12 The Hampton Roads Messenger


Volume 8 Number 5


Around Hampton Roads New Public Utilities Director


Named in Chesapeake


City Manager James Baker has announced that David Jurgens has been named Director of the Department of Public Utilities, effective December 31, 2013. Jurgens will receive an annual salary of $132,500.


Jurgens comes to Chesapeake from the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he served as Utilities Director. He has a combined 31 years of municipal experience and military service leadership. In his most recent position, he was responsible for supervising the Utilities Department with water, wastewater, solid waste and parking, and he managed up to 134 City employees, 47 long-term contract employees, and a $41 million annual operating budget.


Jurgens holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri, a master’s degree in International Business


from Webster University, and he is certified as a Professional Engineer. In addition to his roles in local government, Jurgens spent 10 years of active duty in the United States Army and 18 years of reserve duty service.


“Mr. Jurgens brings immense experience and continuity to the City of Chesapeake, having served as a Staff Engineer for the City of Fayetteville and working his way up to Director of Utilities,” said City Manager James E. Baker.


“He’s a seasoned professional who has the leadership abilities to work with a diverse blend of City facilities, City Council members, state and federal agencies, residents, and other stakeholders including the business community.”


The Chesapeake Department of Public Utilities operates and maintains the Lake Gaston and Northwest River water treatment plants. The combined treatment capacity for both Northwest River and Lake Gaston plants is 18 million gallons of water per day. Additionally, the department controls and maintains the water distribution system, the sewer systems, and sewer pumping stations that provide 24 hours a day waste water collection and disposal services. The department has over 200 employees and operates a $60 million annual budget.


“I am very excited and thankful to join such a distinguished department in a great city,” said Jurgens. “I look forward to returning to Virginia where I was born and have always considered home. I am eager to work with the talented and highly qualified staff to continue to make the City of Chesapeake’s Public Utilities Department the best it can be.”


www.cityofchesapeake.net Hampton City Attorney Will Be State


Attorney General's Chief Deputy Hampton City Attorney Cynthia Hudson will be chief deputy for Virginia Attorney General-elect Mark Herring, overseeing day-to-day legal operations of the attorney general's office once Herring takes office Jan. 11.


Herring made the announcement Thursday afternoon, according to The Daily Press and Associated Press. Hudson has been city attorney for the last eight years. She also is president of the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, and


is on the board of the Virginia Law Foundation.


Before joining the city of Hampton in 1996, Hudson was in private practice for eight years. She has a bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a law degree from William & Mary. In 2012 Hudson was honored as one of the "Influential Women of Virginia" by Virginia Lawyers Weekly.


www.hampton.gov


Auditions for Performers at 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference


www.norfolk.gov Newport News City Manager Names


New Fire Chief Chief R. B. Alley Brings Over 40 Years of Fire Service Experience


Newport News City Manager Jim Bourey has announced his selection of Robert B. “R. B.” Alley as Fire Chief. He will begin his new position on January 1, 2014, with an annual salary of $147,500, and will oversee a $30+ million operating budget and a staff of 380. Chief Alley is replacing Chief Scott Liebold who is retiring at the end of the month.


A native of Virginia Beach, Chief Alley has 40 years of extensive experience encompassing Fire and EMS Service,


including serving for eight years as the Fire Chief of College Station, Texas, and four years as District Fire Chief with the City of Virginia Beach. During his career, Chief Alley has performed roles in Fire Administration, the Fire Marshal’s Office, Emergency Management, and as Fire Safety Officer. He is an active member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and was named the 2012 Fire Chief of the Year by the Texas Fire Chiefs Association. Alley has an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science, a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Administration and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Additionally, he has completed the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer certification.


“We are delighted to have R.B. lead our nationally and internationally recognized Fire Department as Chief,” said Bourey. “His vast experience in the fire service will be a tremendous asset to our City and to the outstanding team of men and women who provide exceptional fire and EMS services to our citizens.”


“The Newport News Fire Department is known for being a leader in field of fire service, and it is an honor to be appointed Fire Chief,” said Chief Alley. “I am truly excited about the opportunity to work with the well-respected members of the department to continue to provide superior services the citizens and visitors of Newport News.”


“Scott has done an extraordinary job for this community and its citizens,” Bourey said in September when announcing Chief Liebold’s retirement. “Over his lengthy career with the city Scott has achieved many accomplishments that have not only strengthened the Fire Department, but made it one of the premiere departments in the country. Newport News has been fortunate to have had a person of Scott’s caliber to serve as Fire Chief.”


Alley was selected after a thorough process that included a national search, an extensive assessment center earlier this month, and a series of interviews with the City Manager, department directors, and a panel of select Fire Department employees. Additionally, the finalists participated in two open forums – one with Fire Department employees and one for citizens.


www.nngov.com Kroger Marketplace Groundbreaking


in Midtown Portsmouth The Kroger Company and the City of Portsmouth held a groundbreaking ceremony on the next Kroger Marketplace, located in Midtown Portsmouth at Frederick Boulevard and Turnpike Road last month.


Tournament in Norfolk Auditions for national anthem and halftime performers for the 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 25 at the Student Center on the campus of Norfolk State University in Virginia. Registration will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m.


The auditions dubbed as MEAC at Center Court, offers entertainers, singers/choirs and musicians, of all ages and backgrounds, an opportunity to showcase their talents at the conference’s annual Division I basketball tournament.


The 2014 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips off March 10-15 at the Norfolk (Va.) Scope Arena.


National anthem performers will have up to two minutes to perform an acapella version of the song while halftime performers will have up to four minutes to present their acts in front of a panel of judges.


Interested applicants should possess a positive attitude, creative technique and style and display a high level of showmanship and energy.


Registration form and participant waivers can be found online at www.MEAChoops.com or completed on the day of the audition.


As anchor of the Midtown Marketplace, the 124,000 square-foot Kroger Marketplace will offer a number of services and specialty shops pairing food and general merchandise including kitchenware, jewelry, bed and bath items, decorative goods, office and school supplies, apparel, toys and seasonal items as well as a drive through pharmacy and fuel center. The Portsmouth store is the third Kroger Marketplace in Virginia and will open in the fall of 2014.


www.portsmouthva.gov Suffolk Parks & Recreation to Host


CPR/AED Class SUFFOLK, VA -- It only takes a second for life to change forever. Take the time to learn how to perform CPR and use an AED through Suffolk Parks & Recreation.


A class will be held on January 29 and January 30, 2014 from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the East Suffolk Recreation Center, 138 South 6th Street. Through the class, participants can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to help sustain life and minimize the consequences of sudden illness for adults and children as a result of breathing and cardiac emergencies. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a 2 year Red Cross CPR/AED for the Adult and Child certification. Cost is $30 per participant.


For information, contact Mike Frickanisce, Fitness Specialist at (757) 514-4504. www.suffolkva.us


January 2014


Auditions are free and open to the public. Space is limited and applicants are encouraged to arrive early and prepared to perform at the time of arrival.


For more information on the MEAC at Center audition contact Sonja Stills, Associate Commissioner, at (757) 951-2055 or by email at stillss@themeac.com.


Ticket books for the 2014 MEAC Basketball Tournament can be purchased at all 13 MEAC university ticket offices, the Scope Arena Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, the MEAC Office or online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available by calling the MEAC at (757) 951- 2055 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.


For more information about the 2014 MEAC Basketball Tournament including brackets, ancillary events, tickets and travel information, visit www.MEAChoops.com.


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