RITZVILLE – The city's Public Works Department welcomes new crew member Nick Steffen. Steffen began work Monday, Sept. 14.

Steffen said his duties with the city include taking care of the park, cemetery and other city lots; mowing the lawn and doing basic maintenance.

"We've been down two people this summer, so it's been a challenge," said Public Works Director Dave Breazeale. "We usually hire two guys for the summer, and didn't do that because of COVID-19. Then, we lost an employee at the beginning of the summer when he quit, so it kind of put us back all summer."

Steffen's position is full-time, year-round.

He said he worked for Benedict Quality Painting the past three years.

Steffen, who grew up in Port Angeles, said his parents Brent and Darcy Steffen lived in Ritzville in the 1990's. He moved to Ritzville with them when they returned seven years ago.