Posted on: Monday, February 10, 2003

Kaua'i welcomes new deputy county engineer

Advertiser Staff

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Wynne Ushigome, a former civil engineer for ITT Industries at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, has been named deputy county engineer for Kaua'i, replacing Ian Costa, who has become the county's planning director.

Ushigome is a University of Hawai'i graduate and a licensed civil engineer.

The county still has no one in the county engineer's position, and Ushigome will immediately also assume the role of acting county engineer.

"We are very confident that she will effectively be able to lead the organization until such time we hire an engineer," said Mayor Bryan Baptiste.

The county has had difficulty recruiting for the top position, which administers the Department of Public Works, the county's largest agency. Public Information Officer Vida Mossman said there has recently been new interest in the post and the mayor's office is reviewing applicants.