CDOT Names Western Colorado Area Top Roadeo Place Finishers

May 15, 2013 - Northwestern Colorado/CDOT Region 3 - GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO – George Chalberg of Eagle, CO, who works for Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) maintenance patrol 14 at Wolcott, claimed three top-five finishes during a snow and ice equipment roadeo for Maintenance Section 2/western Colorado area CDOT employees held May 8 at the Mesa County Fairgrounds.

The roadeo, designed to help CDOT maintenance professionals hone all aspects of their winter maintenance knowledge and equipment operation skills, consisted of a written examination covering state and federal rules and regulations; a pre-trip vehicle inspection test; and equipment operation skills tests on demanding obstacle courses.  The top five place finishers in each category were:

Front-End Loader Category

Name

Town of Residence

Patrol Affiliation

1.  Alan Krambeer

Parachute

Patrol 9 at Parachute

2.  Lon Goemmer

Parachute

Patrol 9 at Parachute

3.  Greg Meeker

Montrose

Equipment Mechanic III

4.  George Chalberg

Eagle

Patrol 14 at Wolcott

5.  Kirk Mardesen

New Castle

Hanging Lake Tunnels

 

Mid-Range/Single Drive Axle Snowplow Truck Category

Name

Town of Residence

Patrol Affiliation

1.  Mike Bosshardt

Rifle

Patrol 10 at Rifle

2.  Kirk Mardesen

New Castle

Hanging Lake Tunnels

3.  George Chalberg

Eagle

Patrol 14 at Wolcott

4.  Pepe Pacheco

Montrose

Patrol 28 at Montrose

5.  David Sorenson

Glenwood Springs

Patrol 12 at Glenwood Springs

 

Tandem Drive Axle Snowplow Truck Category

Name

Town of Residence

Patrol Affiliation

1.  Ken Ooley

Grand Junction

Region 3 Traffic & Safety Section

2.  Jim Livermore

Grand Junction

Patrol 01 at Grand Junction

3.  Collin Kenney

Parachute

Patrol 08 at Debeque

4.  Daniel D. Montoya

Carbondale

Equipment Operator IV

5.  George Chalberg

Eagle

Patrol 14 at Wolcott

 

“CDOT began using the equipment roadeo concept in the 1980s to help our employees improve our knowledge base and equipment operation skills,” explained Mike Goolsby, CDOT Section 2 Maintenance Superintendent.  “It’s a demanding event for our employees because of the advance study required and the difficult nature of the equipment operations tests, but we are firm believers that this process helps our employees be safer and more efficient.”

The knowledge and skills required for the equipment roadeo help CDOT maintenance workers better and more safely serve the traveling public each year along the 9,000 miles of Colorado state and federal highways they maintain.