Dumanch takes new role in public works

Jackson Dumanch, the City’s new public works project coordinator, is a young man with a firm handshake, who looks you in the eye when you meet him.

Before taking his new job, he worked as a utility technician for the City of Sisters Public Works Department for 2.5 years, where he was a certified playground safety inspector in addition to his many other duties.

“The Public Works crew is amazing. I always felt welcome, and they helped me learn and gain so much experience,” Dumanch said of his time as a technician.

When former Project Coordinator Troy Rayburn announced he was moving, the decision was made to find his replacement from within the City crew. Dumanch was delighted to accept his new position and the opportunity to keep learning, while continuing to interact with the Public Works crew. He likes the variety offered by his new duties, with every day being different.

One of his main responsibilities is to serve as the point person at City Hall for all public events, from the initial contact and application with the City through removal and cleanup. He will also coordinate the many public works projects that are necessary to keep the city’s infrastructure up and running.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dumanch earned his bachelors degree in geoscience in 2015 from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. Being an outdoors person, he enjoyed the field trips involved in many of his classes. While in school, he met his future wife, also a Wisconsin native, at work. They were married in 2016.

The Dumanches came to Oregon after Jackson accepted a position as a park ranger with Oregon State Parks at Prineville Reservoir State Park. They packed their belongings in a U-Haul and set out on a five-day drive west. Jackson worked two summer seasons in Prineville and during the winter he provided customer service for Bend Parks and Recreation at the Pavilion and Juniper Swim. The arrival of COVID cut the usual seasons short, so Jackson took the position on the Sisters Public Works crew.

They lived both in Prineville and Redmond before moving to Sisters, which they had driven through early on, wishing they could live here. Jackson’s wife also works in local government in Central Oregon.

“I feel fortunate to be working with everyone here,” Jackson said of the City Hall staff. “I’m looking forward to serving my community.”