Teamwork ranks high in the mindset of KPUD’s Goldendale line crew.

“This crew takes a lot of pride in its work. They are a dedicated group,” says Line Foreman John Starr. Completing the team are Journeyman Linemen Tim Garrigus and Lake Howard, Equipment Operator John Moore, and Groundman Darren Shattuck.

“With teamwork, there’s a thought process involved, a communication process, with everyone knowing what’s expected,” Starr explains. “There is efficiency because we line out what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it at the job site.”

This efficiency paid off for eight property owners on Wheatland Road in the Old Mountain Road area of Goldendale. Bringing in power to their properties was projected to cost around $30,000. The Goldendale line crew placed 13 new poles and 3300 feet of overhead line into the area at one-half the estimated cost to the property owners. The job was completed in less than two days.

15,000 feet of line in just four days. This is significant when you consider the time it takes to install each pole and dig each hole. This is a prime example of how work can be accomplished when a crew works well together.

These jobs involved digging holes for the poles, which is done by Moore, a team member since 1998. The linemen assemble the poles while they are on the ground, adding hardware such as insulators and cross arms. When the poles are in place, the lines are strung.

The Goldendale line crew’s territory covers long stretches of road from the west end of the High Prairie area, east to the Alderdale area, and north to Bickleton.

“We have to be flexible,” says Starr. “If one or two of our members is sent out on another job somewhere, the rest of us re-group. We all fill in for who’s missing. It’s never a problem: each guy is a jack of all trades.”

The crew receives praise for doing their job quickly and safely. “I get a lot of positive comments from customers on how well we work together,” says Starr. “Our number one priority is always safety. Number two is production. We work hard to save the PUD and its customers’ money.”