The city’s interim director of utilities has left the city to take a job in Wyandotte County.

Chris Stewart’s last day with the city was Friday. After nearly 12 years with the city, Stewart is leaving to become the director of civil engineering for the Board of Public Utilities in Wyandotte County.

“This has been a great community and great people to work with,” Stewart said. “It is always hard to leave something you enjoy doing, but it is time for some different challenges and different opportunities.”

City leaders said they were sad to see him go.

“Chris has been an excellent employee and someone who we’re going to miss a lot,” Assistant City Manager Debbie Van Saun said.

Stewart leaves the department as the city gets closer to hiring a new director for the department. City Manager David Corliss said he is interviewing finalists for the director position this month. He expects to make a job offer by the end of this month.

The position has been open since September 2005 when Roger Coffey retired from the job.

Stewart, who has mainly been responsible for overseeing the city’s water plant operations, became the interim director of the department.

Dave Wagner, the assistant director of the department, will now become the interim director. The department oversees both the city’s water and sewer operations.