As a result of recent retirements and in an effort to align related functions and operations, the City of Mesa announced that the City’s Utilities Department will be divided into the Water Resources Department and the Energy Resources Department. Both departments will remain in the same location in the main utilities building at 640 North Mesa Drive and will report to Deputy City Manager Jack Friedline who has been acting Utilities Manager.
“This is a logical progression and outgrowth of personnel and operational changes that have occurred over the last 12 months,” deputy city manager Jack Friedline said, “The department has been functioning this way successfully for months. This action merely formalizes the changes.”
Current Utilities Administration Director Kathryn Sorensen will become the director of the Water Resources Department, replacing Bill Haney, who will retire on Feb. 13th. The Water Resources Department will be responsible for managing city water and wastewater services including oversight and management of water resources and the collection and treatment of wastewater.
Utilities Resources Division Director Frank McRae will become the Director of Energy Resources. The Energy Resources Department will provide energy services including the distribution of natural gas, maintenance of the natural gas system and the construction, maintenance and operation of the City’s electric utility.
“I am confident this change will be transparent for our customers,” city manager Chris Brady said, “The directors leading these two new departments both have extensive experience and knowledge in their chosen fields and have proven themselves during their respective tenures with the City.”
The two departments will share equipment and resources during the transition period until the final details are worked out during the upcoming budget process. Some overlapping functions will be shared to more effectively serve Mesa residents and other departments.