Wendy Koch serving final term as Empire mayor

As Mayor Wendy Koch completes her final term as mayor, The Town of Empire prepares to fill the shoes of a rare public servant. Wendy has lived in Empire for 55 years, raising children and working at the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for over three decades. Wendy retired from CDOT in 2003 after working her way up to crew supervisor at the Eisenhower Tunnel. Wendy’s other skills include learning to be a firefighter, owning a painting/texturing business and cleaning service, as well as banking. She says she became involved in town government after befriending officials over breakfast at the old Jenny’s Café and being concerned about the water quality in town.

Over her 15 years as mayor, Wendy is proud to say that “We have made Empire a power to be reckoned with.” Being a pioneer in marijuana licensing and supporting the Clear Creek Fire Authority as a board member and advocate are among the many stories Wendy freely shares. In addition, Wendy remembers the town hall fire in 2000, assisting with town park and reclamation projects, and advocating for Empire with water rights, median income calculations, and super fund designation battles that have resulted in many town improvements during her tenure.

Wendy has used her CDOT connections to obtain free jersey barriers and road millings for the town, and along with Town Administrator Jeannette Piel, capitalized on the town’s water emergency in 2019 to secure over $4 million in water infrastructure improvement projects. Wendy lost her husband, Tom, early in 2025 after long battles with illness and plans to travel in her motor home, take a cruise, and do some home remodeling with her free time after her term ends in April of 2026. Wendy’s institutional memory will be missed, but her impact on the town carries on.