Need weather damage help in Town? Get to know Wiley
Town of Farragut has a new director, Wil Wiley, overseeing its Public Works department.
Wiley, originally from Michigan, comes to Farragut from San Diego, California, starting his new role Oct. 28. He brings with him experience in construction and governmental public works and maintenance.
“I love it,” he said about his new role with the Town. “It’s everything I hoped it would be.
“I like the size of the Town,” the new Public Works director added. “You get to know everybody … I think it’s important to have those good relationships so you get to know people.”
For Wiley, the move is a new chapter in his life.
“I wanted a better and brighter future for our children,” he said.
Regarding his new role, Wiley said his goals are to continue to grow the Public Works department “to serve our residents and give them the tools they need to get that done.
“I have a good team,” he added. “It’s not their first rodeo.”
Working in the private sector as a senior construction manager for schools in California, “schools are one of the most strictest construction (tasks) you can do besides hospitals,” he said.
Wiley worked at three school districts as assistant director, director and executive director.
However, his last position was as assistant director of Public Works with the city of Poway in San Diego County.
“In that role, it’s a lot of the same things (as public works), but they don’t call it public works; they call it maintenance and operation,” he said.
Wiley oversaw 16 parks, 78 miles of walking trails, 78 buildings and 248 pieces of equipment, as well as streets and traffic lights.
He was born and reared in Michigan. Growing up, “I would come down here through Tennessee to go to Florida,” he said.
Wiley was impressed with the different climate changes, culture and hospitality.
Later, “I moved to San Diego with my family,” he said of his wife, Heather, and their two daughters, Claire, 13, and Grace, 9.
However, he said most recently they wanted to get out of California and move east.
“We came out (to Tennessee) to visit several times throughout the years,” Wiley said. “When we came to the Smoky Mountains and East Tennessee, it’s where we really fell in love with the location.
“I told my wife the only way to really get out of vacation mode is to stay at a place for a little bit, so we pulled our travel trailer here,” he added.
