OACES 2018 Fall Conference Recap

The OACES Fall Conference took place on October 15-16 at the Mt. Bachelor Resort in Bend. The conference brought together members to to discuss and gain training on issues ranging from ADA responsibilities and liabilities for counties, Condominium issues for Surveyors, as well as round table discussions on Local Access Roads and Speed Zone issues faced by counties. Copies of presentations can be found on the Conference page of the OACES website.

In addition to the training and discussions, several members were recognized for their contributions and excellence to the OACES group and their counties. Tom Fellows, Umatilla County Public Works Director was presented with the Road Official of the year for 2018. In their nomination of Tom, Marion County OACES members said “Within multiple workgroups and elsewhere, Tom has represented OACES members’ concerns exceptionally well, particularly in devising practical, on-ground solutions that are viable to implement despite limited agency resources. He is a great listener and has championed the efforts of others and their needs despite their agency’s size or budgets. Public safety, compliance, teamwork, collaboration, and mindfully protecting the public’s investment in Oregon’ road system are core professional values Tom regularly exhibits”

Scott Young, Washington County surveyor, received the Surveyor of the year award for 2018. “He is strong in three key components to success: knowledge, dedication, and a great attitude. He has shared his knowledge with the group by providing his colleagues insightful (and correct) answers to complicated surveying questions, and is especially respected for sharing his exceptional knowledge about rights of way. He has demonstrated his dedication to the group by being a regular attendee and active participant in OACES, recently volunteering his time to serve on selection committees. His dedication to the surveying profession has carried him from his beginnings as summer help at his county in the early 90’s to being one of the most respected County Surveyors in Oregon today. He has also used his positive no nonsense attitude to identify and work productively with other agencies on realistic refinements to our practices. Most recently he has connected with his colleagues at ODOT to work on a common sense refinement to relinquishments and dedications.”

Don Wiley, County Engineer for Hood River County received a special award of merit by OACES. Don has worked in the Public Works Department for nearly 28 years and will be retiring at the end of June. Mikel Diwan, Public Works Director for Hood River County stated “During his time with the county he has witnessed a lot of staff and a fair share of Directors come and go, yet he has remained a staple of leadership and a true professional for the rest of the department. His knowledge of our road system, its quirks, the legal and permitting mazes projects often face, and his eagerness to guide our newest staff has ensured we have a reasonable chance to succeed after he leaves. Don has essentially been the county’s entire engineering department for many years and has not only survived controversial projects like the Windmaster Sewer District, but has also managed to complete projects with ridiculously limited resources; much like the two bridges he got built over Odell Creek in 2017. ”