Department of Public Works

Public Works Director - Ben Ortega

Ben Ortega oversees five city divisions: the Water Department, the Wastewater Department, the Streets Department, General Services, and Utility Billing; these divisions include a total of forty-five employees. Ben also serves on the Board of the North Central Solid Waste Authority, and the Greater Española Valley Community Development Commission. A former city planner and real estate developer, Ben has over twenty-five years experience in the public and private sectors where he served as an urban planner, project manager and vice-president of development on major urban infill and suburban development projects in California, Hawaii, and Arizona. Ben earned a Master of Business Administration at the University of Redlands and a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Planning at California Polytechnic State University, School of Environmental Design. Ben and his family are from northern New Mexico, and Ben enjoys spending his leisure time working at the family ranch in the Pendaries Valley, outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Field Superintendent

The Field Superintendent, under the supervision of the Public Works Director, is responsible for the administration and coordination of supervision, planning, scheduling and professional work in development and implementation of activities within the Public Works Operations Office, Fleet Maintenance, General Services and Streets Divisions. Lower level Supervisors and Foremen oversee the daily operations of their related division.

Leroy Archuleta
505-747-6048
Email

Operations Office

The Public Works Operations Office consists of 2 employees; 1 Receptionist/Clerk and 1 Administrative Aide.

These 2 employees lend clerical/secretarial support and assist/manage administrative functions for all Public Works Departmental personnel. This includes acting as liaisons for administrative departments and public works field divisions to apprise of and coordinate daily operations. They work closely with other departments and the City Manager as well as the general public to handle concerns/complaints and furnish information requested or direct to the proper department.