For immediate release
PUEBLO WEST, Colo. — Pueblo West Metropolitan District Chief Administrator Brian Caserta, who has been serving dual roles as the Pueblo West district manager and fire chief since 2021, has chosen to step back from his duties managing the day-to-day operations of the Metro District.
On Monday, Caserta notified the Pueblo West Metro Board of Directors of his decision to step away from his district manager duties. He will continue to perform district manager duties until a district manager is hired, but will remain in the fire chief role, a position he has held since 2001. A local and national recruitment process to hire a new district manager will begin soon.
“Serving as the district manager overseeing over 140 employees while being the top fire official has unintentionally resulted in both not being given the attention they deserve,” Caserta said. “Following several high intensity projects that have involved my full attention, I believe I am doing the District as a whole a disservice and it deserves a single district manager to continue these projects at 100% capacity. At the same time, the fire department, its capital projects, administrative direction and staff deserve the full attention of a fire chief.”
Caserta was named interim district manager in May 2021 following the resignation of the previous district manager, Nina Vetter. In January 2022, Caserta was appointed the District’s chief administrator to perform the duties of district manager and fire chief.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Brian for serving the District in this dual role,” said Kim Swearingen, Pueblo West Metro Board of Directors president. “He has served during perhaps the most consequential time in Pueblo West’s history, and he has made considerable personal sacrifice to serve the District and the community well during his tenure as chief administrator.”
A hiring committee has been established to search for a new district manager, a position that has had a high turnover rate in the past 15 years. In that time, the average district manager tenure has been approximately 36 months.
“Our District would benefit from a district manager who is capable of providing long term leadership,” said Doug Proal, Pueblo West Metro Board of Directors vice president. “We hope our next district manager is somebody who can develop a deep passion for our community.”
About the Pueblo West Metropolitan District:
The Pueblo West Metropolitan District serves approximately 33,000 citizens living in a 50-square-mile unincorporated portion of Pueblo County located approximately eight miles west of the City of Pueblo. Unlike municipalities, Pueblo West is a special district that is authorized to provide five services to residents – limited covenant enforcement, fire protection, parks and recreation, public works, and water and wastewater utilities.
The District is governed by a five-member Board of Directors who are elected by registered voters consisting of Pueblo West residents and property owners.
