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City manager proposes unified utility leadership; council approves reclassification and reorganization
Summary
To maintain project timelines for a wastewater plant expansion, the city manager proposed combining Energy Services and Water Resources under unified general management. Council approved reclassifications and budget-structure authority while some members raised pay and staffing concerns.
City Manager Watson told the Monroe City Council on Jan. 14 that a leadership vacancy in Water Resources and fast‑approaching deadlines for a wastewater treatment plant expansion required an immediate organizational solution.
"It is never an easy task and it quite frankly takes quite a bit of time to find the right person," Watson said, describing recruitment challenges for utility directors and the long lead times associated with utility planning. Watson said the city is in the middle of a 3 million gallons‑per‑day expansion of the wastewater treatment plant and that missing procurement and financing deadlines would disrupt the schedule.
Watson proposed restructuring utility management by creating a General Manager of Energy Services and Water Resources and a Deputy General Manager, reclassifying the current Energy Services Director and Water Resources Director into the new titles, and converting a vacant gas‑welding technician position into Assistant Director of Energy Services. The plan would align the organizational structure and mirror reporting between Energy Services and Water Resources, Watson said, and would be accomplished within the current budget without requesting additional funds.
Rob Miller, director of Energy Services, was identified as the internal leader with the strategic and leadership skills needed for the unified role. Watson said the arrangement would maintain continuity and allow the city to meet critical deadlines related to the wastewater expansion and related rate and bond work.
One council member expressed fiscal concerns, noting the additional responsibilities likely will require increased pay or support staff in the future and suggested using an existing assistant city manager to bridge the gap instead of creating and reclassifying positions. Another council member defended the structure as a way to reduce silos and improve coordinated policy implementation across utilities.
The council approved a motion to combine Energy Services and Water Resources under unified leadership, reclassify the Energy Services Director to Energy Services & Water Resources General Manager, reclassify the Water Resources Director to Deputy General Manager, reclassify the gas technician position to Assistant Director of Energy Services, and authorize the city manager to determine the budget structure to implement the reorganization. Staff said the changes are effective immediately and will be implemented within existing budgetary limits.
