FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2021
Contact: Susan Norton
Chief of Staff
479-575-8330
snorton@fayetteville-ar.gov
City Announces New Public Works Department, Staff Promotions
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— The City of Fayetteville announced the creation of a new department along with several related role changes and promotions.
Effective Jan. 25. 2021, the City’s Engineering and Design, Transportation Services, Parking Management, Drake Field Airport and Fleet Services divisions will be reorganized into the newly created Public Works department. The first phase of this reorganization process brings together several service areas that routinely work on different aspects of the same projects, and it is expected to create many benefits, including efficiency, flexibility and collaboration.
“This initial reorganization process is being undertaken after much conversation with City employees and division directors to gather their insights and ideas,” explained Chief of Staff Susan Norton. “It is aimed at achieving greater efficiency and cross-collaboration to strengthen City services, provide opportunities for employee growth, share resources across departmental lines, and provide flexibility in staffing across service areas.”
To support the new Public Works department, the City announced the following promotions:
Chris Brown has been promoted to Director of Public Works. In this new role, he will continue to serve as City Engineer. Brown joined the City of Fayetteville in 2006 as an Engineering Design Manager, and he was promoted to City Engineer in 2009. He has contributed significantly to the design and management of many public works projects, including those in the 2006 transportation bond program and the 2019 infrastructure improvements bond program. Brown has more than 25 years of experience in the field of public works, including 12 years as a project manager for capital projects at the City of Springdale. He received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas.
Terry Gulley has been promoted to Assistant Public Works Director for Operations, reporting to Brown. He will continue to manage the Transportation Services, Airport and Fleet divisions in this new role. Gulley joined the City of Fayetteville in 1998 as a Maintenance Supervisor in the Parks and Recreation Department. He moved to the Transportation Division in January 2003 and was promoted to Transportation Services Director in March 2009. Gulley received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Agriculture from the University of Arkansas.
An Assistant Public Works Director for Engineering and Design will be appointed later.
The City announced the following promotions in its Development Services department:
Jonathan Curth was promoted to Development Services Director. He replaces Garner Stoll, who retired from the City of Fayetteville in December 2020. Curth joined the City of Fayetteville approximately five years ago and previously held roles as Senior Planner and Development Review Manager within Development Services. Prior to joining the City, he worked as a planner in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Curth received a master’s degree in Urban Planning, Land Use and Transportation Planning from the University of Kansas.
Additionally, Jessie Masters was promoted to Development Review Manager, reporting to Curth. She came to the City of Fayetteville in March 2020 as the Senior Planner. Before that, Masters served as a planner for the City of Rogers, and held previous roles in planning, information and special projects for Cuyahoga Land Bank in Cleveland, OH. She received a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University.
The City’s Development Services department provides planning, land development, building, fire safety, and permit coordination services for anyone undergoing any type of construction within the city to ensure compliance with applicable city and building codes. It includes the Planning and Development Review, Long-Range Planning, and Building Safety/Code Compliance divisions.
Additional information about the City of Fayetteville’s development services department can be found at www.fayetteville-ar.gov/149/Development-Services.
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