By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Bud Druse, the county noxious weed, household hazardous waste, transfer station, and recycling director, will retire Nov. 20 after a total of 32½ years with the county.

Druse has worked for the county twice. He spent 22½ years in the road and bridge department, from 1973 to 1995. He returned to work for the county in 2010, starting in the road and bridge department before being promoted to director of the transfer station in 2015.

His duties in the road and bridge department included hand-patching roads, driving a truck, operating a motor grader, and serving as interim road and bridge director for a week.

He said he has tried to help the public during his time as a county employee.

“I try to help out everybody as much as I can,” he said.

Asked what he’s going to do after retirement, Druse said, “Anything I want to do.”

Druse told county commissioners Monday the Kansas Department of Health and Environment inspected the transfer station last week and found one violation. A sign at the entrance listing hours of operation was removed and not yet replaced. Druse said a new sign would be installed within days.

The transfer station still takes one load of recyclables to Fort Riley’s recycling center each week. The county has not yet been paid anything for the materials, he said.