Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory has named interim directors for two new departments following the split of public works.
Brian Smith is the Interim Director of Drainage and Warren Abadie will serve as the Interim Director of Traffic, Roads and Bridges. Earlier this month, Chad Nepveaux was appointed as the Interim Director of Public Works.
In a release, Lafayette Consolidated Government Communications Specialist Kathryn Reaux said, "With 25 years of experience in LCG’s Department of Public Works, Smith has served in several capacities, most recently as the Drainage Superintendent."
Abadie has worked as a certified professional engineer with 15 years of experience in public works. Reaux said, "Abadie most recently held the position of City-Parish Transportation Engineer."
Nepveaux has 28 years of experience in public works and served in several divisions. He most recently served as the Street Superintendent prior to the Interim Director appointment.
According to Guillory, “It was important to elevate the work of drainage maintenance and traffic, roads, and bridge maintenance to the department level to increase accountability and create efficiency at the ground level."
Guillory went on to say, "These Interim Directors all come from within the ranks of Public Works and are incredibly knowledgeable of the inner workings of their fields. I am confident that these new Interim Directors are the right leaders in the formative stages of their respective departments. This reorganization is the first major step towards focusing more assets on the priorities that affect our great city and parish.”
The newly organized departments were proposed by Guillory and unanimously approved by both Lafayette City and Parish Councils at the Jan. 21 joint meeting.
