C. Falls moves toward public works director job

A new management structure is being proposed for Columbia Falls city government that would do away with two long-standing superintendent positions in favor of a single director of public works.

City Manager Bill Shaw won City Council approval for the job description earlier this month, but will come back April 3 for permission to begin a formal applicant search.

The position calls for a strong background in and understanding of civil engineering.

Drawing from his own engineering-related work in previous city management positions, primarily Lewistown, and his contacts with other city managers, Shaw told the council that it is rare to find a city manager candidate with engineering strengths.

The public works director would be called on to provide that expertise. The new position also would carry responsibility for employee relations, customer relations and budgeting for water, sewer, streets and facilities.

Both administrative and field work would be required.

Administratively, that means planning, organizing and directing the department's work as well as managing independent contracts.

In the field, it means laying out job objectives and work standards, and inspecting the work.

The director will focus on equipment, labor, planning, work, infrastructure and maintaining city buildings.

Education requirements, the description says, "typically (require) a bachelor degree in civil or construction engineering and field experience in project supervision; or a degree in management and specific field experience in construction of public work projects."

Shaw said he tentatively set a pay range between $45,000 and $50,000, but is working on a preliminary city budget to come up with the funding.

"I'm still seeing if I can find some way to retain staff with reduced responsibilities," Shaw said this week, "but the superintendent titles will go away when the public works director comes on."

Gary Root, superintendent for the water and sewer departments, and John Lawler, superintendent of streets and facilities, said they have been told their formal positions are likely to be dissolved in another four or five months.

Root said he has been told he could stay on board through the end of a planned $3.4 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade in 2008, but his lead duties would end after its completion.

Root was hired as a utility worker for the city in August 1982, became a treatment plant operator in 1984, chief treatment plant operator in 1992, then took on superintendent responsibilities for sewer and water in 1996.

Lawler was hired in August 2004 as the city's streets and facilities maintenance supervisor.

Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com