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New road superintendent takes the wheel at Public Works

(Photo: Ed Grant, left, replaces Brad Harn as the road maintenance superintendent for Chelan County Public Works. Harn, who is retiring at the end of June, is off to fish, camp and travel.)

Brad Harn retires after 36 years of service to county, its citizens

After 13 years, there’s about to be a change in leadership at Chelan County Public Works’ road maintenance department.

In 2011, Brad Harn was appointed to road maintenance superintendent, the supervising position that oversees the five road districts at Public Works and its 39 full-time employees. Harn retires at the end of June with 36 years of service to the county and its citizens.

Replacing Harn is Ed Grant, foreman of the Cashmere District and a Public Works employee for nearly 27 years.

Both men are Chelan County natives, with Harn raised in Chelan and Grant growing up in Cashmere. Both started young at Public Works. Harn was 27 when he was hired in 1989 as a truck driver for the Chelan District. Grant was only 20 years old when he was hired as a flagger and snowplow driver in Cashmere.

And they’ve both worked their way up through the ranks at Chelan County, becoming essential leaders at the department and building upon the team atmosphere at the small-but-tight-knit crew.

“This is going to be a smooth transition as Brad retires and Ed steps into that role,” said Eric Pierson, county engineer and director of Chelan County Public Works. “Both men have a long record of service to this county and our department.”

It’s a challenge to keep the county’s 649 miles of roadway in good, safe condition for public, Harn said. At times, it can be a thankless job, but the road crews do a great job, he added.

“As the maintenance supervisor, you get to see every corner of the county,” Harn said. “You need to know the road system throughout the county so you can answer questions when a citizen calls with a concern.”

As he prepares to retire, Harn will miss the people he’s worked with through the years, he said recently. He will miss that camaraderie and collaboration with the office staff and road crew as well as the other professionals in the industry that work with the department, he said.

“I’ll miss the sense of accomplishing something every day and the challenges of problem-solving,” Harn said. “I’m retiring with a real feeling of satisfaction that I’ve contributed to the safety and functionality of our community roads. I’ve been fortunate to work for the county; it became my passion.”

That passion showed in Harn’s work, Pierson said.

“Brad’s dedication and commitment to Chelan County Public Works have been phenomenal,” Pierson said. “He has worked hard and was successful in keeping the maintenance program at a high level of service and at a low cost to the taxpayer, all the while always doing the right thing.”

For Harn, he will soon be re-learning to golf and taking time to fish, camp and work in his yard. “I like road trips as well,” he said. “Just getting in the truck and going.”

As for Grant, throughout his time as operator and later an assistant foreman, he volunteered for many projects; he was always up to learn new skills. Most recently, he’s played a key role in the county’s road preservation program. Grant steps into the road maintenance superintendent position with much enthusiasm.

“After 10 years as a foreman, it’s exciting to change it up a little bit and learn more about the other side of the job, like budgets, ordering materials and interacting with other agencies,” he said. “At the same time, I’ll be able to continue to support the crews and work with the public.”

While Harn’s shoes will be hard to fill, Pierson believes Grant will adjust to the position well. 

“Ed’s communication style, his ability to think through impacts and his track record of looking and implementing changes to address problems will ease the transition,” Pierson said. “These and his calm, friendly demeanor will help us in the future with the ever-changing rules, regulations and expectations we deal with, all on a limited budget.”

Replacing Grant as foreman of the Cashmere District is Craig Wisemore, who served as assistant foreman there for 5 years. Grant encourages people interested in transportation to apply for job openings in the county’s road districts.

“There’s a satisfaction in helping the public and you get to work all over Chelan County,” Grant said. “It’s very competitive out there with the private sector, and it’s somewhat difficult to get a CDL. But here at Chelan County we offer great job security, great employees, a four-tens work schedule in the summer and paid vacation and sick leave. It’s a family-oriented place to work.”

Reflecting on his former boss, Grant said Harn has left his mark on the crew.

“I think we all learned a little from Brad, and that’s the goal, to pass along something to remember or to put in the tool bag that may help you throughout your own journey,” Grant said. “At Chelan County, we all learn from each other. It’s a part of the job that makes it fun and interesting.”

“As he heads to retirement, hopefully, Brad will be able to break the habits of constantly watching the weather forecasts and monitoring roadways for repairs and improvements,” Pierson added. “He may even get to sleep in once in a while.”

Last Updated: 06/18/2025 08:31 AM