About Ty Barger

His professional experience spans county road and bridge operations, state transportation, municipal public works, and military leadership. Across those environments, his work has consistently involved large workforces, substantial operating responsibilities, equipment and infrastructure, emergency operations, strategic planning, and organizational improvement.

Ty earned a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management from the University of Nebraska, with academic work encompassing forestry, fisheries and wildlife as well as construction management.

His approach to public works leadership emphasizes clear organizational responsibility, strong frontline supervision, long-range planning, disciplined resource management, and measurable improvements in service delivery.

Experience behind the field notes

Ty has served as Ouray County’s Road & Bridge Superintendent since April 2021. His work has included one-and-six year road planning, right-of-way permitting policy, budgeting, fleet strategy and supervisor development for a county road system of more than 300 miles.

Earlier, he managed statewide support functions at the Nebraska Department of Transportation and a 120-person municipal public works workforce in Lincoln. His writing and case studies draw on those roles, with links to original reports and clear attribution where results are based on his own assessment.

Professional focus

• Public works leadership
• Road and bridge operations
• Transportation infrastructure
• Winter maintenance
• Fleet and facilities management
• Capital planning and budgeting
• Emergency operations
• Organizational development
• Workforce leadership