COUNTY News:

The Department of Public Utilities is wrapping up their search for a new Utilities Manager. Twenty-two applications were received and reviewed.

The list of candidates was narrowed to five individuals Thursday. All five candidates are current County employees.

Interviews will be conducted April 1 by three panels:

• Internal (employee) review panel;
• Members of the Utilities’ Board; and
• Citizens’ panel.

The finalists listed in alphabetical order include:

James Alarid is Deputy Utility Manager/Engineering Division. He joined the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) engineering staff in 2002. In 2008, he became the Deputy Manager of Engineering. Prior to joining the DPU staff, Alarid worked as an engineer for 10 years in a combination of private and public sector positions. His engineering experience in land development, utilities and roadways prepared him for the challenges of leading an engineering staff of six who support the natural gas, water distribution, water production, wastewater collection, wastewater treatment, electric distribution and electric production utility operations and infrastructure. Alarid is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of New Mexico and has a bachelors and masters degree from the University of New Mexico in Civil Engineering. He is a member of the American Society of Engineers since 1994 and a member of the American Water Works Association since 2000.

Steve Cummins is Deputy Utility Manager/Electric Production and Distribution. Joining the Department of Public Utilities leadership team in 2000, Cummins currently supervises operations for electric distribution and power production. He serves as the manager of operations for the Los Alamos Power Pool pursuant to the County-DOE Electric Coordination Agreement. Other responsibilities include oversight of transmission service contracts, purchased power contracts, a jointly operated power control center, two hydroelectric facilities and power supply planning. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer with more than 14 years of experience in municipal utility engineering and seven years of consultant engineering.

Tim Glasco is Deputy Utility Manager/Gas, Water, and Sewer Services. He has been with the Department of Public Utilities since 1995 and is responsible for operation of the natural  gas distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and water production and distribution systems. Glasco holds bachelor’s degrees in Microbiology and Civil Engineering as well as a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering (Sanitary Engineering). A licensed Professional Engineer and certified as a Level IV Wastewater and Water Systems Operator, Glasco has more than 23 years of experience in municipal and public works engineering and management.

Philo Shelton is Los Alamos County Public Works Director. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the civil engineering discipline. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and received his masters of science in civil engineering from University of Colorado at Boulder. He joined the County in June 2012 and has previously served as the Public Works director in the communities of Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Black Hawk, Colo. The Public Works Department is responsible for the Los Alamos Airport, Atomic City Transit, Engineering and Surveying, Environmental Services, Fleet, and Traffic and Streets.

Bob Westervelt is Deputy Utility Manager/Finance & Administration. He joined the DPU in 2012 with more than 20 years of finance and accounting experience, including 15 years in utilities and four in state government. Westervelt is the chief financial officer responsible for financial planning for the electric, gas, water and wastewater services, metering and billing, and is DPU’s contract manager on the Electric Coordination Agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy. He also holds responsibility for the 311 Customer Care Center that serves as centralized customer service for both Los Alamos County and the DPU. Westervelt received both his BBA and his MBA from the University of New Mexico, is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Governmental Financial Manager, a Certified Fraud Examiner, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant, and is a member of each of those professional associations.

The search for a new utilities manager began last month when John Arrowsmith announced his plans to retire later this year.