16, 2021
112620SantaCourthouse_001 (002)c

Happy Holidays Montrose County!

Posted on: December 23, 2020
MC-IG-Make A Plan

Make a COVID-19 Plan

Posted on: November 19, 2020
Coroner News Release (1)

Motorcycle Death Identified

Posted on: April 6, 2020
Road Closed Montrose County

Landfill Road Closure Beginning March 2

Posted on: February 26, 2020
Montrose County News Release

Sunshine Road Closure Beginning Jan. 27

Posted on: January 22, 2020
Copy of County News Release (1)

5700 Road Closure

Posted on: December 12, 2019
Copy of County News Release (1)

Shavano Gateway Project: One Step Closer

Posted on: September 12, 2019
Copy of County News Release (1)

Montrose County Master Plan Open House

Posted on: September 9, 2019
ryan-stone-518829-unsplash

Take Precautions to Avoid Hantavirus

Posted on: June 21, 2019
Little Cimarron Avalanche

Avalanche Forces Road Closure

Posted on: June 14, 2019
MontroseCounty-Logo-Seal-transparent

Health and Human Services Reopens Friday

Posted on: January 29, 2019
1- Welcome_22x34

Highway 550 Access Plan (Draft)

Posted on: November 20, 2018
SO_COLOR

Missing Person: Stanley Gardner

Posted on: September 11, 2018
Montrose County, Colorado

West Nile Cases in Montrose County

Posted on: September 11, 2018
SO_COLOR

Montrose County Lifts Fire Restrictions

Posted on: August 30, 2018
SO_COLOR

Inmate Found Unresponsive

Posted on: August 23, 2018
smoke

Montrose County Air Quality Alert

Posted on: July 30, 2018
Montrose County, Colorado

Official Primary Election Results

Posted on: July 6, 2018
SO_COR_COLOR2

Motor Vehicle Fatality Identified

Posted on: July 5, 2018
35384503_2085331881709402_1365659983626108928_n

Upper Mailbox Fire Updates

Posted on: June 15, 2018
norwood

Upper Mailbox Fire Pre-Evacuation

Posted on: June 15, 2018
SO_COR_COLOR2

UPDATE: Information Release

Posted on: May 7, 2018
SO_COLOR

Hunting Death Under Investigation

Posted on: April 23, 2018
SO_COR_COLOR2

Information Release

Posted on: April 23, 2018
159342-MC_RoundUp_Spring18 page 1

Montrose County Roundup Spring 2018

Posted on: April 23, 2018
Free Day Spg 2018

Montrose County Spring Cleanup Day

Posted on: April 9, 2018
SO_COLOR

Inmate Found Unresponsive

Posted on: March 16, 2018
SO_COR_COLOR2

Information Release

Posted on: February 15, 2018
Montrose County, Colorado

March 6th, 2018 Precinct Caucus Day

Posted on: January 11, 2018
radon

Radon Action Month

Posted on: January 10, 2018
SO_COR_COLOR2

Skeletonized Remains Found

Posted on: December 14, 2017
SO_COR_COLOR2

Skeletal Remains Found

Posted on: December 4, 2017
Montrose County, Colorado

Montrose County Board Openings

Posted on: November 28, 2017
SO_COR_COLOR2

Homicide Investigaton

Posted on: November 8, 2017
SO_COR_COLOR2

Homicide Investigation

Posted on: November 1, 2017
Breastfeeding

National Breastfeeding Month

Posted on: August 22, 2017
EBT Outage 8.26.17_1-1english

EBT Outage Starting 8/26/17 10pm

Posted on: August 21, 2017
SO_COR_COLOR2

Death on Highway 550 South

Posted on: August 21, 2017