Bowling Green City Manager Kevin DeFebbo is serving as the city’s interim public works director after the retirement of Jeff Lashlee.

Lashlee worked for the city for 25 years, starting as a civil engineer and moving up to public works director about five years ago. His last day with the city was Jan. 31.

Lashlee said the city’s progress during his time with city government is the thing that stands out from his tenure.

“The growth of Bowling Green has been very steady. One thing that has amazed me about Bowling Green was that the recession didn’t impact Bowling Green like a lot of other cities,” he said. “Bowling Green has a lot to offer. The city’s leaders and employees are a hardworking group very dedicated to the success of Bowling Green and are a great group of people.”

And although he’s retired from the city, he is staying busy with a new job. He has joined a Knoxville, Tenn.-based consulting engineer and survey business, Cannon and Cannon Inc., which is opening an office in Bowling Green, according to a news release from the company.

Lashlee said he will be a project manager for the company.

DeFebbo said he is sitting in as public works director to get a better feel for the department’s needs and hasn’t decided whether the position will ultimately be filled internally, externally or subject to reorganization. DeFebbo said he has used the same approach in filling other vacancies to “get a feel” for the position.

On Lashlee’s tenure he said: “Jeff helped make some contributions to the city, and we wish him well.” 

— Follow city government reporter Wes Swietek on Twitter at twitter.com/BGDNgovtbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.