Todd Sando promoted to ND state engineer

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota's Water Commission on Wednesday hired a longtime agency engineer as its top administrator.

Todd Sando, 48, succeeds Dale Frink as North Dakota's state engineer. The Bismarck native began work at the commission in 1985, shortly after he earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of North Dakota.

A former director of the Water Commission's water development division, Sando worked as Frink's top assistant for nine years. He was named as Frink's interim replacement when Frink retired last month.

"This was one of my goals," Sando said in an interview after he was hired. "I've been working towards it for 25 years. I'm honored for the opportunity."

The Water Commission is a state agency, with more than 80 employees and a two-year budget of $325.9 million. Most of its budget is used for water projects.

The agency is overseen by a state board, which is also called the Water Commission. It has nine members, including its chairman, Gov. John Hoeven, and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring.

The board voted unanimously on Wednesday to hire Sando as Frink's permanent successor.

"We do have a lot of pressing water issues," Sando told the board after the vote. "I'll work closely with commission members, and I'll work hard to communicate, and we can make this a better place for future generations, and solve a lot of our issues out there."

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