City Of Mount Pleasant Hires City Engineer/ Public Works Director

Andrew Zagars

The City of Mount Pleasant welcomes Andrew Zagars, P.E., as City Engineer/Director of the Public Works Department, which encompasses engineering, streets maintenance, fleet services, facility maintenance, street signs, floodplain management, and capital projects.

Zagars brings more than 20 years of experience in public works, engineering, and construction project management in both the public and private sectors and has earned 15 different professional accreditations certifications and awards.

Zagars comes to Mount Pleasant from the City of Sammamish, Washington, where he has been the City Engineer since 2015. He previously was Development Engineer for the City of Shoreline, Washington, from 2013 to 2015. Zagars also has 12 years of experience with the City of Shreveport, Louisiana, where he was a Civil Engineer from 2001 to 2013 and responsible for managing all aspects of more than 100 municipal projects, including roadways, bridges, and water and sewage utilities.

“We are very pleased to welcome Andrew, who has a proven track record for the successful completion of small to multi-million-dollar projects while also maintaining costs and building positive working relationships with architects, engineers, vendors, contractors, and citizens,” said City Manager Ed Thatcher.

“He is a great fit for the City as we strive to grow the right way with quality public and private sector projects and improvements,” said Thatcher.

As a vital member of the City’s leadership team, Zagars will report to the City Manager and direct the Public Works operation’s activities with a group of 16 employees. He will also serve as the City’s principal advisor on Public Works programs, capital projects, and engineering issues.

“I am excited to work for and be a part of the City of Mount Pleasant and its community,” said Zagars. “I enjoy the enthusiasm and welcoming environment myself and my family have experienced since we have arrived. I look forward to working with a great group of people and continue in the success of the City and Public Works.”

Zagars earned an MSEM Masters Degree in Engineering Management of Technology from Louisiana Tech University and a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington.

When not working, Zagars enjoys traveling, boating, fishing, and hiking. He and his wife, Anna, have a son, Zach, a daughter, Hannah, and two grandsons, Jace and Kaleb, who live in the Shreveport-Minden area.