(KNSI) – Stearns County has a new leader for its Public Works Department.
Chris Byrd will take over as County Engineer starting January 7th. He brings more than two decades of public works experience to the job, where he’ll oversee highway engineering, construction, maintenance, and infrastructure planning across the county.
The Sartell resident comes from Benton County, where he spent over ten years as the public works director and county engineer. During that time, he managed multimillion-dollar budgets and secured outside funding for major construction projects. Before his time in county government, Byrd worked with the Kansas Department of Transportation and as a senior project manager in the private sector.
He holds a civil engineering degree from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and is a licensed professional engineer in both Minnesota and Kansas.
“Chris brings deep experience, proven leadership, and a clear passion for public service,” said County Administrator Michael Williams. “We are confident he will be an excellent fit for Stearns County and will help move our transportation and infrastructure priorities forward.”
Byrd replaces Jodi Teich, who took a job in August as Otter Tail County’s engineer.
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