(STOCKTON, CA) The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors is pleased to announce the appointment of Fritz Buchman to lead the County's Department of Public Works. The Department serves the unincorporated County's essential needs in the areas of roads, bridges, utilities, solid waste and channel maintenance for its residents, as well as for those who work and do business with the County.

“Fritz joined the Public Works Department in 2011 as the Deputy Director of Development Services and was a natural fit to be elevated to this leadership role,” said San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors Chair Chuck Winn. “With more than 30 years of public works experience ranging from flood management, water resources, and transportation, to community infrastructure planning and delivery, we are very confident that he will serve admirably to improve our community while building and maintaining positive relationships with local stakeholders and residents.”

“I am incredibly humbled and honored to be appointed as San Joaquin County's Public Works Director,” offered Buchman. “Our department will have its hands full in managing many vital needs and challenges, including improving water supply reliability, increasing flood protection, and enhancing traffic safety and mobility for our community. But with a superb team to back me up and a deserving public who wants nothing more than to have safe roads, quality drinking water, reliable utility services and livable communities, I will be up to the challenge. I will strive to ensure that our department provides high quality infrastructure and services that meet the needs of the community and support the County's economic development goals.”

As the new chief, Fritz will oversee an annual operating budget of more than $210 million annually, along with over 430 staff in 17 operating divisions who are responsible for planning, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining the County's public infrastructure. Buchman will also serve as the County's Road Commissioner and Flood Control Engineer.

Prior to joining the County in 2011, Buchman worked as contract staff for the City of Elk Grove Department of Public Works for eight years as Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer, Development Engineering Manager, and Capital Projects Manager, and was with the City of Sacramento Department of Public Works for 12 years.

Buchman graduated with high honors in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Davis and is a Registered Civil Engineer and Registered Traffic Engineer with the State of California. He is also a Certified Floodplain Manager with the Association of State Floodplain Managers.

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