After more than 30 years, Winfield city engineer Russ Tomevi has announced his retirement. His last day with the city is Dec. 16.
“It has been my pleasure to work closely with many of you to make Winfield a better place live, work and raise a family”, Tomevi said in a statement released by the city this morning. “I have met a lot of citizens, staff and elected officials. I count many of them as good friends”.
Winfield Mayor Brenda Butters said Tomevi has been a tremendous resource and valuable asset for the city.
“We will miss his knowledge of the City, his experience and his excellent advice moving forward. We are happy that he plans to remain in Winfield and wish him all the best in his well deserved retirement,” Butters said.
Local projects that occurred during Tomevi’s tenure, include: building the K-360 bypass; raising and extending the levee system to protect the city from a 200-year flood event; replacing the Island Park bridge; relocating the park shop; constructing the aquatic center; and, starting the first municipally operated curbside recycling program in the state of Kansas.
City manager Jeremy Willmoth said that the city will reorganize several departments including the Engineering, and Public Works Departments that were run by Tomevi, the Community Development Department overseen by Patrick Steward, and the creation of a new department combining Management Information Systems, currently located in the City Clerk’s Department, with Geographic Information Systems, currently located in the Engineering Department.
Details of the changes are part of the city’s 2018 Recommended Budget.
