Soehren resigns as Dickinson city engineer

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City Engineer Shawn Soehren tendered his resignation at Monday’s Dickinson City Commission meeting, citing a high workload and high stress.

He told the Commission gathered at City Hall that he would like his last official day to be Oct. 15, but will help with the transition to a new city engineer.

“I do want to express my appreciation to the Commission and other city staff that have supported me in my tenure with the city,” Soehren said. “This has probably been the most difficult decision that I’ve ever had to make. So, thank you.”

Commission President Dennis Johnson and other expressed their grief with Soehren’s resignation.

“I don’t think there’s anybody at our table that would view this as good news,” Johnson said. “You’re going to be missed.”

Commissioner Shirley Dukart asked Soehren if his departure was due to being overworked.

“Numerous issues, I guess,” Soehren replied. “Certainly the workload and the feeling that I can’t satisfy everything.”

He has been with the city for almost 12 years, said Commission Carson Steiner, who was on the committee that hired Soehren.

With the city’s recent growth the engineering department has been heavily burdened. Engineering is in charge of infrastructure, building inspection, planning and zoning and other development-related issues.

“I don’t think there’s any question that engineering and planning are — if we said this was fighting a fire this is the hottest spot on the fire,” Johnson said. “They have to deal with the most teeth. I don’t think there’s any question about that.”

Engineering and planning are at the heart of the storm, he said.

Commissioner Klayton Oltmanns questioned what the city could do to improve the workload and conditions for the next city engineer.

Soehren has been working with City Administrator Shawn Kessel as well as other city staff to create those changes, but did not wish to address it at the meeting, he said.

In other news:

Fire Chief Bob Sivak celebrated his 30th year with the Dickinson Fire Department, Kessel said.

“It doesn’t happen that much anymore,” he said. “I just want to say congratulations on 30 years and thank you for choosing the City of Dickinson.”

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