Public Works Director leaving

EPHRATA - Grant County will have a new Public Works Director soon.

The current director, Derek Pohle, is taking a new position in Olympia next week. His last day working for Grant County is Friday.

He is relocating to Olympia to work for the County Road Administration Board (CRAB).

According to Pohle, he made the decision to take the new job about a month ago. Working for CRAB was one of the few things Pohle considered doing other than working for Grant County Public Works.

He explained he gets to work with other county engineers he developed relationships with over the years.

Pohle was the Whitman County Engineer before coming to work for Grant County in May 2001.

Pohle is excited to start his new position, but the move will be bittersweet in some aspects.

"I'll miss the people and the relationships I've built over the years," he said.

Port of Moses Lake Executive Director Pat Jones worked with Pohle for two years and said that he was impressed with him and his department.

"Derek's just extremely knowledgeable and capable," he said.

Jones said Pohle's helpful attitude paired with his experience will help him succeed in his new role.

CRAB provides oversight to help counties maintain good standards and practices for their road funds. The organization also gives technical and design support as well as runs a grant program for rural and arterial roads.

Commissioner Richard Stevens said four candidates have applied for the vacant Public Works Director position, but only one person, former Grant County Assistant Engineer Jeff Tincher, was selected for an interview.

Tincher left Grant County last year to become the Okanogan County engineer.