The City of Oak Ridge has named Patrick Berge as its new public works director.
Berge, who previously served as Oak Ridge Public Works utility manager, has served as interim public works director since former Director Shira McWaters died in June.
Berge has overseen all water and wastewater operations since 2018, a press release said. He will now assume all public works operations including streets, stormwater, and engineering.
“As the next public works director, I’m looking forward to continuing Shira’s hard work,” Berge said in the press release. “Public Works has many major projects in progress, our biggest one being the new water plant.”
Among Berge’s many certifications, he is a professional engineer of environmental engineering in both Tennessee and Nebraska, the press release said.
“I have been extremely impressed with Patrick Berge as he has picked up the Public Works reins and professionally responded to difficult situations,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said. “His leadership has been supported by Public Works employees, and the department is eager to support him during a very busy time for major projects within the City of Oak Ridge.”
Berge previously worked with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality as a program specialist and with the City of Lincoln, Nebraska, as an associate engineer. He also worked for Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) as an engineer in operations, the press release said.
He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 2005 and completed his master’s degree in environmental engineering in 2006.
Berge was sworn in at the City Council meeting on Monday, September 13.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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