City of Blaine hires new public works director

The city of Blaine has hired Harpiar Gandhi to serve as the new public works director. Gandhi has over two decades of engineering experience working for companies and local governments in Canada and Oregon.

Blaine City Council unanimously approved Gandhi’s employment contract during its April 10 meeting. His first day on the job is June 1.

“I’m looking forward to working with the city of Blaine and achieving the city’s goals,” Gandhi said in a phone interview.

Gandhi earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Gulbarga University in India and master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Calgary in Alberta.

Gandhi served as general manager of transportation and utilities for the municipal district of Bonnyville in Alberta from 2013 to 2018. He then spent two years as an engineer and consultant at Altima Contracting Ltd. in Vancouver before starting his current position in 2020 as the public works director for the city of Clatskanie, Oregon, a city of 1,700 people southwest of Longview, Washington. 

Gandhi said that he applied for the position because his background in public works prepared him well for the new challenges and opportunities that the city’s development could bring. He added living in Blaine will move him closer to family and friends in Canada.

Per his contract, Gandhi will earn nearly $141,000 annually and have 26 vacation days. 

The city’s public works director position has been vacant since last July. Former maintenance and operation supervisor Gary McSpadden has served as director in the interim.