Keeping Flathead County on the Right Sign: Celebrating Justin Watkins’ 15-Year Milestone
If you have ever driven down a Flathead County road, you have seen Justin Watkins’ work. In fact, you have probably relied on it to get home safely.
From the regulatory speed limits and stop signs to the temporary orange construction markers and fresh street names, Justin is the quiet force behind them all. Officially, he is a one-man show running the sign division for the Flathead County Road & Bridge Department. Unofficially, he’s the local craftsman ensuring our growing valley stays organized, readable, and safe. This year, we are incredibly proud to celebrate his 15-year milestone with the county.
Justin’s journey to the sign shop wasn’t a straight line, but it reflects the exact kind of versatility that makes a county employee invaluable. After moving to the area from Libby 26 years ago, he spent years working locally in flooring and construction. When he joined Flathead County, he started out managing the ball fields for Parks and Recreation, transitioned into facilities maintenance, and eventually moved to Road & Bridge to drive trucks.
Today, he has carved out a unique niche where manual labor meets digital artistry. Justin utilizes intricate, highly challenging software to design the layouts before meticulously transferring the graphics onto the physical signs.
"The software program is very challenging and intricate, and I love that challenge," Justin says. "Part of my favorite thing about the position is being able to work at my own pace, and it’s truly something different every single day. It keeps me creative."
Outside of work, Justin is quick to note how fast our beautiful valley is growing, but he still finds peace in the classic Montana lifestyle—hunting, fishing, and above all, golfing. While he rates Eureka’s Indian Springs as his all-time favorite course, you can regularly find him tackling the narrow, heavily wooded, and technical fairways of Meadow Lake in Columbia Falls, which he considers the hardest course in the state.
When asked about his future goals, Justin keeps it characteristically grounded: "No big plans—just keep doing what I'm doing." Though, he admits that his ultimate retirement dream involves working on a golf course just so he can play a round whenever he wants.
For now, Flathead County is lucky to keep him right where he is. The next time you find your way down a county road, take a second to appreciate the crisp, clear sign guiding your path. There is a lot of precision and 15 years of county dedication baked into it.
Thank you, Justin, for your hard work and for keeping Flathead County moving in the right direction!