BEDFORD — Brian Key has been working with the Bedford County Public Service Authority for years.
Now, the Roanoke native is its director. The authority’s governing board named him to the position Tuesday.
Key, 36, was most recently director of design and facility services and has also worked as an engineer since joining the authority eight years ago. He was a consultant to the authority before that.
He said Wednesday that he is happy with the new role.
“It’s been something I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time,” said Key. “I’m excited about the ability to help lead the service authority into the future.”
Willie Jones, the former director, chose to vacate the position in December after accepting a job with Halifax County. The board reviewed nearly 20 applicants.
Key inherits a public utilities network that has grown since the 1970s from four employees to 37. It also operates eight water treatment plants, two wastewater treatment plants and services roughly 7,500 customers.
Key views his biggest challenge as strategic planning to continue managing the county’s growth.
Many residential and commercial developments hinge on water and sewer availability, which county officials have worked to move forward.
When he came on board, the subdivisions were less dense than they are today.
“The scale of the development has gotten larger, the numbers have increased,” said Key. “There’s been tremendous growth in the past eight years.”
Key said a very dedicated and hardworking staff has risen to the challenge of meeting the needs and would continue to do so. “We’ve been able to respond to the growth that’s been demanded and the requests from the Board of Supervisors on where they’d like to see additional services.”
Bedford County’s population has grown by 10.1 percent over the past seven years, according to a study by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center.
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