VISALIA - Adam Ennis, Assistant Community Development Director of Engineering for the City of Visalia, has been appointed Public Works Director. The appointment was approved by the City Council at the ir last meeting.

“Adam has demonstrated his ability to work effectively with city staff and key stakeholders in the community,” said City Manager Steve Salomon. “We are fortunate that he is willing to bring those same skills to the Public Works Department.”

As the Public Works Director, Ennis will oversee a staff of 116 in the Department’s six divisions: Fleet Maintenance, Solid Waste/Recycling, Street and Traffic Maintenance, Support Services, Storm Sewer, and Waste Water. The Department has an operating budget of $44 million, a capital budget of $9 million, and is in the process of a $100 million upgrade and expansion of its waste water treatment plant facilities. His annual salary will be $121,458.74.

“My time with the City, including this appointment, has given me an opportunity to see things happen in the community I was born and raised in,” said Ennis of his appointment. “I look forward to working with the department heads, City staff and members of the community.”

Adam was born and raised in Visalia and has been employed with the City since 2004. Prior to employment with the City, he worked in various private sector engineering firms for over 19 years. Ennis’s father, Melvin, retired as a superintendent for the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District in 2005 after 40 years of service. Growing up, Adam said his interests in math and science led him to choose engineering, which allowed the practical application of both.

“I am very impressed with Adam’s experience and his leadership abilities,” said Salomon. “He’s bright, creative and committed to a very open-door approach to management. He relates very well to the community, the staff in his current department, and the rest of the City organization. He’s a good fit for this position and I am confident he is going to do an outstanding job as Director and be the leader the Department needs to move forward in the years to come.”

Ennis was chosen from among a large number of well-qualified candidates from across the United States and Canada who competed in a multi-phase comprehensive selection process. Ennis was appointed by Salomon with the unanimous support of the City Council.

He received his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from California State University, Fresno, and attended College of the Sequoias. He is a graduate of Exeter Union High School. He is a Registered Civil Engineer in the State of California.

Ennis will begin his duties in August. He lives in Visalia with his wife Judy. The couple has two sons, Nick, who is in the U.S. Army, and Brent, a student at Mt. Whitney High School.