The interim tag is now removed for Mitch Williams, who officially has become public works director for the city of Mount Airy.
Williams, whose promotion was announced Monday night during a meeting of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners, postponed from Thursday night due to weather, had been serving in the position on an interim basis since last March.
That coincided with the retirement of Jeff Boyles after 20 years as public works director and 27 years of service with the municipality overall.
Williams, 50, also is a career employee with the Public Works Department, including previously working as city engineer and second in command of an operation including about 65 employees with responsibilities including water and sewer utilities, sanitation collections and street maintenance.
“I’m honored,” Williams said Tuesday of his appointment, which was disclosed during Monday night’s commissioners meeting by City Manager Barbara Jones. “I thank Barbara and the board for having that kind of confidence in me.”
Williams, who will mark his 24th year with the city government in May, is a lifelong local resident who graduated from North Surry High School in 1988.
He later earned degrees from Surry Community College and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Williams had discovered a passion for technical drawing and engineering years ago while a drafting student at North Surry High, which proved to be a springboard for his career. It eventually led to him obtaining a license to practice as a professional engineer in North Carolina.
When first joining the city staff in 1997, Williams held the title of civil engineer, and has 30 years of experience in that field overall. He was promoted to engineering supervisor in 2001; city engineer in 2004; and city engineer/assistant public works director in 2018.
Williams is credited with playing a major role in extensive commercial, industrial and infrastructure projects in the Mount Airy area since the 1990s. This mirrors his professional interests in civil site design, streetscape design and greenway design, which have been instrumental in making various projects in the community a reality.
“The Carlos Jones Park is one that comes to mind as a project that Mitch was instrumental in the design and look of that enhanced our downtown,” the city manager mentioned Tuesday as an example of the many he’s successfully planned and designed.
“Mitch not only has talents as a licensed professional engineer but also has a great eye in the design and aesthetics of a project,” Jones added.
His artistic inclinations in recent years have included crafting a logo for the Mount Airy Public Works Department which is displayed on its vehicles, a takeoff on Andy and Opie heading to the fishing hole while wearing hard hats.
Challenging period
Williams has been easing into the director’s job during an eventful time, including plans by Mount Airy to automate its garbage collections, requiring him to assemble a plan and order two trucks to accommodate that move.
Then there’s COVID-19, which was emerging as a major public health crisis about the time Boyles retired.
“The role of interim director came with much more during the pandemic,” the city manager acknowledged Tuesday.
Jones pointed out that Williams “continues to be a strong leader in working with staff to follow all of the governor’s orders, keeping our staff safe while continuing quality service.”
This includes garbage pickup, recycling, projects already scheduled, street repair and maintenance, utility break repairs and everything that comes under his umbrella of duties, according to the city manager.
The Public Works Department’s purview includes around 200 miles of water lines and 150 miles of sewer lines, along with about 72 miles of streets to maintain which are on the municipal roadway system.
“Mitch is familiar with all areas of public works and having served as city engineer he knows the history of our water and sewer system like the back of his hand,” Jones observed.
The new director said Tuesday that his main goal is to maintain the same levels of service in the public works realm which local citizens came to expect under the leadership of Boyles and another former director before him, Sonny Chappell.
“I’ve got some big shoes to fill,” said Williams, whose family includes wife Christy and two children, Raleigh and Charlotte.
Jones expressed confidence Tuesday in Williams’ ability to fulfill his goal.
“We are fortunate to have him serving this community,” the city manager remarked.
“He is a dedicated and loyal employee that continues to serve this city with the best interest of our citizens and our staff in mind,” Jones continued. “I expect to see great ideas and continued quality performance as Mitch officially takes the reins in his role as public works director.”
Source: https://www.mtairynews.com