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District 5's MacKenzie fast-tracks project plan, plows roads in spare time

In mid-December, the southeastern region of Idaho received record snowfall, particularly in the Pocatello and American Falls area, where the biggest December snowfall in decades marred area roads. Into the fray jumped Scott MacKenzie (pictured below), a D5 employee in the Materials Lab, who volunteered to get behind the wheel of a district snowplow in order to help them meet the challenge.

MacKenzie's normal job function calls for him to analyze samples and perform materials-assurance duties. That quickly changed in November.

The board approved a new project in November, to help DMV install a weigh-in-motion system at the Inkom Port of Entry. Jesse Barrus, MacKenzie's supervisor, took on the role of project manager and quickly realized the design needed to be "fast-tracked" to be in construction next year when companion grant funding became available. That meant plans for initial review had to be ready by Dec. 18 to meet that schedule.

Jesse assigned the project to Scott. Despite a less-than-extensive design background, MacKenzie met the ambitious deadline.

"I'm impressed with the fact Scott hit today's deadline -- and at the same time maintained his assigned job functions," said District Engineer Ed Bala. "What makes it even more astonishing is the fact Scott took some time during this week's record snowfall to hop in a plow and assist the Soda Springs crew with a shift or two and managed to accomplish all of it with a positive attitude. I think Scott typifies the kind of 'can-do' employee ITD wants for the future, and makes this a place I'm proud to be affiliated with."

"This is a great example of somebody stepping up and being able to play out of position — that's the kind of unselfishness that makes winning teams," said ITD Communication Manager Vince Trimboli.

MacKenzie deflected the credit, preferring that those he collaborated with receive the kudos.

"The success is due to a lot of contributing folks. The foreman at Soda Springs, Gil Wright, and the team at Soda Springs Maintenance flexed me in so I could get through the routine in the office. This afforded me extra days on the design work which would have been call-in time on the plows."

"In addition, I have a great office group working with me under Jesse's strong leadership. Cody Vezina and Denise Munsee took a little of the load in the office, as far as lab functions, to afford me time to do this project."

"I also have to give credit to Jeremy Gough, Joe Rodriquez and Ryen Johnson, who set aside work which they were involved in, to help with various stages in the alignment and preliminary drawings."

"We are only as strong as the team we work with."