In July, the Bayfield Board of Trustees appointed John Waters as the town’s new manager, filling a position that had been vacant after two unsuccessful hiring attempts. Waters, the central figure in this appointment, brings extensive expertise in local government management, which is expected to advance the community’s development efforts.
Experienced Leadership Supporting Bayfield’s Growth
With over 27 years of experience in budgeting and managing various local governments and businesses across the western United States, Waters possesses a broad skill set that spans public utilities, economic development, and environmental consulting. His professional background, detailed in a cover letter and resume obtained by The Durango Herald, highlights his comprehensive knowledge in municipal operations.
John Waters emphasized his multifaceted background, stating,
“My past work with local governments, public utilities, private business, economic development agencies, and environmental consulting has given me a well-rounded understanding of local government management and operations in the west,”
illustrating the depth of his qualifications.
Key Initiatives Driving Community Improvement
Bayfield Mayor Tom Au praised Waters’s early contributions since his April start, noting progress on significant projects including the town’s stormwater management and the alignment improvements for U.S. Highway 160–East Bayfield Parkway and East Oak Drive. The mayor remarked that these initiatives had previously stalled but are now advancing under Waters’s leadership.
Mayor Au stated,
“The East Side intersection – that’s moving forward now when it was stagnant,”
and further added,
“We’ll be working on stormwater and that’s been something that’s needed to get done for 20 years. It’s going to take a few years just to build it and put it in, but we’re working on plans for that right now. … Waters has been pretty helpful in that process.”
Extensive Career Highlights Informing Waters’s Approach
Waters’s impressive career includes 16 years as the executive director of the Carlsbad Department of Development, the primary economic development agency for Eddy County, where he oversaw broad initiatives to support local growth. Prior to that role, he served as city manager and city administrator in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, and spent six years fulfilling duties as a park ranger with the National Park Service.
His tenure also featured a position as a federal facility representative for the U.S. Department of Energy, overseeing contractors at a nuclear defense site until workforce reductions impacted his role in early 2025, as noted in his application materials. Additionally, Waters ran Waters Environmental and Business Solutions from 1999 to 2008, providing consulting services to local governments and nonprofit organizations.
Proven Skills in Budget, Water Rights, and Union Negotiations
During the April 2025 Bayfield hiring process, Waters highlighted his extensive experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets in various roles, including leading Carlsbad’s public utilities department and executive directing the Economic Development Department. His knowledge of water rights and stormwater management stems from academic training and practical responsibilities as an environmental services manager in Carlsbad.
Waters also has a record of productive labor relations, stating,
“I had a positive working relationship with our local unions and successfully participated in collective bargaining negotiations and meetings with the two Unions that represented my department’s classified employees.”
Leadership Challenges and Successful Workforce Development
One specific leadership challenge Waters recounted was establishing a certification program for entry-level water and wastewater employees. Despite initial doubts from union members, management, and city council, the program succeeded in certifying participants, fostering employee development and upward mobility.
Waters remarked,
“A final testament to the program’s success in awakening a need to become better educated and improve themselves, one of the employees that started out as a meter reader in the water department that I supervised, eventually was promoted to City Administrator before he retired.”
Positive Feedback from Bayfield’s Town Board
Waters’s initial performance review received strong approval from Bayfield’s town board. Mayor Au shared,
“Everybody on the board at that time said he was doing a fine job, and they were really appreciative of him and the work that he was doing,”
reflecting the early confidence in Waters’s management abilities.
Commitment to Bayfield’s Community Vision
In his cover letter, Waters expressed a personal commitment to contributing meaningfully to Bayfield’s future, emphasizing loyalty and dedication to each community role he has held. He wrote,
“As supported by my experience, when a community takes a chance on me, I prove to be a loyal and committed employee and valuable community leader for years to come,”
and added,
“It is my goal to help you, as elected officials, fulfill your community’s priorities and vision for the future.”
Looking Ahead: Sustaining Bayfield’s Development Momentum
John Waters’s extensive background and early accomplishments as town manager set the stage for advancing Bayfield’s community projects and long-standing infrastructure needs. His leadership is expected to continue steering essential improvements, particularly in stormwater management and transportation enhancements, which are vital to Bayfield’s growth and resilience. As the town moves forward under his guidance, sustained progress and collaboration with local stakeholders will likely define the next phase of development.
