After a national search, the City of Wichita today announced Gary Janzen, PE as its new Director of Public Works and Utilities (PWU). Janzen has more than 28 years of experience with the City, serving the last eleven years as the Assistant Director of Public Works & Utilities/City Engineering. He is a Kansas licensed professional engineer. 

The Director of PWU is responsible for maintaining the city’s physical infrastructure and for providing a variety of services to residents. The Department manages road paving and maintenance, water utilities, sustainability efforts and more. It is one of the City’s largest departments with 775 employees, an annual operating budget of $263 million, and nearly $1.3 billion in Capital Improvement Program projects through 2032.

Janzen takes over the position following the retirement of former Director of PWU Alan King on March 3, 2023.

“From water infrastructure, to road maintenance, to snow and ice removal, Public Works touches every facet of our community. Mr. Janzen has helped our Public Works Department make enormous progress on the City’s infrastructure during his tenure. We look forward to Gary’s continuing service to the community,” said City Manager Robert Layton.

Janzen holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Kansas State University and serves as the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator for the City. Janzen also sits on the board of directors for the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers. He has four children and two grandchildren.