The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) has lost one of its longest serving managers with the retirement of Building and Protective Services department head Dan McNeill.

Hired by the RDEK in 1979 as a building inspector, Cranbrook resident McNeill became Building and Protective Services Manager in 2004.

He was honoured Sept. 5 by the regional board of directors and attending staff.

“Over the past 35 years, Dan has been a dedicated servant to our public and a reliable employee. He has always been a well-respected member of the RDEK team and is known for his sense of humour,” said regional board chair Rob Gay, Electoral Area C director.

“Dan has personally witnessed the myriad of changes this organization and his own department have experienced and has helped the staff through the changing times,” he said, adding, “Ten years ago, the focus of Dan’s department was solely on building inspection and bylaw enforcement. When he took over as manager that all changed with the addition of emergency programs, fire services, 911, community wildfire protection and office maintenance.

“He took on the additional responsibility with a smile on his face and has worked diligently to continually improve the service our public receive and to streamline process,” Gay said.

McNeill’s career-line traced the added responsibilities that local and regional governments have had to take on, he continued.

“Dan’s dedication to the success of our emergency programs is also a highlight of his career. He played an important role in the logistics branch during the wildfires of 2003 and carried that same important role during the flooding in recent years. Besides his active roles in during emergencies, he also played a supporting role in helping to ensure that our emergency management plans work for the benefits of our residents. The importance of Dan’s dedication to our emergency programs cannot be understated.”

Gay reminded fellow elected officials that the boardroom they were seated in is a legacy for McNeill.

“Look around. Dan was the project manager who brought us this beautiful boardroom, the conference room behind us, and my new office. It was a very big and often frustrating project, but we will enjoy the results of his hard work for many, many years to come. You should be proud of what you have accomplished during your career,” Gay said in salute before presenting McNeill with a gift.

“I normally don’t have a lot to say,” McNeill said with a laugh, joined by board directors, staff and media. “I’ve enjoyed all 35-years of my tenure here,” he said, acknowledging that he’s seen “a lot of changes.”

For example, he noted when he started in 1979, “There were no fax machines, no computers and cell phones were the size of Maxwell Smart’s shoe!”

Lead image: Electoral Area C director and board chair Rob Gay presents Dan McNeill with a retirement gift Sept. 5 prior to the start of the RDEK board meeting in Cranbrook.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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