Rich Babica will bring more than 22 years of experience to Geneva after being chosen to lead the City’s Public Works Department.

Babica most recently spent the last decade as the Public Works Director of West Dundee. He will now lead Geneva’s Public Works Department, which has 54 employees working in the Streets, Engineering, Electric and Water Divisions.

During his tenure at West Dundee, Babica oversaw the completion of the Randall Road Water Treatment Plant, which was identified as the 2005 American Public Works Association Project of the Year in the Environmental Category. His other notable accomplishments include implementing a village-wide GIS system that was able to correlate work orders, securing grant funding to install streetscape planters and pavers in downtown West Dundee, and managing the intersection reconstruction of Routes 72 and 31.

“We are all looking forward to the opportunity to work with Rich and the expertise that he brings to our organization,” City Administrator Mary McKittrick said. “His professional experience as a public works director in a neighboring municipality and his advanced educational background will benefit our citizens and our entire community. We are fortunate to have him join our team.”

Babica replaces former director Dan Dinges, who resigned in May after 15 years with the City.

Babica began his career with the Village of Bolingbrook in 1992 working his way up from a maintenance employee to a Seasonal Ground Crew Supervisor. He completed his master’s degree from DePaul University, graduating in 1998.

The following year, Babica accepted the position of Operations Superintendent for the Village of South Elgin. He worked there for six years until taking the head job with the Village of West Dundee’s Public Works Department in 2005.

“I am looking forward to bringing my 22 years of public works experience to the residents of Geneva to enhance the quality of life in the community. I also look forward to adding fresh ideas and insights to the City’s Public Works Department operations,” Babica said. “This growth opportunity is very exciting to me both personally and professionally.”

The City also has promoted Hal Wright from Geneva’s Manager of Electric Operations to Electric Division Superintendent. A 27-year veteran of the City, Wright was originally hired as an Assistant to the Superintendent of Electric prior to serving as manager for the last two decades.

Wright’s responsibilities have included overseeing the day-to-day operations of the electric distribution system, supervision of field crews, project design and management of electric infrastructure maintenance and construction. He also has had direct oversight of the City’s electric substations, Geneva’s Generation Facility, supervisory control systems, outside fiber optic plant, metering and tree trimming operations.

Wright was named interim leader of the Electric Division this summer after former Superintendent Mike Buffington died in a car accident June 12.

Brian Schiber returns to his role as City Engineer/Assistant Director of Public Works after serving as interim Public Works Director the past several months.