MONROE - The city of Monroe officially hired long-time engineering supervisor Alan Gerber as its new director of public works Tuesday.
Gerber has been serving as interim director since Jan. 19, after the resignation of Colin Simpson, who was director for two years.
Gerber, a 23-year veteran of the city, said he hopes to serve residents well and is confident in his ability to do so.
"I plan to just continue to work with staff in the best interest of the citizens and to be economically and fiscally responsible in my decisions," Gerber said.
He added that he found it "inspiring" to be placed with the trust of the Monroe Common Council. "They have the confidence in me to take on those duties," Gerber said.
The city began with 13 applications to narrow down. Brooke Bauman, chairman of the Salary and Personnel Committee, and Charles Koch, chairman of the Board of Public Works, met with City Administrator Phil Rath to evaluate applicants. All three agreed to interview two, and sat both down for an all-day evaluation in which they were first interviewed by city staff, asked to provide samples of everyday duties for the office of director of public works, and then were finally interviewed by the full city council.
The city had made it a goal in January to keep Gerber as interim director and then revisit the conditions of his placement within two months if they had not hired a new director by that time. They came in just under the wire, officially hiring him March 15.
Gerber will earn $78,300.
Gerber has been serving as interim director since Jan. 19, after the resignation of Colin Simpson, who was director for two years.
Gerber, a 23-year veteran of the city, said he hopes to serve residents well and is confident in his ability to do so.
"I plan to just continue to work with staff in the best interest of the citizens and to be economically and fiscally responsible in my decisions," Gerber said.
He added that he found it "inspiring" to be placed with the trust of the Monroe Common Council. "They have the confidence in me to take on those duties," Gerber said.
The city began with 13 applications to narrow down. Brooke Bauman, chairman of the Salary and Personnel Committee, and Charles Koch, chairman of the Board of Public Works, met with City Administrator Phil Rath to evaluate applicants. All three agreed to interview two, and sat both down for an all-day evaluation in which they were first interviewed by city staff, asked to provide samples of everyday duties for the office of director of public works, and then were finally interviewed by the full city council.
The city had made it a goal in January to keep Gerber as interim director and then revisit the conditions of his placement within two months if they had not hired a new director by that time. They came in just under the wire, officially hiring him March 15.
Gerber will earn $78,300.
