Fayette County has chosen Vanessa Tigert as its new water system director, replacing Lee Pope, who resigned last March.

Tigert, who has worked for the county since 2007 as director of the environmental management and solid waste departments, was among two internal and six external candidates for the position. Among her recent accomplishments was the implementation of the 2017 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program, which funds infrastructure projects throughout the county. Before coming to Fayette, Tigert developed state environmental protection programs for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

County Manager Steve Rapson said Tigert “has exactly the type of program management and technical experience needed to lead the Water System.”