As we enter the season of leaves, snow and ice, Westerville’s road warriors will be under the direction of a new director. Director of Public Service Kevin Weaver will be just a couple months into his new position when winter forms in central Ohio, and he and his team are at the ready to be the City department in the spotlight when it comes to clear, passable streets. Of course there’s much, much more to the Service Department, but let’s start by meeting Kevin.
Where are you from?
I went to high school in Troy, Ohio, and consider that to be my hometown. I currently live in the city of Oakwood where, for 12 years, I was the director of engineering and public works. I oversaw the department that performed water production and distribution, sewer collection, refuse collection, street and signal maintenance, engineering, capital projects, leaf removal, and snow removal for the city of approximately 9,200 people. I enjoyed the hands-on nature of the position and the wide variety of daily tasks.
What interested you about the position in Westerville?
I applied at Westerville because it is known as a quality community with great recreational opportunities and a bright future. The fact that the Public Service Department is accredited by the American Public Works Association (APWA) let me know that it was well organized and procedures are documented, so that was a big plus as well.
How did you come to pursue a career in the public service industry?
When I was growing up, my dad was the city engineer and public works director for three communities in the Dayton area, so I was exposed to the concept at an early age. I was attracted to the fact that careers in civil engineering generally involve things you can touch and build. Having attended the University of Dayton and attained my civil engineering degree, I took a job with LJB, an engineering consulting firm in Dayton. The clients for the government services division were all either state or local governments. Designing highway, signal and utility projects allowed me to see how those entities functioned and envision the possibility of a future career change. During my eight years at LJB, I was able to obtain my licenses as a professional engineer and surveyor. When the position opened at the city of Oakwood, I was excited by the opportunity to put my technical skills to practical use.
What have you learned so far about the Westerville community?
There is a great sense of pride in the community from the city staff and residents. We have everything we need here and all within 10 minutes! As I have started my search for a home here, I have enjoyed seeing many of the neighborhoods and how well the properties are maintained. The recreation facilities and trails are second to none.
What has been the most surprising discovery since you’ve started the position?
The extremely high level of organization of the service department has been a very pleasant surprise. I have been very impressed by the quality of staff and the level of documentation of our activities. It creates a high level of accountability to the residents, since we can do things like communicate the streets the leaf crew cleared the day before. That also allows me to focus on improvements to the department rather than day-to-day survival, which is rare in the communities I have seen.
What are your primary goals for your new position?
My goals involve continuing to improve upon the great work of the former director, Frank Wiseman, and the rest of the department. I believe high expectations are the key to great customer service and to achieving high levels of production in our maintenance activities. We have instituted brief weekly department-wide meetings to promote a culture of safety, communication and pride in our work, and we are looking at better ways to communicate production levels and goals with our staff. In the spring of 2015, we will continue our commitment to excellence by going through an extensive process to update our policies and procedures to renew our accreditation with APWA.
Tell us about your family.
I have a wonderful wife, Katy, and four boys who range from 6 to 11. We live in a historic home in Oakwood and hope to find an older home in Westerville that we can also restore. We like to travel and this summer made a trip out west that included Yosemite and the Grand Canyon.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
My time away from work is spent coaching youth sports and shuttling the kids to their activities. I enjoy playing golf and was pleased to see a driving range very near the office! Reading is also something I like to do, and my commute has allowed me to listen to several books already.
