Assistant Public Works director takes Iowa job

Jonathan Gano, assistant director of the city of Springfield’s Public Works department, accepted a job in Iowa.

Effective Jan. 26, Gano becomes director of Public Works for the city of Des Moines. He succeeds Pat Kozitza, who retired Dec. 31, according to a news release.

Gano, who applied for the same job in Springfield but ultimately lost to Dan Smith, will work his last day for the Queen City Jan. 23.

In Des Moines, Gano will earn a starting salary of $145,000. In Springfield, he was named assistant director in 2010 after working as superintendent of streets and in the street maintenance division.

“Jonathan has been an incredibly valuable asset to Public Works and the city of Springfield, including helping guide the department to accreditation by the American Public Works Association,” said Smith, who became Springfield’s Public Works director Dec. 1, in a release. “He has been instrumental in adding public art pieces in our community and has worked to implement an award-winning pavement preservation program throughout the city.

“We wish him well in the next phase in his career and know he will do an extremely good job of serving the public in Des Moines.”

In Iowa, Gano was selected among two other finalists following a nationwide search.