Two city employees promoted to department directors

Mar. 8—LENOIR — Dr. Jeff Church and Jon Hogan were recently promoted to department directors with the city.

With the retirement of public services director Radford Thomas, Church has been promoted to public services public utilities director. Hogan has been promoted to public services public works director.

Public utilities director Church manages about 50 employees. The department oversees the water and wastewater systems in Lenoir. Public utilities maintains 16 water pump and sewer lift stations, 219 miles of water lines, 209 miles of sewer lines, 1,100 fire hydrants, 11,000 service lines, and meters and meter boxes. They operate the water treatment plant and two wastewater plants.

Public works director Hogan manages about 50 employees as well. Public works maintains and improves the city's 45 public buildings, 500+ motor vehicles and other small engines in the city fleet, 123.76 miles of paved and 2.89 miles of unpaved streets, and three city cemeteries totaling about 30 acres. They handle sanitation, leaf and brush pickup, and landscaping of public grounds. Public Works also operates the City Recycling Center.