Kevin Williams takes reins as Rehoboth public works director

Just in time to see the completion of the ocean outfall, one of Rehoboth’s largest public works projects ever, the city has introduced Kevin Williams as the new public works director. A native of Smyrna, Williams has traveled the world working on infrastructure projects, and he said he was looking forward to this new phase of his life. “I’m very familiar with southern Delaware,” he said recently. “I grew up on Grotto Pizza.”

According to a press release from the city June 9, Williams will oversee the water, wastewater, building and grounds, and streets departments along with capital improvement projects related to each department. Williams’ infrastructure construction and engineering career spans decades. He’s a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, retired as a colonel after 26 years, and worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on military construction and civil works planning projects.

Most recently, Williams served as an engineering consultant with O’Brien & Gere in Washington, D.C., working on large-scale municipal utility projects. Williams said the first thing he wants to do is establish an infrastructure maintenance schedule. He said right now, the city takes a more reactive approach, fixing problems as they arise. “It’s so much easier to do on a schedule,” he said.

Williams, who lives in The Peninsula in Millsboro, described Rehoboth’s infrastructure as aging, but typical of a municipality. It’s been buried and not given much attention, he said. Williams said Rehoboth’s salt-laden environment is hard on structures and materials, but, with a new city hall, a renovated convention center and fairly well-maintained public restrooms, he said the city seems to be in good shape. That said, he added, an off-season maintenance schedule will be developed to keep things looking sharp.

After years in the military, with multiple levels of lower-level personnel below him, one of the biggest changes Williams will face is accessibility to the public. “That’s true. It would have taken a lot for a person to get to me,” he said, laughing. “I’ll be dealing with a lot of homeowners. There’s definitely a personal level to this position. It’s a small town.”