Goucher resigns as chief of CED7

Monte Goucher submitted his resignation as executive director of Circuit Engineering District No. 7 at Monday’s September meeting of the district’s board of directors.
The resignation was not on the agenda, so no action was taken by the board. Goucher said it will be on the agenda for the board’s October meeting and will be effective Dec. 31.
His resignation was read aloud at the close of Monday’s meeting by Joe Don Dickey of Tillman County, the current board chairman.
It read as follows:
“Gentlemen:
“It is with much thought and consideration that I submit my resignation as your fulltime Executive Director of CED7 and the CED7 County Energy District Authority effective Dec. 31, 2018. An exciting opportunity to reenter the private sector has presented itself and I feel the time is right to move my career in a different direction. However, the continued success of CED7 is very important to me and I promise to work diligently with the board during this time of change to make sure that this organization continues to serve its member counties and the taxpaying public well into the future.
“Respectfully submitted,
“Monte W. Goucher, P.E.”
Goucher declined after the meeting to say where in the private sector he will be employed in the future.
Circuit Engineering District No. 7 is a group of 11 southwestern Oklahoma counties that was formed in 1998 as a way for them to work together in repairing and constructing roads and bridges and acquiring some of the funds to do so. Dickey said Goucher has been its only executive director although its leader may not have had that title when it was first formed.
After his letter was read, Goucher said he would stay on as a consultant for a while.
“I want the board to know that over the next two weeks I will help prepare a plan to go forward,” he said. “I’m not going to leave you in a lurch.”
He said he would be meeting with each of the directors privately over the next two weeks.
“It is with much regret this is taking place, but life goes on,” said Dickey.
Afterwards, he told the Clinton Daily News that Goucher has been the organization’s only executive director during his 15 years on the board. He also praised the outgoing chief executive.
“He solves problems,” said Dickey. “He helped write the CIRB program (which is a major funding mechanism for county roads and bridges statewide). He helped put together the language that was sent to the legislature creating the program as we know it. He and Gary Ridley (former Oklahoma Department of Transportation division engineer who lived in Clinton) were instrumental in getting this legislation, and it has sure helped the state.
“This CED has grown by leaps and bounds and always stayed in the forefront. It has been most instrumental in leading the way for the entire state. We have achieved something very remarkable. Hopefully we can grow and continue to serve the needs of our constituents and make this a better CED.”
The resignation comes 14 months after CED 7’s office manager approached Goucher and allegedly admitted embezzling funds. An audit by the district’s regular auditor eventually showed nearly $100,000 was missing.
A followup audit was undertaken by the office of State Auditor Gary Jones. A spokesperson there said Tuesday afternoon it has not been released.
Dickey said it took him by surprise when Goucher told him he planned to resign.
“When a person has intelligence and training and an offer to better themselves, they have to look at it,” he said. “It’s his gain and our loss.”
Dickey said Goucher indicated to him he would be available as a consultant to the board for several months.
“CED7 would not be what it is today without a person the stature of Monte Goucher,” he continued. He indicated that in his opinion  Goucher is “by far head and shoulders above” other executive directors of circuit engineering districts across the state.
“We could not have had a better person to lead this organization than what we’ve got,” said Dickey. “He will be greatly missed.”
Dickey said Goucher has assured him he will stay in touch “so we can be successful and stay solvent into the future.”
As for a replacement, the board chairman said the organization won’t be in a hurry to find one.
“We’re not accepting resumes at this time,” he said, adding that when the time is right, the board will be meeting in executive session to discuss a successor.
“We will have Monte’s service the next 3½ months,” he said. “He’s not leaving us high and dry. It was just that an opportunity presented itself that was best him and his family, and I fully understand that.”