Longboat Town Projects Manager Charlie Mopps starts new Venice job

Charlie Mopps has left his role as a Longboat Key projects manager and has started his new role as the city of Venice’s Public Works director.

Friday, Jan. 14 was Mopps’ final day with the town.

“I have been a civil servant for most of my life and enjoy serving the public,” Mopps said in a city-issued news release.

Mopps began with the city on Tuesday and replaces former Venice Public Works Director James Clinch, who was promoted to assistant city manager in October 2021.

“This position has an extremely challenging set of duties, between Parks, Maintenance, Solid Waste, Fleet and Historical Resources,” Clinch said. “Not only does Charlie bring a wealth of public and private sector knowledge, he is already invested in the Venice community on many levels.” 

Mopps is due to make $105,000 in his new role with Venice. Public records show Mopps made $80,315 last year in his role with the town of Longboat Key.

In April 2019, began working for the town after holding project manager positions from 2001-2016 with Charlotte County and from 2016-2017 with Atkins, which is part of the Canadian-based engineering company SNC-Lavalin. Mopps also has served as a police officer in North Port.

“During my time in the private sector, I did not experience the occupational fulfillment that I had come to know in the public sector, so I quickly returned to it,” Mopps said.

In Longboat Key, Mopps was responsible for overseeing the town’s $36 million beach renourishment project, clearing of the Town Center Green site and making improvements to the North Shore public beach entrance.

Last year, Town Manager Tom Harmer awarded Mopps the Town Manager Award for his work on the beach renourishment project.

Fire Chief Paul Dezzi also recognized Mopps in November 2021 with the Chief’s Award. Mopps won the award for his oversight of the rebuilding of Fire Station 92 at 2162 Gulf of Mexico Drive and the renovation of Fire Station 91 at 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Combined, the construction costs exceeded $5 million.

“He was an all-around really great team player,” Longboat Key Public Works Director Isaac Brownman said of Mopps. “He will be missed, but he did great work in the almost three years that he was here moving major projects forward to completion on schedule, under budget.”

Brownman said the town is actively recruiting for a permanent projects manager to fill the void left by Mopps. Also, Brownman said projects manager James Linkogle would continue work on the underground utilities project. 

“Things like the beach program, for example, are second nature to James, so we’re going to be leaning on James for a bit to help us manage some of those things moving forward,” Brownman said. “For example, the New Pass structure tightening is kind of the latest thing that we’re working on, on the beach program.”

The town also plans to rely on Public Works staff to pursue other projects like drainage assessments and advancing the town’s redundant pipeline project.

“I would say, ‘All the best,’” Brownman said of his message to Mopps. “‘We’ll miss you, but may you have great success in the future.’”

Mopps also served as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve from May 1993 to January 2016. He has a bachelor’s degree in marine affairs and military science from the University of Rhode Island.

“My son, Gabe, graduated from Venice High School. My daughter, Elizabeth, is a sophomore on the volleyball, weightlifting and track teams. And my wife, Kara, has been an English teacher at Venice High for most of her working life,” Mopps said. “We love this community.”