News

Johnson County selects new Public Works director

JOHNSON COUNTY, KANSAS (June 28, 2013) — Brian Pietig, an employee at the Johnson County Department of Public Works and Infrastructure for the past 13 years, has been named the new director of the department.
His appointment was announced by Deputy County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson, who oversees the department. Pietig has served as interim Public Works director since the retirement of former director Mac Andrew last October.
“Brian is passionate about the mission and responsibilities of our Public Works Department and will be a valuable member of the county’s management team,” she said. “With his experience and as interim director, he has done an outstanding job.”

A resident of Overland Park, Pietig joined the department in 2000 and has served as transportation engineer and design engineer. He also was Rural Services manager where he directed the Rural Services Division, comprising of the Road Maintenance and Planning Groups, and coordinated with the Fleet Division.

Before coming to Johnson County, Pietig worked at Black & Veatch serving as the project controls/scheduler, responsible for execution of engineer/procurement/construction contracts leading to the development of power generating facilities. Prior to that, he was a design engineer at the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, with 75 employees, is responsible for improvements and maintenance of more than 460 miles of gravel and paved roadways and 118 bridges in the rural/unincorporated areas of Johnson County. It also oversees the annual County Assistance Road System (CARS) and Stormwater Management programs.
The history of the department began in 1931 when the county purchased land for the east quarry and land for a second quarry in 1952. The county acquired land for the present Public Works complex in 1965 at 1800 West 56 Highway in west Olathe. Six years later, townships turned over road responsibilities to the county, leading to formation of the Public Works Department in 1984.

Pietig becomes the fifth director of the department since its creation.

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About Johnson County
Nestled in the southwestern quadrant of the Kansas City Metropolitan Region, Johnson County, Kansas is a community of choice with a current population of more than 544,000, making it the most populated of the 105 counties in Kansas, but traditionally having the lowest mill levy in the state. For more information visit the county’s website at www.jocogov.org.