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Janice Casteel
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Hoping to capitalize on growth spurred by the Volkswagen plant locating nearby, Cleveland City Council members this week created a new job that will focus on planning transportation capital projects.
City Manager Janice Casteel appointed Public Works Director Tom Grant as the new public works director of capital projects. She named Assistant Director Tommy Myers to the director’s position to deal with daily issues.
“Day to day operations are consuming almost all of Tom Grant’s time,” Mrs. Casteel told city council members Monday. “By reorganizing, we create a position devoted strictly to transportation capital projects.”
Council members have said they want to change some city staffing to devote more time and effort to planning. Local leaders believe the coming of VW to Enterprise South in Hamilton County will create growth in Cleveland and Bradley County.
Councilmen David May and Richard Banks praised Mr. Grant’s dedicated service and the time he will have now to work towards the city’s future. Mr. Banks said he would like to see Community Development Director Greg Thomas also have more time to devote to future planning. Ms. Casteel said she is working toward that change, too.
Mr. Grantwas hired in 1979 as city traffic engineer. He was appointed public works director in 2004.
Mr. Myers has been with the Public Works Department for 24 years, serving as deputy director since 2006.
Randall Higgins covers news in Cleveland, Tenn., for the Times Free Press. He started work with the Chattanooga Times in 1977 and joined the staff of the Chattanooga Times Free Press when the Free Press and Times merged in 1999. Randall has covered Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Alabama. He now covers Cleveland and Bradley County and the neighboring region. Randall is a Cleveland native. He has bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Technological University. His awards ...
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