Council hears utility staffing and compliance gaps as utilities director search is planned
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Summary
Council and interim city manager discussed the utilities department transition after the utilities director’s departure, temporary operational coverage, plans to recruit a utilities director, Title VI notification from TxDOT and TCEQ notices, and a planned October launch of new utility-billing software.
The Alpine City Council spent substantial time on June 17 discussing continuity and risks in the city’s utilities operations after the utilities director’s departure.
Interim City Manager Gio (Geo) Calderon told council the utilities director (Johnny) was leaving and that Mike Macias would provide operational leadership as a team lead in the interim while HR and the manager pursue either an interim or permanent utilities director. "I did speak with Mike Macias to provide operational leadership as a team lead until we can get somebody in the position," Calderon said.
Why it matters: Council members raised immediate operational and regulatory concerns — including a recent notice of violation from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and a separate noncompliance notice from TxDOT related to Title VI — and emphasized the need for a licensed operator and continuity for SCADA and wastewater projects.
Calderon told council staff will interview two applicants and aims to present a recommendation for council action at the July 1 meeting. He said the city will evaluate whether to appoint someone on an interim basis or hire permanently, and that licensing can be obtained for the successful candidate: "If we get somebody in place, we can get the required license," he said.
Council and staff also discussed operational steps to reduce workload and billing errors: the city plans a utility-billing software launch in October, a pilot for smart meters was discussed (estimated pilot cost reported around $40,000 for one option), and staff are working to improve meter-reading processes and SCADA access for remote monitoring.
Several council members urged faster action to ensure permitted operations: council asked staff to explore temporary licensed oversight from neighboring utilities if necessary and to prioritize TCEQ compliance issues. Calderon said staff had already identified areas for immediate oversight and would seek council approval for candidate appointments.
Ending: The council unanimously agreed to continue recruitment and directed staff to return with recommendations at the next meeting; the SGR executive recruitment proposal for utilities director was postponed by council vote.
