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CLEAR Temp: 59 °F Wind: NE at 6 mph Monday, May 19, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 16, 2003 Larry Beskow and other candidated for the city's top engineer position had to work together to keep an egg from breaking after a 16-foot fall. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Medford’s eggstatic over new city engineer Candidates for the city engineer’s job had to drop a raw egg from the roof without it breaking By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Larry Beskow is the new city engineer, and that’s no yoke. No yoke on the sidewalk, that is. When Beskow, 51, interviewed for Medford’s $65,362-a-year position, which he officially begins today, he didn’t face the usual "list your strengths and weaknesses" questions. Beskow had to team up with the other four applicants and figure out a way to drop an egg 16 feet from atop the public works building without it breaking. "The five of us got to work and we divided into two teams right away," he said. With only the napkins, tape, balloons and such tidbits provided, one team figured out how to sandwich the egg between balloons and the other built a parachute out of napkins, he said. "The parachute worked perfectly and the egg touched down lightly," said Beskow. "We were successful." Beskow isn’t new to Medford. He’s been the engineering department’s utility engineer for 19 years. Public Works Director Cory Crebbin scrambled to come up with a group project for the interview, and said that while the department tends to deal with asphalt more than eggs, the exercise demonstrated the kind of teamwork the job requires. From inspecting and consulting to putting together projects, the city engineer works together with the other 17 employees in the engineering division as well as contractors to solve problems. It’s not the kind of job where you just stay late at work and finish a project yourself, he said. "You have to rely on other people. You can’t do it all yourself." Crebbin said seven people from the department were involved in the interview process, giving the applicants real public works problems, such as how to excavate the rock that was discovered on the East McAndrews Road extension project, and how to present information to the City Council. Crebbin said a few staff members acted the part of council, and didn’t make it easy on the applicants. "A couple of them really played it up," he said. "What we really liked about Larry is that he was looking for input on all these things before he made a decision," said Crebbin, adding that Beskow didn’t come in with preconceived notions about issues. Coming projects include upgrades of the Riverside Avenue and Barnett Road intersection, the Crater Lake Avenue and McAndrews intersection, and the Coker Butte and Lear Way extensions. Beskow said he and his wife and six children, ages 11 to 26, like to hike, camp, and are involved in their church. "The rest of the time we’re just trying to keep up with the kids," he said. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Bob Deuel retires after 14 years as Medford’s top engineer After 30 years with Medford’s Public Works Department, Bob Deuel is moving on down the road. Deuel, 56, said in his 14 years as city engineer, he oversaw the construction of 60 miles of road, 52 miles of sanitary sewer lines and 57 miles of storm drains. He has one thing in mind for retirement, he said. "I plan on doing non-engineering," he said. From designing a portion of Boardman Street to extending the sanitary sewer systems into northeast Medford in preparation for development, Deuel describes a city engineer’s job as a lot of the behind-the-scenes work. But it’s the groundwork that enables the rest to happen, he said. "In order for us to grow and be progressive we have to be ready so that when growth occurs we aren’t lagging," he said. He said even though he officially retired Jan. 31, he made sure he stayed on board until the 10-year East McAndrews Road extension project, which opened to traffic last month, was complete. A collector of radio vacuum tubes, Deuel is secretary treasurer of the Tube Collector’s Association, which has worldwide membership, and he said that and other interests will keep him plenty busy. "I got a little fortune cookie thing yesterday," he said. "It said: You’ve spent your life writing the introduction. It’s time for chapter one." Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S