SEQUIM –– Public Works Director Paul Haines says he will end his four-plus year stint at City Hall at the end of November.
“There are other personal challenges, adventures and professional opportunities I need to develop, and now is the time for me to start the next chapter,” Haines said.
Haines, 61, was hired as the city’s public works director in April 2010.
He returned July 1 from a three-month leave of absence for a walking tour across the south of France and Spain with his wife.
City Manager Steve Burkett hired Haines to guide the city’s public works systems after a number of interim directors had led the Public Works Department and the city had a couple false starts hiring full-time directors.
“Paul has accomplished everything that I was expecting when I hired him as our public works director four years ago. I appreciate everything he has done to improve the public works organization and the city,” Burkett said in a statement.
Burkett and Haines worked together as city manager and public works director, respectively, of Shoreline from 2002 through 2006.
When Haines was hired, the city was feeling the effects of the Great Recession and had just set out on a new plan to revitalize downtown and an expansion of its water reclamation plant.
Seeing those projects through and making the city a more prominent player in regional development were some of the efforts Haines noted among his proudest achievements.
“Everything is the way it is because of where you are when,” he said. “And I’ve been able to be here at a good time.”
Now, he hopes to round off the city’s deal with Clallam County to treat wastewater from a new collection system at Carlsborg.
“I’m really proud we’ve turned the corner and can be viewed as a partner on things like regional wastewater in Carlsborg,” Haines said.
“I think we’re becoming more and more respected for services we can provide.”
“And that makes me happy.”
He hailed his colleagues for improving the city’s Public Works Department.
“I am exceptionally proud of the people I work with,” Haines said.
“It really is a great city — a great organization”
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.
