Mayoral Looks Forward to Guiding Oxford’s Growth as City Engineer

By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

As the city of Oxford grows with its recent annexation of more than 11 square miles, so does the demands on the city’s Public Works Department.

To help the transition move as smooth as possible and guide Oxford in years to come, the city has made some changes internally as well.

On Thursday, Chief Operating Officer Bart Robinson, who has worn several hats in recent years, announced Reanna Mayoral has been appointed as city engineer.

Mayoral has worked as assistant city engineer for more than seven 12 years, with Robinson serving as city engineer, Public Works Director and COO. Robinson said he’s happy to pass his city engineer hat to Mayoral.

“Reanna’s promotion is well deserved,” he said Thursday.

The city recently hired John Crawley to serve as assistant city engineer. Crawley comes to Oxford from Tupelo where he was the city engineer.

“I have full confidence they will both be outstanding in these roles,” Robinson said.

On Tuesday, the Board of Aldermen voted to merge the electric and water and sewer departments under one umbrella and be re-branded as Oxford Utilities, with current OED superintendent Rob Neely at the helm.

“Based on (Neely’s) past performance, Oxford Utilities will be in excellent hands moving forward,” Robinson said.

With Mayoral’s promotion and creation of Oxford Utilities, Robinson will shed all hats but one. He will transition solely into the role of COO of Oxford.

“The mayor’s, the Board of Aldermen’s, and my goal through this transition is to position the city for the future and provide the best service possible within the limits of our resources,” Robinson said. “Oxford is a great university town, and we intend to keep it great as it becomes a small city.”

Mayoral said the promotion allows her to have her “dream job.”

“Following in (Robinson’s) footsteps is no easy task, but he has set an amazing example that I hope to follow,” Mayoral said Thursday. “My immediate goal is to try to keep things running so smoothly that people don’t notice a new hand is on the wheel.”

Because of the recent annexation, Mayoral said the city engineer’s office is a busy place.

“I work with the most amazing people and am thankful to be surrounded by a group of folks that are so committed to serving others,” she said. “The next year will be a time of change and I am looking forward to the challenges that come with those changes.”