Redmond public works director Bill Campbell to retire

Published 11:37 am Thursday, April 26, 2012

Bill Campbell has always enjoyed building things and when paired with his love for math, science and problem solving, it’s no surprise his passions led him to the City of Redmond Public Works Department.

“Working in public works is all about that stuff,” the City of Redmond public works director said.

Campbell, who had previously worked as an engineering instructor at Spokane Community College, was hired as a project engineer for the city’s public works department in July 1990 and worked his way up in various positions before becoming department director in 2007. On Monday, he will retire after a 22-year career that has included projects ranging from the installation of various traffic lights throughout Redmond to the Northeast 36th Street Bridge.

The very first project Campbell was in charge of was the installation of the traffic signal at the intersection of West Lake Sammamish Parkway and Bel-Red Road, which has been designated to be converted into a roundabout, though Campbell said he doesn’t know when that will be.

When asked about his very first project scheduled to receive a makeover, he laughed.

“That means I’ve been here a long time,” Campbell said.

And during this long tenure, he has come in contact with a lot of different people at the city, including former City Council member Richard Cole, who retired in December. Cole was elected to Council two years before Campbell was hired and described Campbell as a gentleman.

“He’s just such a class act,” Cole said.

He said Council began working more with Campbell when he became the city engineer in 1997 and since then, Campbell has always been a professional. Cole said Campbell was able to anticipate any questions Council might have about projects and would provide answers before the questions were even asked.

Even if the questions aren’t asked, it is likely Campbell will still know the answer as many of his colleagues said he has an extensive knowledge about anything related to public works in Redmond.

Redmond Mayor John Marchione described Campbell, who came to Redmond when Marchione’s mother was mayor, as an encyclopedia of knowledge and he will miss that when Campbell retires.

“There’ll be a hole in my directors team,” Marchione said.

Marchione has appointed former Redmond Fire Chief Tim Fuller as the interim public works director while the city conducts a national search for a permanent director.

“While current public works managers will continue to oversee the day-to-day departmental functions, Tim will lead the department for several months in continuing to align operations with our vision and customer service goals,” the mayor said.

Marchione said the search will begin next month and they hope to hire the new director by September.

Campbell said he will miss the people he has worked with during his many years. He said they are smart, hardworking and dedicated.

One particularly proud moment for Campbell came earlier this year. He said after the 2008 snowstorms, he worked with his staff to see how they could improve on the city’s response in such weather and went to Council to get them to authorize funding for more equipment and training. Campbell’s department was tested during the mid-January snowstorms this year and he said they passed.

“They didn’t need me around to do well,” Campbell said, explaining that he was in Hawaii during this time but was available by phone and email.

Campbell’s love for his staff is reciprocated. Public works Assistant Director Ron Grant said in addition to a good working relationship, he and Campbell have also shared a good personal relationship, which Grant will miss.

“Even more than (working well together), we’re friends,” Grant said.

Campbell said he will probably try to get some work done around his house on the Sammamish Plateau, but isn’t sure what else he will do with his newfound free time yet — especially on Tuesday nights now that his attendance is now longer required at City Council meetings.

“It’s a little weird,” he said about having those evenings free now. “I’m not sure what Tuesday will be like.”