FORT WAYNE: A POINT OF DESTINATION – Message From The Mayor

We have finished another budget season with City Council’s passage of the City of Fort Wayne budget for 2018.

With less than one percent of the proposed budget being cut, the 2018 budget ensures we’ll continue to meet the needs of residents and businesses with an emphasis on priorities requested by taxpayers – adding to our public safety personnel, a commitment to neighborhood infrastructure improvements and maintaining our award-winning Parks.

Overall, I’m encouraged by the momentum and investments we’re experiencing in Fort Wayne. We truly are a point of destination for economic development opportunities, job growth, great neighborhoods and unique quality of life amenities.

I also wanted to share with you that City of Fort Wayne Public Works Director Bob Kennedy has accepted a position in the private sector.

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Bob has served in the director position since 2007. In total, he has 33 years of service with the City. He previously served as deputy director of Public Works and City Utilities, street commissioner and accountant and purchasing agent for the City of Fort Wayne Street Department.

Under Bob’s leadership, we’ve experienced record amounts of investments in neighborhood infrastructure improvements. From 2014 through this year, there has been $100 million in street, road, sidewalk and curb enhancement projects in neighborhoods throughout Fort Wayne. In addition, another $30 million in improvements is planned for 2018.

He was named public works director of the year in 2009 by American City & County magazine. He also oversaw successful advancements to Fort Wayne’s flood control efforts, improved salting and snow plowing operations and leads one of the top 10 fleet departments in the country. Bob also led innovative efforts that resulted in cost-savings, new technology and best practices in project management that have benefited the entire community.

Bob has given his entire professional career to this point to the City of Fort Wayne and he did so in a professional manner and always put residents first. I admire his commitment to providing excellent customer service and appreciate his passion for ensuring we have a safe and efficient transportation system. His leadership has helped make Fort Wayne a point of destination for jobs, great neighborhoods and desirable quality of life amenities. Bob will be missed.

He will be available to the City during the transition period through the end of November. City Engineer Shan Gunawardena will serve as interim director of the City’s Public Works Division until a permanent replacement is named.