Casey Hires Hometown Engineer Ryan Staley as New Director of Public Works

Article Summary: The Casey City Council has officially appointed Casey native and civil engineer Ryan Staley as the city’s new Director of Public Works, positioning him to take over for the long-serving and retiring Superintendent of Utilities, Shelby Biggs.

New City Appointment Key Points:

• Ryan Staley, a 2007 Casey High School graduate, was hired by the City Council’s unanimous approval of Ordinance #588.

• His professional background is in civil engineering, specializing in roadway design and project management with Farnsworth Group on projects in Effingham and Marshall.

• The ordinance sets his salary at $105,000 per year, with a start date to be selected by the mayor.

CASEY — A familiar face will soon take the helm of Casey’s public works and utility operations. The City Council voted unanimously on Monday night to hire Ryan Staley, a Casey native with extensive experience in civil engineering, as the new Director of Public Works.

Staley will succeed Shelby Biggs, the current Superintendent of Utilities, who is set to retire after decades of service to the city. The appointment was formalized through the approval of Ordinance #588, which amends the city’s list of official appointments and their salaries.

Before the vote, Mayor Mike Nichols invited Staley to introduce himself to the council and the public. “I was born and raised here, graduated in ‘07,” Staley said. He outlined his career path, beginning with a degree in civil engineering from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, followed by work with a railroad engineering firm that took him across the western United States.

In 2015, Staley joined Farnsworth Group, an engineering and architecture firm, where he initially worked in the oil and gas sector before transferring to the transportation department in the Effingham office in 2018. In that role, he focused on roadway design and managed projects for various municipalities.

“I’ve been doing a lot for the city of Effingham,” Staley noted, citing his design work on the Jefferson Street downtown enhancements and the new roundabout on Ford Avenue. “I’m used to working with city councils. I run multiple programs for different communities the size of Casey.”

Staley explained that his experience is not limited to roads and streets. Through his work at a full-service firm, he has collaborated with architects, surveyors, and engineers specializing in wastewater and electrical systems. “While I don’t design in those every day, I do have an understanding of the design principles,” he said.

When asked why he wanted the position, Staley pointed to his deep roots in the community. “Hometown, born and raised here. I really enjoy the city and the people, and I’d really like to make it a little bit better of a place,” he stated. “Shelby’s done a great job for the last 30 years, and so hopefully I’d like to keep what he’s been doing, keep that ship steered correctly.”

Following his introduction, the council voted 6-0 to approve the ordinance appointing him. His annual salary is set at $105,000, with a start date to be determined by the mayor. After the vote, Mayor Nichols shook his hand and joked, “You don’t know what you got into, buddy.”

The ordinance also updated the city’s salary schedule for other key appointed officials and included a correction to the compensation structure for Economic Development Director Thomas Daughhetee, allowing for a potential performance bonus tied to successful grant applications.