Shad Springer, a seven-year employee with the city of Santa Maria, is now the acting director of the Public Works Department. His first day in the position was Monday, June 30. Prior to that, Springer worked under former director David Whitehead as the principal civil engineer. Whitehead retired on June 27 after 22 years with the city.
As principal civil engineer, Springer reviewed the city’s subdivisions and other construction projects, such as the Santa Maria Public Library, Union Valley Parkway, the transit center, and two new fire stations. He also oversaw design and funding plans for capital projects and served as the city’s representative for the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments.
Springer said his main goal as acting public works director is “to continue to maintain the department’s high level of service” to city residents despite the reduced amount of Caltrans money available for projects.
He said city staffers are working to make sure construction of the new police station, to be located on the corner of Blosser and Betteravia roads, is completed so officers can move in by this time next year. Other projects include replacing some of the city’s older bus enclosures, repairing sidewalks, and chip sealing roads.
The city is currently waiting to hear back about some grant proposals it made with Caltrans.
Springer is a licensed professional engineer and a certified floodplain manager. Before moving to California, he worked as the assistant public works director for the city of Bullhead, Ariz., and as a county planning manager and assistant county engineer in Sheridan County, Wyo.
This article appears in Jul 3-10, 2014.