A new City Public Works director is on the way.
Robert George has been picked for the post, from a pool of seven qualified applicants, interim City Manager Joe Duran told City Council at its March 25 meeting.
“We had some really good applicants,” Duran said. “However, this individual has a lot of compliance experience in water and wastewater, has management skills and is a very knowledgeable person.”
George worked for the City in the 1990s as an operator in the wastewater treatment facilities, Duran said.
He’s currently a domestic waste team leader for the New Mexico Environment Department in Santa Fe. Prior to that, he worked for the New Mexico State University Water Utilities Technical Assistance Program, as a field training specialist, also in Santa Fe, according to a resume provided by the City.
George has lived in the Española Valley for over 20 years. He said the opportunity to come back and work for the City was just what he’d been waiting for.
“I see this job as public service in my community,” he said. “There are some very serious issues we need to face. We really need to make sure our wastewater facility is working well and meets the city’s needs as it continues to grow.”
George is expected to start by the beginning of May.