November 19, 1996

Mr. Bud McArthur, PE

Mr. David R. Schiess, PE

Idaho Society of Professional Engineers

600 South Orchard, Suite B

Boise, ID 83705-1242

Gentlemen:

I have read your letter of October 10, 1996, to Mayor Linda Milam and the Idaho Falls City Council regarding the hiring of professional engineers as the Public Works Managers and City Engineers. As I am somewhat familiar with Ed Turner’s situation and his forced retirement from the city, I was disappointed with the "watered down" message in your letter. When Ed was experiencing demotions and harassment from city management, eh sent his and his supervisor’s job descriptions to ISPE for review and comment. Because the job descriptions essentially removed Ed from responsible charge over city engineering designs, ISPE advised him not to stamp and sign those designs(ref. J.L. Cornelison letter to J.D. Canning dated June 18, 1996). The June 18, 1996 letter also addressed in more clear and emphatic terms the hiring concerns of your October 10, 1996 letter. The contents of the Cornelison-Canning letter were restated in a letter to Chad Stanger, Idaho Falls Director of Publis Works dated June 28, 1996. Stanger was advised in no uncertain terms as to ISPE’s support of Ed Turner. What has changed? What has changed at ISPE? In my opinion, ISPE has abandoned its support of Ed and are trying to placate the people responsible for his wrongful discharge. Why?

We as professional engineers have spent years studying and practicing to protect the safety of the general public. Every time we stamp and sign our designs we put our reputations and careers on the line. A fellow professional engineer has been forced to resign without just cause - why isn’t our society outraged by this? As I see it your job as officers is to represent and defend us as professional engineers and good standing members of ISPE. Wouldn’t you expect support if you were wrongly punished for correct and justified professional actions? Your October 10^th letter states that "We are in no way criticizing the engineering practices of the City of Idaho Falls in the past." You ought to be! You should be deeply involved in finding out what was done and why, and if as I believe, "Ed’s case is just", [ISPE should strongly criticize the City’s actions and do everything possible to get those responsible fired.]

Sincerely,

Idaho Engineer

Member ISPE, BSCE, MSCE