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State: GPID leader acted as engineer without a license By PAUL FATTIG GRANTS PASS -- A state licensing board intends to fine Grants Pass Irrigation District Chairman Dennis Becklin for practicing engineering without a license. Becklin The Oregon Board of Examiners for Engineering & Land Surveying, which regulates engineering and surveying in Oregon, recently notified Becklin by letter of its intent. Sparked by a 1998 complaint lodged by two district patrons, Becklin is accused of two counts of practicing engineering without a license for work he did on Savage Rapids Dam in the spring of that year. The diversion dam, targeted for removal by state and federal agencies that have cited ongoing damage to the migratory fishery, is on the main stem of the Rogue River. Civil penalties of up to $1,000 can be imposed for each infraction. Although a state board member could not be reached for comment, Chris Cauble, a Grants Pass attorney who represents the district, said Becklin intends to contest the findings. "They are alleging that he violated the law -- we intend to challenge that," Cauble said. However, Becklin, who is on vacation and could not be reached for comment, will represent himself in the case, Cauble said. "But we don't believe what Dennis did constitutes practice of engineering under the state statutes," Cauble stressed. GPID patrons Laird Funk and Herbert E. Neeland charged that Becklin violated state law by designing fish screens installed in the spring of 1998 on the dam. As evidence, their complaint included minutes of a GPID board meeting discussion of the north side screens that read, "Mr. Becklin responded that he is the engineer in charge." Becklin, who is not a registered professional engineer, has said statutory exceptions exempt him and other GPID officers and staff from the current licensing rules for engineers. Moreover, the work was completed under the watchful eye of professional engineers contracted by the district, Cauble said. Oregon law requires prospective engineers with four-year college degrees to spend four years working under a licensed engineer and complete a 16-hour exam. Prospective engineers without a degree can take the exam after completing 12 years of work supervised by a licensed engineer. Funk predicts that a challenge to the state board by Becklin will not hold water. "He deserves every penny of this (fines)," Funk said. "The fact is that he is not an engineer." In any case, the issue is not expected to be resolved soon, Cauble said, noting that a legal officer has yet to be appointed by the board to review the issue. "There have been no conclusions in this case," Cauble stressed. "They have not fined him yet." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA