Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

Fairview Heights hires new public works director

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS -- City leaders approved the hiring of a new public works director Tuesday to fill a position that has been vacant for half a year.

Mayor Gail Mitchell recommended the hiring of Christopher C. Volkman as public works director. The position has been vacant since aldermen voted May 19 not to reappoint Bob Hotz.

Volkman will begin working for Fairview Heights on Dec. 1. He is currently the assistant city engineer for the city of Columbia.

The 40-year-old Fairview Heights native, who now lives in Belleville, said he always has aspired to work for his hometown.

"I was happy where I was in Columbia, and I had a pretty good job there, but when I heard there was a job opening in Fairview, it just seemed like a good time," Volkman said. "There's a certain excitement of working for your hometown. Fairview has a special place in my heart. I'm as old as Fairview is."

Volkman said he looks forward to projects such as rebuilding the west end of Fairview Heights and the new Interstate 64 interchange.

"There's a lot of exciting times for Fairview coming up," Volkman said. "There's some good opportunities and a lot of challenges ahead, but it seems like it would be a fun time to be a part of it all."

Volkman previously worked for the Illinois Department of Transportation for seven years; Buzzi Unicem, a portland cement manufacturer, for more than two years in St. Louis; and on a contract basis with Belleville before he got the Columbia position a year ago.