For the past 116 years, the Water and Electric utilities have been managed by a citizen dominated commission. The Police Department is managed by the Police and Fire Commission. The library is managed by the Library Board. Numerous other city functions like Planning, Parks and Zoning Appeals are managed by boards and commissions. Currently, the Utility Commission has seven voting members: the Mayor, two aldermen, four citizens; the City Administrator is a nonvoting member. The Commissioners are not paid.
The Commission’s job is to independently make the decisions necessary to provide services today and tomorrow. Regular investment in infrastructure is the key to long term quality service at affordable rates and low debt. Discussing the Utility’s low debt in the most recent audit, the Auditor “stated that the percentage of debt is decreasing and that was very positive. Typically, when she sees a low percentage of debt she questions if the utility is maintaining its infrastructure adequately. She stated she does not see that as a problem at Jefferson Utilities. In 2016, Jefferson Utilities spent $800,000 on capital projects. This is good news.” (Minutes, May 2017)
In addition to making adequate, regular capital investments to maintain the infrastructure, the average Jefferson Water and Electric residential customer enjoys the lowest combined rates in Jefferson County. And this is after the rate adjustment required by Tyson’s closing.
(Waterloo’s rate increases have now been completed.)