When longtime City of Yakima Public Works Director Chris Waarvick retired in June, Scott Schafer, who was the City\u2019s Wastewater Manager at the time, was named Acting Public Works Director in order to allow City Manager Tony O\u2019Rourke some time to evaluate how the position would be filled on a more permanent basis.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Utilities and Engineering Director Debbie Cook appointed Shelley Willson, then a Utility Engineer, to step into Schafer\u2019s shoes temporarily and become the Acting Wastewater Manager.<\/p>\n
After having seen both Schafer and Willson perform well in their acting capacities for the past six months, O\u2019Rourke and Cook have decided to remove the \u201cacting\u201d tag from their titles.\u00a0 This week, O\u2019Rourke formally promoted Schafer to the job of Public Works Director and Cook named Willson to the role of Wastewater Manager.<\/p>\n
Schafer has worked for the City since July 1996 when he was hired as a Lab Technician in the Wastewater Division.\u00a0 He was promoted to the position of Environmental Analyst in the Wastewater Division in September 2003 and then to the position of Assistant Wastewater Division Manager in July 2005.\u00a0 In September 2008, Schafer was named to serve as the Acting Wastewater Division Manager and became the City\u2019s Wastewater Division Manager in February 2009.<\/p>\n
Willson was first hired by the City as a Traffic Technician in April 1983.\u00a0 She was promoted to the position of Supervising Traffic Engineer about seven years later.\u00a0 After serving in an acting capacity for six months, Willson became the City\u2019s Streets and Traffic Division Manager in January 1999.\u00a0 Since December 2007, she has worked primarily on stormwater issues as a Utility Engineer in the Wastewater Division.<\/p>\n
\u201dI\u2019ve had the privilege of working with both Scott and Shelley and they are truly assets to the City,\u201d said Cook.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m happy that Scott has been given the opportunity to lead the Public Works Department.\u00a0 He has done a great job during his tenure at Wastewater,\u201d said Cook.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m equally excited that we are able to have someone as qualified as Shelley take the reins of the Wastewater Division.\u00a0 It\u2019s the best of both worlds.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe City is committed to cultivating leaders from within the organization itself,\u201d said O\u2019Rourke.\u00a0 \u201cBeing able to promote Scott and Shelley to their new roles is an excellent example of how that approach can work successfully.\u00a0 Both Scott and Shelley have extensive experience in their specific disciplines and both have contributed a lot to the City of Yakima over the years,\u201d said O\u2019Rourke.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m pleased that the City will continue to benefit by having them as key members of the management team.\u201d<\/p>\n
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