The City of Pensacola is pleased to announce the addition of two new management positions to the city’s Public Works & Facilities Department, welcoming Building Construction & Facilities Manager Rick Bates and Stormwater Facilities Manager Toney McCreary to the city’s team.
“Our Public Works & Facilities Department provides some of the most essential city services to City of Pensacola residents, and I’m excited to have the expertise of both of these talented individuals at the city so we can further enhance the services we provide to our citizens,” Mayor Grover Robinson said. “Our stormwater system and improvement projects are especially important to maintaining a high quality of life in the City of Pensacola, and I look forward to seeing what our team will accomplish under Rick and Toney’s leadership.”
Rick Bates
Rick Bates has been selected as the new Building Construction & Facilities Manager for the City of Pensacola, bringing more than 25 years of experience in construction, public works and project management to the position. In his role as Building Construction & Facilities Manager, Bates will be responsible for managing improvement projects for the city, along with the operation and maintenance of city facilities.
Bates joins the City of Pensacola from William Charles Construction Company in Rockford, Illinois, where he most recently served as a Project Manager. His first day with the city was Monday, Aug. 22.
In his last job, Bates was responsible for managing multiple construction projects of up to $15 million for local, city and state agencies including the Illinois Department of Transportation, Department of Aeronautics, utility companies and park districts. Bates also has experience working with clean energy renewables including solar and wind energy.
Bates previously served as the Public Works Superintendent for the Village of Roscoe, Illinois from May 2010 to April 2019, where he supervised nearly 30 public works employees and was responsible for preparing the department’s annual budget, along with procuring all bids and contracts for Village of Roscoe projects.
As the Building Construction & Facilities Manager, Bates will work under the direction of Public Works Director Amy Tootle and Public Works & Facilities Deputy Director of Operations James Cook to assist in planning, directing and coordinating maintenance activities and programs for the Public Works & Facilities Department. His responsibilities will also include serving as the project manager for design, construction and large maintenance projects for the City of Pensacola.
Toney McCreary
Toney McCreary has been selected as the new Stormwater Facilities Manager for the City of Pensacola, bringing 32 years of experience and service with the City of Pensacola to this position. As the Stormwater Facilities Manager, McCreary is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day activities of the city’s stormwater operations and maintenance, along with managing employees in a variety of construction projects and maintenance programs.
McCreary has worked for the City of Pensacola for 32 years, most recently serving as the Operations Supervisor II overseeing the street sweeping operations for city and state roadways within city limits. McCreary’s first day in his new role was Monday, July 25.
As the Stormwater Facilities Manager, McCreary’s responsibilities include planning, organizing and managing field supervisors who are responsible for stormwater inlets, street sweeping, stormwater ponds and stormwater construction, along with overseeing outside contractors who provide support for stormwater maintenance and repairs.
During his career with the city, McCreary has demonstrated advanced knowledge of federal, state and local laws related to stormwater operations, along with associated principles, practices and methods.
McCreary served in his previous role overseeing the city’s street sweeping operations from 2003-2022, responsible for coordinating street sweeping routes, organizing maintenance schedules, coordinating street sweeping after hurricanes, managing the work of outside contractors and more. McCreary also provided oversight for the annual removal of over 3,000 tons of sediment/debris from the city’s stormwater system.
In his new role, McCreary will work under the direction of Public Works & Facilities Director Amy Tootle and Public Works & Facilities Deputy Director of Operations James Cook to manage the city’s storm drainage system infrastructure, manage the implementation of the city’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System through the Environmental Protection Agency, act as a liaison to federal, state and local agencies, and more.