NID consolidates departments, promotes manager

John Kirk

John R. Kirk is the new manager of Operations and Maintenance. In the position, he will oversee the Water Operations Department and continue managing the Maintenance Department.

The Nevada Irrigation District has promoted one of its managers to oversee two departments with more than 100 employees.

John R. Kirk, a civil engineer for 11 years with NID, is the new manager of Operations and Maintenance. In the position, he will oversee the Water Operations Department and continue managing the Maintenance Department, which he has done for the past three years.

The two departments have 110 of NID’s 175-member work force. The promotion took affect on May 24.

NID General Manager Ron Nelson said Kirk has been an effective manager for the district and that consolidation will increase collaboration between the two departments.

“Our first priority is to maintain the excellent customer service the district is known for,” Nelson said. “We also want to provide some financial efficiencies for the district.”

The consolidation of management duties follows the April 30 retirement of Don Wight, the former water operations manager.

Kirk, who lives in Weimar, grew up in Auburn and graduated from Placer High School.

He earned a civil engineering degree from CSU Sacramento. In 1999, he began working for the NID Engineering Department. He was named the manager of the Maintenance Department in 2007.