Nick Heatherly has announced that he will retire from his city post early next year.
Heatherly has worked for the city of Springfield for more than 23 years, and he has been director of Building Development Services since 2000. His retirement is effective Jan. 29.
Prior to his current post, Heatherly served the city as assistant director of Public Works,
superintendent of general services and technical assistant to the director of Public Works.
In Public Works, Heatherly oversaw the renovation of the former Jewell Station post office into what is now the Busch Municipal Building, which houses the central offices for Springfield city government.
"We are very proud of Nick, and his legacy will be the outstanding job he did during his time in Public Works in restoring new life into this venerable 1930s building that will serve the city of Springfield for many, many years to come," City Manager Greg Burris said in a news release.
Heatherly also coordinated public streets, sewer and storm-water infrastructure for the Partnership Industrial Center East.
During his tenure as Building Development Services director, the city implemented stronger ordinances for dangerous and boarded-up buildings, particularly those in residential neighborhoods, with the goal of enforcing improvements or enabling the city to acquire such buildings to return them to productive use.
"As BDS director, Nick has been steadfast in his commitment to the life-safety principles that guide the City's primary role in both new development and renovation," Burris added.
Burris said an interim appointment to the Building Development Services director post will be named before Heatherly retires.
