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11.15.04
Jackman steps down as public works chief
By Joe Morton, Omaha World-Herald
Omaha Public Works Director Norm Jackman is resigning after 25 years with the city
Mayor Mike Fahey credited Jackman with stretching city dollars to pay for street repaving projects during lean budget times
"He's been an outstanding public works director," Fahey said. "We're going to miss him."
Jackman's resignation is effective Jan. 18. Fahey said he expects to name an interim director in the next couple of weeks.
Jackman, 49, said he is taking a job with Kirkham Michael Consulting Engineers.
Jackman said he was due to retire in a few years and the job at Kirkham Michael was the kind of lucrative opportunity he would have been seeking at that time.
He said he decided to take the opportunity while he could.
Jackman started with the city in 1980 as a civil engineer and has served as special projects engineer, plant engineer and city engineer for environmental services.
Fahey appointed Jackman public works director after taking office in 2001.
The city is in the midst of implementing recommendations from Fahey's task force on speeding up city road construction.
Fahey said Jackman had been doing a good job on the road construction effort. Jackman's departure should not hinder those efforts, Fahey said, because the road map for change already has been created.
"Whoever the next public works director is, it will be incumbent on them to adopt the plan," Fahey said.
Jackman makes $91,589. His pension will be 56 percent of his salary. He can start receiving his pension when he turns 55.
