East Columbia Irrigation District makes manager transition
East Columbia Irrigation District makes manager transition
Simpson preparing to take over for Erickson
OTHELLO — When Dick Erickson announced his retirement from the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District, he thought giving a year's notice was a little extreme.
"Looking at it right now, with the time this is taking, I think it's going to be about right," said the longtime manager of the Othello-based district.
Erickson retires from the district in May 2007. In the meantime, he is working with his replacement, the irrigation district's engineer, Craig Simpson, who recently assumed the title of senior assistant manager and deputy secretary for the interim. Ian Eccles assumes the position of district engineer.
Erickson said the next month entails Simpson helping Eccles' transition into the engineer position. By mid-January, they begin to transfer Erickson's duties to Simpson. Simpson has already worked with Erickson in preparing the district's 2007 budget. By March or April, Erickson said, they hope Simpson will have taken the lead as Erickson observes and coaches.
"I feel it's time," Erickson said.
When he retires in May, he will have worked for the district for 24 years.
"I have some other personal goals. I want to try some of those before I'm too old. We have enough going on here, there's never a good time, like if you go to Date X, you'll be all caught up. It doesn't happen that way, it just goes on and on and on. It's just a matter of picking a time that fits."
Erickson and his wife plan to remain in Othello for several more years, he said. They hope to boat, hike, ski and travel.
"I also don't feel like I'm done working, but I hope I'm done working full time, working this hard," he said.
He hopes to find a part-time niche fitting with his recreational goals.
Simpson joined the district in July 1995 after working for a Poulsbo consulting engineering firm.
Erickson said the board saw a number of applicants for the manager position, interviewing seven before selecting Simpson in September.
"He was on the board's mind because he's performed very well during his time here as district engineer," Erickson said.
Simpson said he's watched Erickson over the last 11 years and was ready to change from his own longtime position.
"The types of projects he's been involved with, there's some allure to it because he's in control of everything we do within the district boundaries," Simpson said. "He's been the one that's kind of led us into the projects we're working on now, and trying to take care of the deficiencies that have happened over 50 years of operation of the canal system."
The district is in the process of gradually replacing its 62 pumping plants and updating infrastructure. Beyond that, Simpson does not foresee much change.
"We've been running pretty smoothly for a long period of time now, and I don't think it's time for any drastic changes," he said. "We've got a 50-year-old project, and our charge is to make sure we can deliver water to our landowners."
Erickson said the board's selection of Simpson as the next manager provides continuity, as Simpson was involved in the engineering and construction management aspects of the projects.
Erickson considers the pumping plant replacement projects one of his biggest accomplishments from his time as manager, since it's been known for 20 years 2005 was the time to begin some expensive reconstruction and replacement projects. Those projects began in 2004.
"I'm pleased that's coming off on schedule," Erickson said. "It was a long planning horizon to get that done."
The irrigation district has about 2,361.4 more acres of water from a conservation effort, Erickson said, with water coming from savings from 49 improvement projects over 18 years.
"We basically managed to pull that off within an Endangered Species Act-regulated environment, and got the approvals we needed," he said. "So even though 2,361.4 is a drop in the bucket compared to the Columbia Basin Project or what the Odessa Subarea needs, I really feel good we pulled that off. It's a small increment, but it did give some help to nine farmers that had failing wells … When I get a chance, I enjoy solving a problem for a farmer."
Erickson advises Simpson to keep working as hard and as smart as he already has.
"He won't have any trouble," he said, adding with a chuckle, "He'll have days where he's in trouble, but he won't have any trouble. He'll be a successful manager."
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