Okaloosa County promotes Scott Bitterman to be Public Works Director

In Brief:

🚧 Longtime county engineer promoted to top role
🗳️ Commissioners vote unanimously for Bitterman
🌉 Career includes major infrastructure projects in Florida and Missouri

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Commissioner Trey Goodwin quickly moved to ratify the appointment.

“I think I called him public works director earlier today, and didn’t call him interim public works director,” Goodwin said. “I wasn’t trying to jinx you, Scott. I guess I already had it in my mind that you were doing the job. So that’s my motion.”

Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel echoed the praise.

“It’s been an honor to work with you the last decade. You’re more than capable of doing this job,” she said. “We’re so fortunate to have you as part of the Okaloosa team, and you’ll do a great job heading up public works.”

The board’s vote was unanimous.

Bitterman, a graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in civil engineering, joined Okaloosa County government in 2015 as county engineer.

Bitterman has managed the $120 million local option surtax program for road capacity, stormwater and safety improvements, administered solid waste contracts, overseen environmental programs, and coordinated with the Florida Department of Transportation on traffic signal maintenance

His career before Okaloosa included senior engineering roles in Missouri. As Street Engineering Manager for Columbia, he oversaw a $68 million capital improvement program and implemented a $25 million federal grant for non-motorized transportation.

He also held posts as a city traffic engineer and as a traffic engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Among his career highlights, Bitterman helped secure a $64 million grant toward building a $200 million bypass in Crestview, implemented the first modern roundabout on Missouri’s highway system, and launched the state’s first traffic-adaptive signal corridor.