Restructuring will keep utility service moving forward, admin says
By Kellen Olshefski
Correspondent
Elkhorn City Administrator James Heilman shared a plan last week to fill the utility director position role that is set to be left vacant with the retirement of Utility Director John Murphy this October.
Attempts to fill the role as is so far have not been successful however, Heilman developed a plan to restructure the management and keep the utility service moving forward.
At the Aug. 16 meeting, Heilman said they are creating a City of Elkhorn Utility Field Office Coordinator position, which would serve as administrative staff and supervisor for the water and electric utilities.
Field staff, which Heilman explained are strong and “well-seasoned” on both sides – are expected to continue to handle field operations for the utilities.
Meanwhile, since he has yet to find a qualified applicant for the a water utility supervisor position, Heilman said he has taken further steps in an effort to ensure things continue to operate as they should. He said he reached out to the consulting firm the city has been working with for the water utility, Foth Engineering Services, to handle those duties until someone is hired, something Foth has done with other municipalities.
“They will coordinate and meet with our water personnel on a weekly basis. Every person will have a calendar, and on that calendar will be things that, as a supervisor, they want to see done in the next week. They also will be monitoring throughout the week to make sure those things are getting done,” Heilman said.
“We have very good staff, and I think that will work great, but I needed somebody steering the ship,” he added.
Heilman said he will continue to advertise for the water utility superintendent position, but Foth will serve as a stopgap until such time a qualified candidate is found.
Additionally, Heilman noted a recently former foreman from Elkhorn utilities works for Foth now, and that could prove to work out well for the city as that person would already know the city’s water utility “inside and out.”
With Murphy set to officially retire on Oct. 1, Heilman said he has had to move quickly and has already sent out an offer sheet to an applicant for the utility field office coordinator position.
If all goes according to plan, Heilman said this would allow the city to finalize the process of drug screening and background checks to finalize that position and get that person onboard on Aug. 30. That would give the new employee a full month with Murphy prior to his retirement.
