Tim Elsea

Harbor Properties owned the Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort and Mountain Utility Company, a power provider for Sandpoint, Idaho. In 2003, Harbor Properties decided to split the ski resort from the utility company, and hired Tim Elsea to facilitate the transition. He not only succeeded in negotiating the division of the two subsidiaries, but also turned Mountain Utility Company profitable again. His work during this split included negotiating contracts, maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and hiring and firing employees during the transition. His long-term plans for the change included developing plans and budgeting requirements to move the sewer system, planning for future expansion of the existing sewer system, adding water capacity to become FireFlow compliant, and planning for future expansion of the water system. Eventually, he successfully applied for regulation from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. Tim Elsea’s success in this endeavor i...

Tim Elsea has a long record of public service, and he has several hopes for the future. Some of the items on Tim’s “bucket list” include: Writing a book about leadership in public works. Throughout his career Tim Elsea has strived to improve the image of public employees in every department he supervises. Visiting various exotic locations such as Costa Rica, New Zealand, and Tahiti. Tim hopes to one day donate his time and experience to Engineers Without Borders. Tim enjoys mountain biking and hopes to one day participate in an ultra-endurance bike race.

Tim Elsea was the director of the Missoula County Public Works Department in Missoula, MT from May 2005 until May 2010. During this time, Tim Elsea helped launch numerous long-term plans in the Missoula County Public Works Department and improved the lives of residents of Missoula County in several ways: As director, Tim supervised the Road and Bridge Maintenance and Construction Division, the Building Inspection Division, the Surveying Division, Engineering Design Division, and the Light Duty and Heavy Equipment Maintenance Teams. He also supervised the Bridge Engineer and Bridge Inspection Crew, and the Surveying and Design Department. Tim developed a comprehensive road maintenance plan for 450 miles of county roads in Missoula County. He acted as chief negotiator with the Operators Labor Unions, Teamsters, and Mechanics Labor Unions. Supervised the entire County Building Inspection Department, which included plumbing, electrical, and structural inspections. Wrot...

There’s been no shortage of excitement in the life of Tim Elsea. In his early days he participated in the Clemson University skydiving team. The team went on to participate in the 1979 Collegiate National Skydiving Championships. After college, Tim Elsea joined the United States Army and learned the value of selfless service and sacrifice as he pushed himself to his physical limits. As a leader in the Oregon Public Works system, Tim met each new challenge with the same tenacity that guided him through his military service and early career. His energy doesn’t stop at work, however. Tim is still an avid mountain biker in his spare time, and hopes to participate in an ultra-endurance bike race one day. When the Pacific Northwest is covered in snow, Tim hits the slopes with his snowboard to enjoy the fresh powder. Tim Elsea’s career has demanded creativity, energy, and tenacity, so it’s no wonder he enjoys extreme sports in his spare time.  Recommended Read:  https://ww...

After his service in the United States Army, Tim Elsea earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Clemson University in 1991. Since then, his career has included time in various Public Works departments. His first position after college was as a Civil Engineering Technician for Tealey Land Surveying in Boise, Idaho. In 1997, he took over as the director of the Bonner County Public Works department in Sandpoint, Idaho, where he developed various long-term plans for the waterways of Bonner County, like Priest Lake and the Pend Oreille River. In 2003 he facilitated the split of Harbor Properties’ Mountain Ski Resort and Mountain Utility Company to help the utility operation become profitable again. In 2005, he began work as the Assistant Director of the Missoula County Public Works department in Missoula, Montana. Since then he has worked as the director of the Lewis County Public Works department in Chehalis, WA and the Lane County Public Works department in Eugene, OR....