Director's report: department reorganization, staff promotions and intake-structure barge scheduled

At the Oct. 26 meeting the water department director updated commissioners on an internal reorganization, recent promotions, a near-term marine operation and financial monitoring.

Director Joshua Hegmark (referred to in the transcript) said the new Water Resources department organization will be implemented administratively now and will be effective financially on July 1, 2026. He announced recent hires and promotions in distribution and collections: Robbie Days was promoted to water services superintendent and Corey Olsen was offered the water distribution superintendent position (offer accepted as of the meeting). He also welcomed Ashley Sizo as the city engineer and noted she is the first woman to serve as city engineer for the city.

Hegmark said a barge will arrive Monday for an intake-structure hardening project and that staff had conducted public outreach; media coverage was expected. On finance, staff said enterprise revenues and expenditures “continue to look pretty good,” with a current projection for water of about a $1.2 million shortfall that staff called difficult to assess early in the fiscal year. He noted the city’s general fund is undertaking a broad review to reduce a projected shortfall (staff cited options totaling roughly $10 million), and the department will monitor whether shared staffing or service adjustments become necessary.

Hegmark closed by noting the department will present the wastewater annual report and a water conservation strategic-plan update at the November meeting and thanked staff for recruitment progress, citing an improved number of applicants for open collection positions.