Marengo hires new public works director

The city of Marengo has hired a new permanent public works director with an eye on working toward growth and filling the remaining holes on staff.

Coming over from Woodstock where he currently is the internal services superintendent, Rob Lamz will take over for Rich Gallas, a temporary hire brought on through the Baxter and Woodman engineering firm who has been serving as the interim public works director.

Lamz was appointed to the role in an unanimous decision at a Marengo City Council meeting last week. He will start April 13 and his salary will be $100,000.

Marengo City Administrator Will Stefaniuk said it was Lamz’s background and experience, which totals more than 16 years, that separated him from other candidates.

“Overall, we’re looking for big-picture, visionary people, in terms of setting a new course for the city,” Stefaniuk told the Northwest Herald Thursday.

Lamz got his start in Woodstock in 2006 as a maintenance worker, he said. He joined the fleet division in 2008, becoming a foreman in 2014 and then the division superintendent in 2016. He was appointed the streets and fleet superintendent in 2020 and last month became the internal services superintendent, overseeing internal vehicles, equipment and facilities.

The position in Marengo is “a new challenge and something that I’m looking forward to,” Lamz said in an interview. “Marengo has a lot going for it. … There’s going to be a lot of activity in the area.”

The hire is one of many recently made and expected to be made in the city, which has experienced some turnover in recent months. Attempts to reach the mayor this week were unsuccessful.

Stefaniuk, who himself is less than a month into the job as city administrator, said the next step will be for Lamz to help build his staff.

The city is looking to hire street maintenance workers, a streets foreman and assistant city administrator, said Lamz, who said he’s already been in contact with a lot of people at the city of Marengo.

Lamz said he’s looking to build a team where everybody’s voice gets heard and where they feel like they’re a part of the decision-making process and a community.

“This is a great opportunity and I’m really looking forward to new beginnings in Marengo and the new challenges … and helping the public.”