Kalispell has hired former Columbia Falls city manager Bill Shaw as its new director of public works.
Shaw was appointed in early May and began work June 6, according to Kalispell City Manager Jane Howington. Shaw takes over following the retirement of Jim Hansz, the previous public works director, last year. In Columbia Falls, Susan Nicosia has been hired as the new city manager.
Kalispell had several applicants for the job, which was posted locally, Howington said. A selection committee composed of the heads of various departments within city government that interact with public works eventually chose Shaw based on his varied experience. His salary is $85,010.
“Bill’s been a public works director before; he’s been a city manager before,” Howington said. “He’s the total package.”
“He’s got a very practical approach,” she added. “He’s very technologically savvy and at the same time he goes out to work with the road crews.”
While Howington praised the public works employees, among Shaw’s first priorities will be to figure out a plan to eventually replace aging equipment like snowplows and facilities in need of repair.
“He has a lot of strength in the field operations and that’s where we need a lot of help,” Howington said. “We need to really get a handle on how to start rebuilding.”
Public works crews also have a direct impact on the public, managing streets, sewers, sidewalks and snow, and Howington wants Shaw to communicate more with city residents about where work is being done and why.
Reached last week, Shaw said he is still assessing needs within the department, but with a budget already set for the upcoming fiscal year, he doesn’t expect to have much impact on spending until next year. But his key challenge, he said, will be helping public works’ limited resources meet the needs where Kalispell underwent rapid expansion in the years preceding the recession.
“Clearly, keeping up with all the capital improvements is going to be part of trying to match those two up,” Shaw said.
Shaw served as city manager in Columbia Falls for nearly 10 years, after working as city administrator in Othello, Wash. for three years. Prior to that, he was director of public works in Lewistown for seven years. He was born in Kalispell and attended school in Whitefish.