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O Consent Agenda
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Jefferson County
Board of Commissioners
Agenda Request
To: Board of Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
From: Monte Reinders, P.E.
Public Works Director County Engineer
Agenda Date: April 21, 2014
Subject: WSACE Project Manger of the Year Nomination
Statement of Issue: A letter nominating Public Works project manager Mark Thurston for
the 2014 Project Manager of the Year award from the Washington State Association of County
Engineers ( WSACE).
Analysis /Strategic Goals /Pro's ft Con's: Each year, WSACE asks counties to submit
nominations to recognize a project manager for outstanding service. Public Works
recommends that Mark Thurston be nominated by the Board for this award in recognition of
his 16 years of service completing numerous projects and emergency repairs for the County.
He has navigated the complexities of federally funded projects successfully on multiple
occasions, allowing the County to continue to obtain and use federal funds for the
transportation system. Most recently, he completed the Alder Creek culvert replacement
project on the Upper Hoh Road - the third such project in the last three years. The Alder
Creek project has also been nominated by the Washington State Department of
Transportation Olympic Region for this year's Best County Project.
Fiscal Impact /Cost Benefit Analysis: None
Recommendation: Sign the attached letter and return to Public Works for further
processing.
Department Contact: Monte Reinders, Public Works Director /County Engineer 385 -9242
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Phi p Morley Co n Date
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April 21, 2014
1820 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Phil Johnson, District 1 David W. Sullivan, District 2 John Austin, District 3
Jay Weber, Executive Director
County Road Administration Board
2404 Chandler CT SW
Suite 240
Olympia WA 98504 -0913
Subject: WSACE 2014 Project Manager of the Year Award Nomination
Dear Sir:
It is our pleasure to nominate Mark Thurston, PE, Engineer 3 for the 2014 Washington State
Association of County Engineers Project Manager of the Year Award. Mark has worked for
Jefferson County Public Works since 1998 and has provided consistent, dependable, and
excellent service as a manager for numerous projects to preserve and improve our transportation
network.
Mark consistently manages 5 or more projects at a time in addition to being responsible for the
County's federally mandated bridge inspection program. Many of the projects Mark works on
have complex permitting issues associated with them due to proximity to rivers and sensitive
environments and the use of federal funds. As a small Department, Public Works does not have
the luxury of staffing with specialists so project managers like Mark are expected to take projects
from the funding stage, through permitting and design, bidding, construction inspection and
administration, and closeout. Mark performs all of these duties flawlessly. Mark achieves clean
project reviews from WSDOT Highways and Local Programs on federally funded projects, and
WSDOT has informed us more than once that his project work "sets the standard ". This allows
us to keep our Certification Acceptance (CA) to continue to use federal funds.
Over the course of Mark's career, he has been responsible for the majority of the projects and
emergency road repairs in western Jefferson County on the Pacific Coast, which is separated
from our offices by travel of 3 to 4 hours. The roads in this part of the County are regularly
impacted by washouts from major rivers and landslides, and Mark has spent weeks and even
months at a time on site managing contractors to restore these facilities. His accurate estimates
and organized record keeping have allowed the County to obtain millions of dollars of Federal
Highways ER funds for many of these repairs. In order to satisfy permitting requirements
resulting from major emergency riverbank armoring for the Upper Hoh Road, Mark was able to
negotiate a uniquely successful arrangement whereby Federal Highways funded the replacement
of two high - priority fish passage barriers as off -site mitigation. He completed the second of
these bridge projects at Alder Creek in late 2013.
Phone (360) 385 -9100 Fax (360) 385 -9382 jeffbocc @co.jefferson.wa.us
WSACE 2014 Project Manager of the Year Award Nomination — Mark Thurston Page: 2
We are extremely pleased with the work Mark accomplished on the Alder Creek culvert
replacement in 2013. A deteriorating metal culvert that completely blocked access to upstream
fish habitat, this project had been planned since the late 1990's and through the arrangement
mentioned above, funding was finally obtained. This was the third culvert replacement project in
three years on the Upper Hoh Road managed by Mark, and this one shared the same
complexities, not the least of which was navigating the federal permitting process due to
constraints imposed by sensitive environmental habitat. The project involved constructing a
signalized traffic bypass with a temporary bridge and installing a 25 -foot span box culvert
(considered a bridge by Federal Highways). A stream bypass was required, and fish trapping
and exclusion was performed under an agreement with the Hoh Indian Tribe that Mark arranged.
Traffic delays were minimal and the project was completed on time and under budget despite
unusually heavy rain in September. The County has received a number of compliments on the
Alder Creek project from stakeholders. Once again, a WSDOT review of Mark's project files
resulted in a clean report assuring our continued ability to use federal funds. We were recently
informed that WSDOT Highways and Local Programs Olympic Region has nominated this
project as their selection for this year's statewide competition for Best County Project.
The project management staff at Jefferson County is made up of only a few people, and all of
them are dedicated, hard working professionals that get the job done. We are fortunate to have
such a talented group, and any one of them could be a candidate for this award; however, at this
time we would like to recognize the significant accomplishments of Mark Thurston for the
numerous contributions he has made to our County. We have attached some photos of just a few
of Mark's projects to provide an idea of the variety of work he has been involved in that makes
him such an asset to this County. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincer ,
Monte Reinders, PE
Jefferson County Public Works Director/ County Engineer
JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
John Austin, Chairman
David Sullivan, Member
Phil Johnson, Member
Enclosures
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WSACE
2014 Project /Program Manager of the Year Award
Nomination Form
Application Deadline: May 9, 2014
Nominee:
Title:
Mark Thurston, P.E.
Engineer 3
County:
Department:
Jefferson
Public Works - Engineering
Office Address:
Phone:
623 Sheridan Street
(360) 385 -9160
City:
State:
Zip /Postal Code:
Port Townsend
WA
98368
The following information will be used as selection criteria for the Awards Committee:
This award will be presented annually to recognize a county project manager or county program manager working
below the county engineer or agency head management level for outstanding service and meritorious achievement in
or for a county in managing a construction project or a pavement, safety, operations, bridge, or other public works
program.
Eligible nominees could include supervisors, foremen, or engineers who manage a project or program. Nominations
can be submitted by any WSACE voting member to the Awards Committee. Endorsements by County Board of
Commissioners, County Executive or Council are encouraged although not required.
The specific project or program must have been completed, if a project, or substantially underway if a program by the
end of the year for which the award was submitted (for 2014 if a project it must be completed in 2013 or if a program
substantially underway in 2013). A specific discussion on the actual project or program, its significance and
importance, and the individual's performance and contribution to complete the project or program on time and
within budget is requested as a part of the submission.
Nominated by:
Title:
Monte Reinders, P.E.
County Engineer/ Public Works Director
County:
Department
Jefferson
Public Works
Office Address:
Phone:
623 Sheridan Street
(360) 385 -9242
City:
State:
Zip /Postal Code:
Port Townsend
WA
98368
Submit completed form and supporting documents to:
Karen Pendleton, Executive Assistant
County Road Administration Board
karen @crab.wa.gov
Ph. 360.753.5989
ALDER CREEK TRIBUTARY CULVERT REPLACEMENT
Installation of a new box culvert along Alder Creek Tributary on Upper Hoh Road was completed in
October 2013, eliminating a fish passage barrier to one mile of upstream fish habitat. The old,
rusted, six -foot diameter culvert was replaced with a 25 -foot wide, concrete box culvert. The culvert
replacement was completed as environmental mitigation for previous emergency repairs on Upper
Hoh Road.
The old culvert under the
Upper Hoh Road was rusted
out and formed a barrier to
upstream fish habitat.
The culvert replacement project involved constructing a temporary stream
bypass system, ensuring protection of fish populations and constructing a
temporary one -lane bypass road to maintain traffic during construction.
Through an inter -local agreement the Hoh Tribe provided fish exclusion for
the project. The fish exclusion included capturing and removing fish prior to
dewatering the stream, installing screens above and below the project site,
and then monitoring the site throughout construction to ensure the screens
were functioning properly.
In- stream project work was completed in the summer when the Tributary
was at its lowest flow. Construction work included removing the old culvert,
installing a precast, three -sided concrete culvert, installing guardrail, and re-
constructing the streambed and the road .
Seton Construction, Inc. constructed
the project for $512,642. The project
was funded at 86.5% by the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA) Emer-
gency Repair Program and 13.5% by
the Rural Arterial Fund and the County
Road Fund.
Critical steps in the culvert replacement project: 1. Excavation of the stream
bed with road and stream bypasses in place and a portion of the Upper Hoh
Road removed. 2. Installation of the three - sided, box culvert. 3. Restoration of
the stream bed and preparation for the road re- build. 4. One mile of upstream
fish habitat restored.
With the culvert installed and road restored, the
Upper Hoh Road is ready for the 200,000-
300,000 Olympic National Park visitors that travel
to the Hoh Rain Forest via this road every year.
623 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 www.co.jefferson.wa.us
Alder Creek Culvert Replacement, Upper Hoh Road M.P. 2.15 (2013)
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April 11, 2014
APR 15 2014?';+r
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Memorandum
TO: Monte Reinders, Jefferson County, County Engineer
FROM: Brian Moorehead Assistant Local Programs Engineer
SUBJECT: 2014 WSACE Project Manager of the Year Nomination
I am pleased to learn of Jefferson County's nomination of Mark Thurston, P.E. for
the 2014 WSACE Project Manager of the Year award. I believe that Mark's
consistent top performance on the projects that I am involved in makes him an
excellent candidate for this award. As you are aware, WSDOT Local Programs is
responsible for ensuring that local agencies adhere to all federal requirements to
maintain their ability to continue to use federal funds. I regularly perform post -
project file reviews as part of this effort. I have reviewed a number of Mark's
projects over the years, and he consistently delivers excellent results. His work is
some of the best I've seen, and Jefferson County is fortunate to have such a talented
project manager. Most recently, Mark completed the Alder Creek Culvert
Replacement project on the Upper Hoh Road. Once again, I was very pleased with
his performance on this project. In fact Olympic Region Local Programs has
selected the Alder Creek project as our nomination for our annual statewide
Awards of Excellence competition for Best County Project this year. I whole
heartedly support his nomination for Project Manager of the Year.
Sincerely,
Brian Moorehead
WSDOT Olympic Region Local Progra s
DOT Form 700 -008 EF
Revised 5/99