Huntingburg to split utilities superintendent position and create two new departments

Huntingburg — The Huntinburg Common Council created two new departments and corresponding superintendent positions  for those departments at Thursday night’s meeting.

The new positions split the Utility Superintendent position between the two new departments. The newly created Energy Department combines the Gas and Electric Utilities under one superintendent. The Water Department will become a standalone department with a Water Superintendent.

The changes come as a solution to the expanding responsibilities required by the Utilities Superintendent created by increased federal regulations and large upcoming projects within those departments; especially the gas and water departments.

Earlier this year, the council approved an Assistant Utility Superintendent position, but since then, Tony Traylor, the current City Utility Superintendent, has had problems finding a qualified candidate.

“We weren’t having much success in finding a candidate to fill the position of assistant superintendent that could cover the whole gamut of what we had in mind for the position,” Mayor Denny Spinner said.

With the increasing demands on the water utility now and the upcoming dredging project for Huntingburg Lake, the mayor explained the water utility is requiring a greater amount of supervision. Traylor will become the Water Superintendent but remain available to assist a newly appointed Energy Superintendent.

The reorganization also includes the Utility Billing Office now being managed by the Clerk/Treasurer’s office. The mayor said the duties and policies within the billing office align with the Clerk’s office and the new association will relieve some personnel issues as well as achieve financial continuity between the two offices. The clerk’s office already is involved in every other financial aspect of the utilities and this would only add the revenue cycle to its responsibilities.

The changes and additional positions will not affect the 2013 Salary Ordinance as the plan involves combining the approved salaries for the Utilities Superintendent with the Assistant Utilities Superintendent and then splitting them between the two new departments.

The wastewater, energy and water superintendents will each be paid in the range of $1,048 and $1,138.50 per week.

“The greater amount of regulations [for the departments] are becoming more of a burden and this will allow a more focused approach and be beneficial for the city,” Mayor Spinner said

The changes should be complete by the first of year.