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Public works manager bidding farewell to Anna Maria

ANNA MARIA – Public Works Manager Dean Jones has accepted a position as the new assistant director of Public Works and Utilities for the city of Bradenton.

Mayor Dan Murphy announced Jones’ pending departure in an email sent to city commissioners and others on July 5.

“Please join me in wishing Dean Jones well in his new position as Assistant Director of Public Works and Utilities with the city of Bradenton. His resignation is effective July 16. Dean has served as public works manager for the city of Anna Maria since 2015. Effective immediately, Ryan Wieland, assistant public works manager, will assume Dean’s responsibilities as public works manager on a temporary basis. Ryan began his career with our city in 2018 and was appointed assistant manager of public works in 2019. A permanent replacement for Dean will be named in the near future.”

Public Works Manager bidding farewell to Anna Maria
Ryan Wieland is now serving as the public works manager on an interim basis. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

When contacted later in the week, Murphy said, “I’m happy for Dean and I think this is a great opportunity for him. I know he’ll do well working for the city of Bradenton. They are getting a well-trained guy who gets things done. Ryan is taking Dean’s place on a temporary basis for right now, until a permanent appointment can be made, which I expect to get done in the next week or so.”

Jones has worked in Anna Maria’s Public Works Department for the past seven years and he served as public works manager for most of his tenure. His last day on the job will be Friday, July 15.

“I started out as one of the guys, got promoted to assistant manager and shortly thereafter I was promoted to manager. I love the city of Anna Maria. The mayor and the rest of the staff are incredible. I’m sure my assistant, Ryan Wieland, will do very well. I just hope I did a good job and I hope I helped,” Jones said.

“It’s been a wonderful life experience. While working for the mayor, I developed a completely new set of skills than I had when I started. Dan’s an incredible and amazing person to work for and I can’t thank him enough for all the experience he’s given me. He helped me elevate myself to this next position,” Jones said.

Regarding his new position with the city of Bradenton, Jones said, “I’ll be overseeing the golf course, the ball fields, G.T. Bray Park and the water plants – pretty much everything in the city of Bradenton. And like I did in Anna Maria, I’ll try to make it a better place.”

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