Hillsborough Promotes Hines to Public Works Director

The Town of Hillsborough has promoted Interim Public Works Director Ken Hines to Public Works director, effective July 18.

Hines, who has served as Hillsborough’s Public Works supervisor for the past nine years, will earn an annual salary of $65,083. He was named interim director in December when the assistant town manager/Public Works director position was eliminated as part of cost reductions in Fiscal Year 2012.

“I appreciate the opportunity to become Public Works director and will work toward improving Public Works operations to fulfill Hillsborough’s mission statement and strategic plan,” Hines said.
 
As director, Hines will be responsible for managing the streets, sanitation and cemetery divisions of the Public Works Department; maintaining stormwater infrastructure; serving as the town representative for the Tree Board and Margaret Lane Cemetery Committee; overseeing the commercial waste franchise agreement; managing town-maintained grounds; and coordinating Public Works’ response to emergency situations.

“Mr. Hines has done an outstanding job over the past seven months handling a wide variety of responsibilities and tasks,” said Town Manager Eric Peterson, who made the appointment. “I still continue to be amazed at what a fantastic job the Public Works team does in delivering so many services to the community with only seven employees.”

About 15 percent of the town’s General Fund positions have been eliminated over the past two budget years, including an additional Public Works position in the recently adopted FY13 budget. Public Works is responsible for residential solid waste collection, maintenance of streets, stormwater and parks, as well as a variety of other activities.

“Mr. Hines, Assistant Public Works Supervisor Craig Tollison and all the Public Works employees deserve a lot of credit for the extra effort they put in despite being short-handed during these tight financial times,” Peterson said. “Mr. Hines has shown leadership, understands the importance of customer service to Hillsborough’s citizens, and has played a big role in keeping Public Works operating smoothly in spite of having fewer resources in recent years.”

Prior to joining Hillsborough, Hines worked as a Public Works supervisor for the City of Roxboro for five years. He has a bachelor’s degree in fisheries and wildlife science from N.C. State, graduating cum laude, and a master of environmental biology from East Carolina.