Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-14

straight row with no fanfare.
The County Board members are
welcome to the public spotlight
In their heated debates on
policy and politics.
Arlington's county manager
since July /. l947. Mr.. Lund-
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Fourth Of o Series on Executives Who
Monose Area Counties and Cities
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berg is q first generation
American with civil engineer
ing training and q conserva-
tive businessman's approach to
spending.
Trusts In System
With a distaste for loose ends
and a trust in the systematic
approach. Mr.. Lundherg has
developed . tight-knit opera
ton within which are well-de-
fined areas Of authority. He
is noted for maintaining q close
interest even in the smallest
details.
Mr.. Lundberg was born
March 20. 1909. in Pitsfield.
Mass. His father came to this
country from Sweden at the
age Of Is. and his mother had
immigrated from Norway.
After graduating from high
school and taking q years
training course in electrical en-
neering. he decided to switch
careers. In 1873, Mr.. Lund-
berg graduated from Ohio
Northern University with q
bachelor Of science degree In
civil engineering.
He took the post Of assistant
city engineer in an Ohio mill
town-Martins Ferry--and be-
came city engineer at the age
, of %
From there. Mr.. Lundberg
moved to the industrial town
Of Fostoria. Ohio. where he
served as city engineer until
1881.
During that period. he acted
as resident engineer during
construction Of both a sewage
treatment and q water filtra-
ton plant.
Knows About Pollution
Today. Mr.. Lundberg can
help ease any headaches on
Potomac River pollution prob
lens by thinking back to his
days in Ohio. Before tighter
restrictions went into effect,
one plant in the Ohio town was
depositing suspended carbon in
the water while. from the other
end Of town, lime was being
added by a wire mills opera
tons. The two elements, Mr..
Lundberg recalled thoughtfully,
combined into something which
was similar to q shoe paste at
the sewage treatment plant.
In 1881. Mr.. Lundberg was
employed by Chester Engineers.
q consulting firm which spe-
cializes in municipal improve
ments. Three years later. the
f1rm assigned him to Arlington
as a resident engineer on the
countrywide sewerage system
and sewage treatment program.
At that time. the county had
only q few. scattered independ-
ent systems and no treatment
plant.
In July. 1896. when the prof.
ect was almost completed, Mr..
Lundberg accepted an invita-
ton to take the post Of chief
engineer in charge Of Arling-
tons water department.
He moved up nine years later
to public service director. Mr..
Lundberg served for two years
as acting county manager be-
fore being appointed to the top
administrative post.
Hands-OR Policy
He has firm views on keeping
hands OF the County Boards
policy-making authority. His
ONCE. Mr.. Lundberg explained,
has q duty to recommend poll
icy actions. However, a county
manager should never forget
that he is the municipal BUSH
ness manager and the govern
ing body is the board Of direc-
tors.
Mr.. Lundberg keeps in touch
with the fine points Of county
administration through a sys-
TEN of conferences and field
trips.
He has a fixed schedule Of
bi-weekly talks. following each
County Board meeting, with
all department heads. In some
cases. these conferences are
followed up with field trips. Al
staff meeting with all depart
ment heads is held once a
month.
THE general business Of the
county" Mr.. Lundberg said, "is
conducted on a positive sched-
ule."
Since Mr.. Lundberg Joined
the county staff 81 years ago,
Arlingto ms population has
jumped from about $4,000 to
some 100000. bringing to mu-
nicipal officials the problems
involved in trying to keep pace
with services.
Mr.. Lundberg and his wife,
who met while he was working
at Martins Ferry, celebrated
their 30th wedding anniversary
October 3. Mrs. Lundberg is a
descendant Of a couple who
Jury Probes Deuth