Staff writer
Darin Neufeld searched in a 60-mile radius around Marion County for a new town in which to open an office for his Goodland engineering company — Evans, Bierly, Hutchinson, and Associates.
Marion is where he is choosing to set up shop.
Neufeld said he was lured to Marion mainly because of the school system. Neufeld’s wife, Jona, was a fourth-grade teacher in Goodland, where Neufeld started another EBH office from scratch. When Neufeld expressed interest in Marion, USD 408 superintendent Lee Leiker and Marion Elementary principal Rod Garman immediately started talking to Jona Neufeld about job opportunities. She was later hired as a fifth-grade teacher at the elementary school.
The Neufelds were also searching for the right size of community. Jona Neufeld grew up in Manhattan and went to a 6A-sized high school, while Darin grew up around Cimarron and went to a 1A-sized school. They searched for a school district similar in size to the Goodland school district, a large 3A, which presented many opportunities for their three children: Tyler, eighth grade; Austin, fifth grade; and Megan, third grade.
The Neufelds were also familiar with the Marion area. Darin has family in Hillsboro and Jona’s family was originally from Peabody.
Daren has also worked on projects in Marion County. He helped with EBH work on Hillsboro water treatment and wastewater facilities. He also worked with Lehigh on its wastewater facility and EBH is assisting Lehigh with new water lines.
While he is operating out of his rental house in Marion, Neufeld has started working with the City of Marion on electronically converting their maps. Currently, all of Marion’s maps showing zoning, waterlines, and everything else are on maps that have to be manually changed. Darin pointed out that the cemetery map was marked with white-out after frequent changes.
Although he is versed in several aspects of civil engineering, Neufeld said his company specialty is airports. He is called on for any of EBH’s airport projects in the state and specializes in the paperwork involved in procuring federal and state grants. He quickly named current projects in Leavenworth, Alma, and Pleasanton.
While being called for airport projects, he also has to oversee projects in the southeast section of Kansas in his office area.
“During construction season we travel a lot,” he said.
Neufeld will also travel in the offseason because of his commitment to serving in the Air Force Reserves 30 days a year. When called, Neufeld reports to Colorado Springs but can be working on engineering projects at any one of the Air Force’s Space Command Stations.
The Neufelds are planning to build a new house in Country Club Heights in Marion. Daren is looking into offices in Marion. He said he should have an idea of his office plans in the next two weeks.
When Neufeld started in Goodland nearly 12 years ago, he was equipped with an office, drafting paper, and a public line. He left six full-time employees in Goodland. He is hoping to build a similar staff in Marion.
Marion Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Board, and USD 408 are all excited to have another family in town.
“I anticipate working closely with Darin and I’m glad he found a home in Marion,” Economic Development Director Doug Kjellin said.