City Manager Robert Layton announced today that Alan King has been appointed Director of Public Works & Utilities, the City of Wichita’s largest department. King, whose public works and local government career spans 33 years, is currently Public Works Director for the City and County of Broomfield, Co. He starts work in Wichita on Aug. 1.

“I am excited about Mr. King’s addition to the City’s management team,” Layton said. “He has extensive utilities experience and most recently managed a joint public works/utility operation in Broomfield. His open and collaborative approach should be well received by both residents and the Public Works/Utilities staff.”

At City Hall, King will manage 850 employees, a $200 million annual operating budget and a 10-year capital improvement budget of nearly $2 billion. Public Works & Utilities designs, builds and maintains city streets, roads, sidewalks and traffic control signals. The department also manages water supply and distribution as well as waste water collection and treatment. Other responsibilities include snow and ice removal and custodial services for City facilities.

Before beginning work in Broomfield in January 2008, King served as Assistant Utilities Director in Bellevue, Washington from October 2001 to January 2008. He has also worked as a consultant in the United States and in South America with CHS Engineers in Bellevue.

Born in the Seattle area, King received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Seattle International University/National University in 1988. He is a Masters of Public Administration student at American Public University. He was one of four finalists who participated in a nationwide selection process that included the professional engineering community, a City management team, neighborhood representatives, and department employees. King succeeds Chris Carrier who passed in September 2010. The department has been managed by interim co-directors Joe Pajor and Jim Armour.