5/08/08

Management changes for city Public Works department

The City of Marysville has announced staff promotions in the Public Works department following Paul Roberts’ move into the city’s Executive department. Kevin Nielsen is the new Public Works Director and John Cowling has accepted the position of city engineer and Assistant Public Works Director.

Nielsen has served the city as Assistant Public Works Director since 2006, while continuing in the city engineer role for the past five years. Cowling served as a project engineer for the City of Sammamish for five years before being hired by Marysville in May, 2005, as Senior Development Reviewer.

Chief Administrative Officer Mary Swenson expressed confidence that Nielsen is up to the task of leading the Public Works Department. Nielsen has played a key role in several critical public works projects, including major road and arterial projects, development of the regional detention pond system in north Marysville, and the Stillaguamish Filtration Plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant modifications.

He has also been a leader in technical aspects of both the 2003 proposal to locate a NASCAR race track in north Marysville, and more recent efforts to bring a UW North Sound branch campus to the Smokey Point-Marysville area.

“The organization and the entire city will benefit from Kevin’s knowledge, commitment, skills and can-do attitude,” Swenson said. “He will do an amazing job.”

Nielsen succeeds former Public Works Director Paul Roberts, who is moving into the Executive Department in City Hall to work on key long-term special projects including the proposed civic campus.

Cowling’s in-depth experience in development review and project management within the city’s Public Works Department, and the contributions he has made in the city’s engineering division, made him the best candidate for the position of Assistant Public Works Director.

His achievements include updating and adopting the design and development standards for roads, water, sewer and storm water runoff, along with critical review of some of the city’s larger developments such as the Lakewood Crossing shopping center.