Commissioners name Bill Shaw county project manager for shared-use path and direct RFP work

The Board of County Commissioners appointed County Engineer Bill Shaw Sept. 11 to serve as the county project manager for a proposed shared-use path funded through ODOT, and commissioners directed staff to proceed with an RFP to hire design or consulting services. Why it matters: Assigning a project manager and issuing an RFP are preparatory steps that allow the county to apply for and manage ODOT-funded improvements to bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure. Commissioners said the county—s office prepared an RFP and that Bill Shaw volunteered to be the county project manager. The board discussed that the project is ODOT-funded, not county operating funds, and that Shaw will coordinate with ODOT during the application and procurement steps. One commissioner said Shaw was "more than qualified and more than willing" to serve as project lead; the board voted to appoint him and to move forward with the RFP process. Commissioners asked staff to circulate the packet and to prepare a selection spreadsheet for next-week discussion if needed. The vote to appoint the county project manager and to proceed with RFP-related steps passed unanimously. The board did not award design or construction contracts at the Sept. 11 meeting; those will follow the RFP and selection process.