During Tuesday’s regularly-scheduled commission meeting, the Marion County Commission approved the appointment of Jeannie Rickman to the position of Assistant County Administrator for Public Services, and Tracy Straub, PE to the position of County Engineer.
As Assistant County Administrator for Public Services, Rickman will oversee nine county departments and offices: Tourist Development, Veterans Services, Community Services, Office of Public Information, Animal Services, Information Technology, Public Library System, Public Safety Communications and Office of Strategic Services. In addition, Rickman will continue to spearhead the county’s legislative efforts and supervise the administrative staff. She joined Marion County government in 2004 as a legal assistant in the county attorney’s office and was promoted through the ranks to her most recent position of Director of Governmental Affairs in 2014.
“I appreciate the support and confidence of the Board in providing me the opportunity to serve in this new role,” Rickman said. “I look forward to partnering with our talented county staff as we face the challenges and opportunities ahead of us.”
Straub will now lead the Office of the County Engineer, taking on responsibility for overseeing the county-maintained roadway and stormwater systems. This includes managing the county’s traffic operations, road maintenance, right-of-way permitting, engineering, development review and stormwater management, as well as developing long- and short-range planning efforts associated with roads and stormwater. Straub joined Marion County as Drainage Engineer with the Office of the County Engineer in 2001 and was promoted through the ranks to her most recent position of Deputy County Engineer in 2014.
“I’m proud to be part of this team and appreciate the continued support of the Board and the staff at the Office of the County Engineer,” Straub said.
Straub replaces Mounir Bouyounes as the County Engineer, who formerly served in a dual-capacity as the County Engineer and Assistant County Administrator of Public Works. The Commission appointed Bouyounes as the Acting County Administrator in July, and tasked him with reviewing the organizational structure and bringing back any immediate and longer term recommendations to support moving forward. Under the reorganization plan approved Tuesday, Bouyounes would retain the position of Assistant County Administrator for Public Works once the new county administrator is hired.
