The City of Portage is searching for a new Director of Operations, now that previous Director Kelly Braden's retired.

In the meantime, his duties have been assumed by two members of the department.

Jocelyn Lequier-Jobin and Carly Friesen's first day was yesterday. Lequier-Jobin is the Manager of Engineering, and outlines her responsibilities.

"I'm handling the part of the director of operations' job to do with the Public Works side of things," she says. "So roads, water and sewer distribution systems, parks, and cemeteries."

Meanwhile, Friesen's the Manager of Wastewater Treatment, and talks about the duties she's assumed.

"I'm overseeing the wastewater and water treatment divisions," she says. "As well as the city facilities, so any building maintenance."

Lequier-Jobin talks about their approach.

"We pass things back and forth quite a bit," she says. "I mean we've only been doing it one day, but we already were e-mailing back and forth. So if we get a question, and we're not sure, then we pass it along to the other person."

Friesen adds the departments they're overseeing are well-defined.

"So we should know what falls in in our area," she says. "There are some places where it overlaps, and in those circumstances, Jocelyn and I have a great working relationship, so we'll make sure nothing gets dropped or missed."