ROCK ISLAND — Randy Tweet, the city’s public works director, has been appointed by Mayor Dennis Pauley as Rock Island’s interim city manager.
His appointment comes one month after the city accepted the resignation of then City Manager Thomas Thomas. Thomas stepped down shortly after the long-anticipated Walmart store deal that fell through in early September. City officials had been pursuing the deal since 2012, but ultimately, Walmart released a statement stating that it was pulling out of the development. His resignation became official on Sept. 20.
Tweet has worked for the city since 2000, first as the information management project manager, and then in public works beginning in 2003. In public works, he served as both technical services manager and street superintendent before being promoted to director in 2013.
“Randy Tweet is extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of our day to day operations and has demonstrated his commitment to the city,” Pauley said in a statement Monday. “He is extremely professional and a real asset to Rock Island.”
Pauley added that Tweet will serve as interim manager while the city conducts a national search for a new manager. The Rock Island City Council recently decided to delay that search until after the 2017 municipal elections this spring.
Tweet, in a statement, said he is honored to serve as interim manager.
“I look forward to working for the citizens of Rock Island in this time of transition,” he said.
Tweet is a Rock Island native and Augustana College graduate. He also served in the United States Navy from 1981 until 1998. While in the Navy he attended the Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery, AL and earned an MPA from Auburn University at Montgomery.
