CLARKSVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Mayor Joe Pitts named Mark Riggins, a 23-year veteran of the City workforce, General Manager of the Clarksville Gas & Water Department on Monday, August 5. Riggins has served as acting GM for the past four months.
Mayor Pitts notified the City Council of his decision and announced Riggins’ appointment during a Monday morning meeting with Gas & Water employees.
“Mark exceeded expectations during his four months as acting General Manager, and I’m happy to appoint him to this important position,” Mayor Pitts. “He quickly established better lines of communication with customers, contractors and employees. I’d say he more than earned the job.”
Riggins has held many positions within the department, including backhoe operator, crew chief, project administrator, engineering manager and assistant gas manager.
Riggins has also served on the County Commission for six years, including time on the budget committee, joint land acquisition committee and board of zoning appeals.
“First and foremost, I thank God for blessing me with this opportunity. Without Him, there is no way I go from where I started to where I am today. I am thankful for my family, including my church, Gas & Water, and City families,” said Riggins. “These groups of servants, leaders, and servant-leaders have molded me into the man I am today, and so it’s also because of them that this is possible. My favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 27:17: ‘Iron sharpens iron, as one man sharpens another.’ Those words have proven true for me today.”
Former Gas & Water General Manager Pat Hickey resigned from the position April 4, and Riggins was named acting general manager a week later.
Clarksville Gas & Water is one of the largest municipal utilities in Tennessee. Clarksville Gas serves more than 26,000 natural gas customers in five area counties. Clarksville Water, a treatment plant and distribution system, serves approximately 150,000 people. Clarksville Wastewater System serves approximately 120,000 people.