David Ekern and the Idaho Transportation Board

Gentlemen:

I am announcing my retirement from the Idaho Transportation Department and state service. My last day in the office will be December 16, 2004, and I plan to run my vacation time out, which will take me through early February, 2005. I have had a great career with the department, one which has taken me from the position of technician in the Moscow Materials Lab to my current position of Chief Engineer/Deputy Director.

My ten years as Chief Engineer has been one of the most rewarding and challenging positions of my career. I have seen many changes that have transformed the department into the organization that it is today.

We have instituted fiscal accountability at the district level, we have implemented performance measures and we have become one of the most efficient organizations in state government. We have seen over a hundred and eighty million dollar growth in our budget and we are doing it with the same number of FTEs we had in 1994.

Over my career, I have seen the completion of the interstate, the transformation of U.S. 95 from what used to be called the “Goat Trail” to the current modern highway. I have seen the department respond to disasters such as the Teton Dam flood, and the 1996, 1997, and 1998 floods that took over $100 million dollars of Emergency Relief money to repair the damaged roads.

This has been a difficult decision, but one I feel good about. I look forward to spending more time with my family and pursuing new adventures. I know the department is in capable hands and there are many competent and well qualified employees that will continue the tradition of serving the public and moving the department forward.

Jim Ross
Chief Engineer
Idaho Transportation Department