Brian Lease, public works head, gets two thumbs-up from Town officials

His work often goes unseen but never unnoticed.

Or unappreciated.

At least by those who occupy offices at Town Hall.

After two decades on the job, Town Public Works Director Brian Lease knows every inch of La Conner’s underworld yet has also played an integral role in development of key high-profile landmark projects here as well.

“Every infrastructure and capital improvement project – seen or unseen – has his stamp on it,” La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes said of Lease as 2018 prepared to give way to a new year.

Hayes spoke from his downtown Trumpeter Gallery jewelry store, a few paces removed from sections of a fallen tree that had snapped off in a windstorm and tumbled down the rocky hillside on the east side of First Street, the type of unforeseen event to which Lease regularly responds.

Hayes and Town Administrator Scott Thomas credit Lease’s tireless commitment to the unexpected to his preparation.

“He’s always very concerned on behalf of the Town,” says Thomas. “If anything, he worries too much.”

As an example, Thomas relates that Lease remains very much in the loop even when taking a rare day off, as was the case last Friday. Town Finance Director Maria DeGoede needed information from Lease that day and emailed him at home. He responded almost immediately, Thomas says.

Lease is perhaps better known in the public arena for the topical reports he regularly provides at Town Council meetings.

“He’s very knowledgeable, knows all the details, and has information that is helpful to residents,” says Thomas. “In fact, someone called Town Hall yesterday (Thursday) complimenting him on being able to help them with a problem.”

Lease’s duties as public works director are multi-layered, Hayes says.

“There are three main parts,” he says. “There’s the day-to-day management and maintenance of our infrastructure. That includes piping, sewer lines, and pump stations. Then there are the projects that the public works department takes on. Then there’s management of projects undertaken by contractors. On those, Brian has to keep tabs on change orders and make sure costs don’t get out of control.”

The daily checklist is ambitious to say the least.

The five-member department Lease administers is variously responsible for construction and maintenance of the Town’s storm drain system, water transmission lines and shoreline floats; blocking streets and providing traffic control for special events; repairing streets and Town-owned structures; water testing; snow removal and sanding of streets and sidewalks, when necessary; sandbagging; tree and parks maintenance; upkeep on public works vehicles and equipment; and maintenance of public play fields.

Thomas notes other communities often have separate departments for services tasked solely to public works in La Conner.

Hayes says Lease’s contributions were invaluable on what was a signature project for the community, installation of the boardwalk along La Conner’s waterfront, a long-sought public shoreline feature ultimately completed in 2015.

The nearly $2.5 million boardwalk required alignment of Town officials and panels, the Swinomish and Upper Skagit tribes, various county, state, and federal entities, plus state legislators – Mary Margaret Haugen and Barbara Bailey, in particular – from both political parties, says Hayes.

Locally, it was Hayes, then-Town Administrator John Doyle and Lease who were involved on a daily basis with the boardwalk. Hayes tracked down funding sources. Doyle guided the Town through the maze of permit requirements. Lease was instrumental in overseeing construction.

“It was definitely a three-legged stool,” Hayes recalls. “There was the funding, the permit process and the actual construction.”

As head of a department whose work is often done beneath streets and buildings, Lease himself seems most comfortable flying under the radar.

“He’s not one to attract attention to himself,” says Hayes. “The other side of that is Brian has been a real blessing to the community. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Most recently, Lease has been on site for two major upgrades – the La Conner-Whitney Road water main and State Street sidewalk replacements – that have coincided with unpredictable Pacific Northwest weather.

The one forecast folks can bank on is Lease’s continued presence.

“He’s not allowed to retire,” Hayes explains, “as long as I’m Mayor.”