Clark County Public Works director receives state award

The Clark County council, along with a full audience of Public Works employees, honored Public Works Director Heath Henderson at its meeting Tuesday for receiving a statewide engineering award.

The Washington State Association of County Engineers named Henderson the Urban County Engineer of the Year.

County staff helped nominate Henderson for the award earlier this year, Acting County Manager Mark McCauley said, submitting an eight-page letter to the organization that described Henderson’s “people skills, his leadership skills, his management skills (and) his professional acumen.”

In particular, McCauley called out Henderson’s willingness to work with his employees to find collaborative solutions.

“He very carefully reviews the organization, listens to his managers and incorporates their thinking into the future of public works,” McCauley said. “I’m thrilled that he was recognized.”

Henderson said the award is more than his to claim; it’s also a recognition of Clark County Public Works crews, the county manager and the council.

Henderson thanked the crowd of about 40 employees who attended the morning meeting to watch him receive the award, a small wooden plaque shaped like Washington state.

“I really do think that Public Works does a good job trying to do the best job it can for the citizens,” Henderson said.