The Los Alamos County Board of Public Utilities convened on September 17, 2025, to discuss updates to procedural rules regarding performance evaluations and hiring processes for key positions within the county. A significant focus of the meeting was a proposal to enhance the evaluation process for the utility manager, aligning it with existing practices for the county manager and county attorney.

During the meeting, it was noted that the council is considering adding provisions that would allow council members to provide input on the utility manager's performance appraisal. This input would occur in a closed session or as requested by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) chair. Additionally, council members would meet with the utility manager following the BPU's performance review if requested.

The discussion also touched on the hiring process for the county manager and county attorney, emphasizing that the BPU typically handles the majority of the hiring process for the utility manager. The board conducts the legwork, selects candidates, negotiates contracts, and ultimately presents the selection to the council for approval. The council has requested input from the BPU on both the performance evaluation and hiring processes, prompting the board to consider formalizing their feedback in an upcoming work session.

The chair encouraged members to reflect on potential changes to the performance evaluation process and the hiring of the utility manager, suggesting that this is an opportune time to revise rules in anticipation of future needs.

In addition to these discussions, the chair mentioned an upcoming speaking engagement at Kiwanis on October 7, where they will address topics related to utilities. The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration between the council and the BPU in shaping effective governance for Los Alamos County.