Bellevue City Administrator Dan Berlowitz has announced the hiring of Larry D. Burks, MPA, CED for the position of Assistant City Administrator. Mr. Burks has served as City Administrator for Onawa, Iowa since 2008 and brings a diverse amount of experience to the position. In addition to his administrative duties, Burks was the Zoning Administrator and Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Onawa. He started his career in city government in 2006 by serving a City Administrator Internship and subsequently in the capacity of Administrative Assistant with the City of Hickman, Nebraska.
Under Mr. Burks’ leadership, the City of Onawa has received nearly $1.5 million in grant funding to help reduce the tax burden on the community and he is currently managing the planning and development of a forty-six acre industrial park and Onawa Iowa’s Downtown Beautification Project. Burks has also created infill housing opportunities by eliminating nearly twenty dangerous and dilapidated homes.
Mr. Burks is a former commercial printer who moved to Omaha in 1991. After enrolling at the University of Nebraska – Omaha in 2001, Burks received a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies – Geography & Planning option from the UNO Honors Program in 2005 and was selected to represent the program at the Student Honors Convocation to receive special recognition for outstanding performance and potential. Burks continued his education and received a Masters Degree in Public Administration – Public Management option in 2007. In 2011, Burks received his professional certificate in Community Economic Development from NeighborWorks America Organization.
The City of Bellevue conducted a national search when recruiting for the position and Mr. Burks was selected from a field of 60 candidates. “The City of Bellevue is fortunate to have the opportunity to hire someone with Mr. Burks’ public management experience and leadership skills,” said Mr. Berlowitz, “and with his experience in economic development I look for him to take an active role in assisting me to promote the economic growth of the City of Bellevue.”
In addition to his professional experience, Burks has had a variety of volunteer positions with boards and agencies in both Nebraska and Iowa. In July of this year, Burks received peer recognition from the Iowa City/County Management Association by being recognized as the IaCMA 2012 Emerging Leader of the Year.
Mr. Burks looks forward to “serving the citizens of Nebraska’s 1st City.”
Mr. Burks and his wife Kathryn have two children and they plan to move to Bellevue within a year. He will start working for the City of Bellevue on September 24th.