When Greg MacLean told his mother-in-law he’d taken a job as Lincoln’s new public works chief, she wasted little time congratulating him and got to the point.

Something’s got to be done about those blasted traffic signals on Normal Boulevard, the diminutive, dark-haired Jo Wolff told him. They’ve never been in sync.

She’s his top critic and he hasn’t even started the job yet, he joked Thursday after being tapped to lead the city’s largest department.

In the words of his predecessor, Karl Fredrickson, everybody who uses a steering wheel thinks he’s a traffic engineer.

Mayor Chris Beutler announced his decision to appoint MacLean to replace Fredrickson on Thursday. MacLean is scheduled to start Dec. 17. His appointment must be confirmed by the City Council, although previous appointees have started work long before being confirmed by the council.

Beutler said MacLean will help cut red tape and help businesses “get the job done more quickly and with less cost.”

He said the city needs leaders who have implemented change, engaged the public to find new directions and are “as respected in the boardrooms of the private sector as they are in the corridors of city hall.”

“Greg is an outstanding manager who will establish accountability and ensure that projects are done right and done on time,” Beutler said during a press conference, which was attended by several Chamber of Commerce members.

He said MacLean is an engineer who “understands the nuts and bolts of projects and will provide invaluable insight on how we should build our community infrastructure.”

Beutler did not advertise the position, but instead conducted a private search. He informed Fredrickson of his decision Wednesday afternoon. Fredrickson had already planned a vacation next week, so Thursday was his last day.

MacLean is office manager of the Lincoln office of HDR Engineering, a division of HDR Inc., a worldwide engineering firm based in Omaha.

He was the only employee when the Lincoln office opened 2001, and the branch has since grown to 18 employees. HDR has been the third largest beneficiary of city contracts since 2003, securing about $10 million in city work.

MacLean will take the reins of a department with a more than $200 million budget and 567 full-time employees who either build or direct water, wastewater, streets, storm sewers, snow removal, landfills, recycling and bus services. He will be paid an annual salary of $109,000.

MacLean said he will work to restore trust and cooperation with the private sector and make the department more customer-friendly and efficient.

Chamber President Wendy Birdsall attended the press conference, and said MacLean is an “outstanding choice.” He has long been involved with the chamber, and served on its Transportation and Public Works Steering Committee.

Fredrickson has been director since April 2005, when Mayor Coleen Seng appointed him. One of his goals was to restore public trust in the department, but the department has continued to be dogged by complaints it is too inflexible.

Beutler said Fredrickson did nothing wrong; he was just looking for a director with different skills.

“Karl is a great, great person and a great engineer,” Beutler said.

Since being elected in the spring, Beutler has dismissed an interim fire chief, the Urban Development Department head and three aides.

He said Thursday he’s still putting his team together and is not prepared to say Fredrickson’s dismissal would be the end of personnel changes.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.