City of Lighthouse Point Hires new City Engineer
Danielle Charbonneau
December 28, 2023
The City of Lighthouse Point’s longtime resident and City Engineer for more than 20 years, Cary Winningham, will retire at the end of the year. In his place, the Lighthouse Point City Commission has approved a five-year contract with Pompano Beach-based company KEITH and Associates, Inc.
The contract includes two potential extension periods of three years each after the five-year agreement has concluded. The City Commission unanimously approved the contract to designate KEITH and Associates as the new Principal City Engineer at its Nov. 14 commission meeting. The commission also approved a cost cap of $100,000 for engineering projects for Fiscal Year 2024 unless the commission is presented with additional work orders for special projects, which would need to be approved.
City Commissioner Michael S. Long spoke in favor of hiring KEITH, saying he had known the family for a long time and admired their involvement with the local community.
“They have great connections in the county,” Commissioner Long said.
As the new Principal City Engineer, KEITH will now be in charge of a wide range of city projects including condition assessments, construction cost estimations, engineer plan reviews for private developments, flood plan management, capital construction projects and studies for storm water, infrastructure or sidewalk planning.
The company has been very active in Pompano Beach. In 2023, KEITH won the Fort Lauderdale AIA Design Award for its development of a youth sports complex, which was part of the City of Pompano Beach’s G.O. Bond project. The complex included several multi-purpose pitches, a clubhouse with concessions, restrooms, storage, offices, landscaped walking paths, and a 180-space parking lot in the 10-acre complex. The project was designed to preserve several mature canopy trees to provide ample shade.
KEITH won the 2022 ASCE Broward Project of the Year Award for its work on Everglades Holiday Park; the 2021 Best Hospitality Project Award for Tru by Hilton/Homes2Suites in Fort Lauderdale; and the 2021 Urban Forestry Award of Excellence for Fairfield Morea in Pompano Beach. The company is the continuing general engineering services provider for the City of Port Saint Lucie, holds a contract with FDOT District 6 to provide Districtwide Landscape Design and has been developing the Gary Matzner Park in the Village of Pinecrest.
“Our commitment to community development has been a guiding force in our endeavors,” said KEITH and Associates President, Alex Lazowick. “We’ve actively engaged with local communities, fostering relationships and ensuring that our projects contribute positively to the social and economic fabric of the communities we call home. The dedication to making a meaningful impact beyond our designs is truly commendable and has been a key driver of our success.”
A meeting has been set between outgoing city engineer Winningham and KEITH to facilitate the passing of two decades worth of institutional knowledge when KEITH takes over in 2024.
