Hines City Manager Kirby Letham recently resigned to further his education in practicing law, taking effect at the end of July. Terri Watts of the Burns Times-Herald sat down with Letham and had a chance to reflect on his five and a half years as City Manager.

BTH: What brought you and your family to Harney County? When was that?

Letham: Harney County brought us to Harney County. Andrea, the kids, and I moved here in August 2012. We lived in Lakeview before we moved here from 1999 to 2012. We both worked at the family’s custom door manufacturing plant in Lakeview. Economic pressure on the door industry and needing new experiences for our children caused us to look for other options. We saw that Burns was a great opportunity and checked all the boxes, so we decided to move here.

BTH: Where are you moving to? Why?

Letham: We are moving to Carbondale, Ill., so that I can attend Southern Illinois University Law School. We have been very happy here, so it was a very hard decision to make. However we’re excited about the opportunities that this move will bring for us and, you know our kids are grown and out of the house and so we felt like it was also a very good timing – if we’re going to make a big change, now is the time to do it.

BTH: How long have you been in your current position and when is your official last day?

Letham: I started working as city administrator for the city of Hines on Dec. 1, 2018, so it’s been just over 5 1/2 years. I’ll be physically leaving the last week of July, but I’ve been talking with the Council about how I could possibly continue to have a role with the City in some way, depending on who gets hired and how long I might need to support them in that role.

BTH: How would you describe your working relationship with the City Council overall?

Letham: I would say that that’s been one of the great things that I have enjoyed about working here. Everybody brings a dynamic, especially in Group situations and that dynamic change is based on who’s a part of the group. Most of the council members are different than the people I started with, but I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed working with every one of them. The council I’m working with right now is great. I think that they have some great goals and bring good things to the table. I’m going to miss that part of the job – working with the council.

BTH: How would you describe your working relationship with City staff?

Letham: the staff for the city of Hines are amazing! They are good and reliable people and really do like being here. I think that makes a difference, especially in a small city. In fact, making the decision to leave was in part really difficult because I knew that I was going to miss working with the city staff and I knew that it would impact their lives in some way. When someone leaves a functioning team, everybody else has to adjust and it brings change and new dynamics for those guys who remain, so I knew that was going to be a big change for them, and it was tough. I really did consider the impact on them for me to leave. But in the end, I know they’re great, and they know their jobs, and I think they’ll continue to do a good job. I think they really do have the community’s best interests at heart when they do their job. I think that they have the spirit of customer service, and I think that they will continue in that attitude as time goes on.

BTH: As City Administrator what projects have you been involved with that you are most proud to have seen through to fruition?

Letham: You know, there were several projects both large and small that I have been a part of in the last 5-1/2 years. I think the project that I feel was the biggest decision, one that will have the biggest impact, long term impact, was the Water System Improvement Project, but specifically a certain part of that project was replacing the meters and the meter reading system.

The water project was already going before I even got here, you know Joan Davies way back in 2015 got the ball rolling and then Judy Erwin really put that together, but in 2020 when construction started we had an issue that kind of just blew up right in our faces and that was our entire meter reading system just collapsed. The meters in the ground were aging and failing a lot. The ability to read usage from the meters completely failed, it was a mess.

The project didn’t originally have the focus of changing the meters, it had been a back-up add-on. So, we planned to do some other things but because of the situation I felt like it was imperative that we fixed the meter system as part of this project and I’m glad we did that. I mean, the water distribution lines were always the main focus, but we went a different way completely overhauling the meter reading system and stayed under budget for the project as a whole. I credit Jerry Lewellen, the contractor, and the engineers at Anderson Perry for being able to accomplish that.

I think replacing the meter system was really huge for a lot of reasons. It put the city in a position to continue to properly monitor water usage and that’s a big deal especially considering how much water has become such a crucial resource in our county. And second, I think it put the city in a place where it’s going to be easier to maintain technology and systems moving forward. Because of that system the City has a solid base to move forward into the future. I just think that was a big deal.

BTH: Are there any current projects that are in the works that you would like to see accomplished even if that happens after you leave?

Letham: I’d like to see the parks improved, and wastewater infrastructure improved. We completed the Parks Master Plan this year and I would really like to see that have a lasting impact upon improving the Hines City Park and possibly expanding the recreational assets for the City. I think there are a couple of places that the City could put in new parks, add some walking trails. I just think that makes life enjoyable, especially for the children.

BTH: What are you going to miss most about your position?

Letham: Oh man, there’s a lot of things I’ll miss. I think it was just the fact that it didn’t seem like a job to me. It was just like being at home every day. I mean seriously I lived right around the corner, and I have this amazing office that has great windows, and you look out and you see the park and you get to interact with people, and you work with the other people in the community to help the community and just the whole small town feel, all of it! I mean it just really liked being here, and I liked the people I worked with every day. When you get lucky enough to find something that doesn’t seem like a “job” it makes it easy to have a lot of satisfaction in what you do every day.

BTH: What won’t you miss?

Letham: Not a lot really. Maybe getting ready for council meetings. I mean, here you are working away on the daily tasks, and then you have to stop and put all that together to present it to the Council and the public in a way that makes sense to someone else. It is actually kind of a burden in some ways. But it’s enjoyable once you get to the meetings, just not fun to stop and start your focus on work like that.

BTH: What qualifications/schooling/experience is required for the job?

Letham: I think it’s really important to have a good understanding of how organizations work, whether that is a business or a public background. Hines is a small city, but the person in this position wears a lot of hats, we still have to provide almost all the services that a big town offers, we just do it with fewer resources. So, I think that really requires a person to be able to connect well with other people and create synergy. I also think you need to have some solid footing in finance too.

BTH: What advice do you have for applicants looking to fill your position?

Letham: Be ready to drink from the firehose! There is a lot to learn and keep up with. Sometimes it’s a lot. I feel like I’ve finally figured it out after 5 years. Most importantly though, listen to everyone. Listen to city staff, the council, the community, and the leaders who you’ll work with. You can and will learn a lot from them.

BTH: Are you going to continue as a consultant with the City and if so for how long?

Letham: That really depends on the hiring process, who gets hired and what their knowledge base is, but yes, most likely. The Council and I will work out an arrangement before I leave. I am willing to as much as I can.

BTH: What are your thoughts on leaving, not only your position, but this area as far as what the community means to you & your family?

Letham: That is really a loaded question that I could possibly write a small book about. It was a huge transition for us to move here; lots of emotion tied to that. Our children spent the second half of childhood here, and now they have forever roots. Their experiences with sports, church and music have been amazing. I could go on and on if I were to name individuals, however I will say a very special thank you to Ken and Debbie Peckham. Their generosity, kindness, and teaching will forever impact our children. I’ve been brought to tears at times when I think of our kids’ time with them and how much love the Peckham’s showed us.

Also, Andrea had such a great run as cross-country coach at the high school; she really loved the experience and especially working with the kids. I really have loved working at the City of Hines and at OYA before that, and baling hay for ACW before that; and all my years at Paramore Real Estate and the people I’ve been able to associate with in that part of life, I loved it. We just have so much that carries heart-deep meaning for us here; we’ll never forget these last 12 years. The community has been so good to my whole family in all of our associations.

BTH: Upon completion of law school, what type of law are you going into? Would you consider returning to this area to practice?

Kirby: I mean, at this point, everything is on the table. I don’t think I’ll stay back east. I’m a northwest kid and always will be. It is a three-year program, so who knows what doors will open during that time. If the opportunity is there, I’d be happy to come back to this area. My life skills and background seem to center around the things that I’ve done – agriculture, business, real estate, and the public realm with the city. Early on a lot of my schooling was

in political science. I can see myself pursuing those same interests. I don’t have any desire to climb the corporate power ladder though. I’m pretty sure I’ll skip that at this stage.

BTH: Are any of your children relocating with you and Andrea?

Kirby: No, not yet. Our oldest is married and in eastern Oregon where he will likely stay. Our middle daughter is married, and they have recently relocated for employment in Eastern Idaho, and our youngest is starting nursing school in eastern Idaho this fall. So, I don’t think they’ll be moving with us. Maybe a quick visit here and there, but they are all on their own pursuing their own lives now. We are happy for them and where they are a too.

BTH: How receptive has the community been to learn that you are leaving?

Letham: Well, I seem to get the same answer over and over again – ‘we’re happy for you, but not happy you’re leaving.’ I laugh, but I can feel the emotion behind their comments and its humbling. I realize people care about us as much as we’ve cared about them. We really are going to miss everyone we’ve come to know and work with.