When we found our fixer-upper in Spirit Lake, it was a bigger project than I originally planned to take on. But it was worth it.

What was unexpected, however, was getting involved in our community in a formal capacity.

We’ve always poured in to our communities and looked out after our neighbors. But, we wanted nothing to do with the homeowners association where we lived last. Who does?

But, here in Spirit Lake it’s different.

We learned quickly that our volunteer Board and Committees are essential to the community.

So, as Chairman in two key positions (first as Architecture Chair for 15 months, and now as Road Chair for the last five), my focus has been on establishing + streamlining processes to more easily pass the torch.

As Architecture Chair, my contractor + superintendent skills were used to manage all new construction (reviewing plans and seeing residents through the application process + approvals). I also answered questions about county regulations.

This kept my construction management skills sharp, which was a welcome challenge. It also acclimated me to building here beyond my own home renovation in Spirit Lake.

Then came the Kootenai Electric and Intermax (fiber Internet) infrastructure projects. Increasingly, my work as ARC Chair extended to collaborating with the Road Crew on how these projects were impacting our roads, then the board asking me to oversee + lead approvals on the final phases of construction with Intermax. This included negotiating additional road repairs with their project manager and subs to see the work to a successful (and timely) conclusion.

This led to my transition to Road Chair.

The new position has put my superintendent skills to work on a whole new level as I now lead the management of 60 lane miles of unpaved road from strategy, planning, hiring, staffing, budget proposals, materials purchases and equipment maintenance + repairs to coordinating trucking, plowing, sanding, grading, spring cleanup + big picture project: rebuilding the crown in our roads.

On the political side of my volunteer position, I also head-up communication (and my best diplomacy) with homeowners, board + crew to maintain majority buy-in and support among a “300-client” community.

As Road Chair, I’ve worked with our Road Crew to implement a communication program where everyone receives regular updates via website + social media. It’s been helpful to explain “the why behind the what” so the community has a greater understanding of why we do things a certain way.

This has opened the eyes of residents who support our efforts now more than ever knowing all the moving parts, and how many factors are at play for work to be done correctly, and on time/budget.

It’s no different than running commercial or residential builds as superintendent!

We’ll soon be coordinating with IDT on the most anticipated project yet: bringing our two main entrances up to code and tying them into our existing roads with improved drainage, so they can be properly maintained by IDT moving forward.

The roads, as you’d imagine, are the most important issue for our community members here in SLE, right above building. So, getting to serve as both ARC Chair, and now Road Chair, has been an honor.

While our Facebook + NextDoor groups are closed to the public, you can catch up (and get a glimpse at the breadth of the volunteer projects completed while working a full-time job) on our blog HERE.