The City of Peoria has hired Indiana Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Rick Powers to lead the city's public works department.
Powers currently heads the Indiana DOT's LaPorte Division, with a staff of 500 employees and annual budget of $300 million. Powers was previously the head of the Indianapolis Code Enforcement Department and Co-Chair of the Super Bowl Host Committee. He previously worked in Virginia and served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
“Rick Powers is an accomplished leader with over twenty years of experience,” Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich said. “His extensive experience in public works and state and municipal services will be great strengths in his role in Peoria. I look forward to the continued growth of the Public Works Department under Mr. Powers’ leadership.”
Powers starts in Peoria on September 3. His starting salary is $145,000 a year.
City Engineer Bill Lewis has served as interim director of public works since Scott Reeise left in December 2018.
