City engineer appointed to State Public Works Board

Gig Harbor City Engineer Steve Misiurak will now be helping to make decisions on a state level.

Misiurak was recently appointed to the Washington State Public Works Board by Gov. Jay Inslee.

“I’m very excited, honored and humbled to be selected for this very important position,” Misiurak said.

Misiurak had applied for a nomination previously and has been attending meetings of the Public Works Board for more than ten years.

“I was just intrigued by the process by which they make the project selection,” he said.

Misiurak has been employed with the city since 2000, when he was hired as project manager for the Borgen Boulevard project and oversaw road improvements and utilities to the area. Other major projects he has overseen include the original Pt. Fosdick road widening south of Olympic Drive and improvements to several lift stations throughout Gig Harbor.

“I’ve been, and still am, responsible, ultimately, to see the outcome (of these projects) through,” he said.

A dual citizen with Canada, Misiruak has been married for 25 years and is a National Hockey League fan. His two children attend college in Canada.

The Public Works Board, which was established in 1985, provides infrastructure funding to counties and cities through Washington state and recommendations to the state Legislature.

The board offers low interest loans for infrastructure projects such as water, sewer and, recently, road improvements, Misiurak said, with more that $1.5 billion loaned and zero defaults from loan recipients.

Board positions are unpaid and have four-year terms, with appointment by the governor following an application process.

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 1:19 PM with the headline "City engineer appointed to State Public Works Board."