Chris Rotalsky will take over as Gainesville’s public works director Jan. 1.

Rotalsky, currently assistant public works director for the city, will be filling the role vacated by longtime Gainesville employee David Dockery. Dockery is retiring at year’s end.

Rotalsky has worked for the city since 2007 and has been in his current role for the past eight years.

“He is involved in every division of public works on a daily basis and assists in the annual preparation and presentation of the public works budget in excess of $15 million,” Assistant City Manager Angela Sheppard said in a news release. “Chris is a dedicated, professional employee, and I’m confident he will be an excellent leader for the public works department.”

Rotalsky earned a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia, and he also has received advanced certification from UGA and the American Public Works Association. He is District 9 director for the Georgia chapter of the APWA.