PORT TOWNSEND — After four months as Jefferson County Public Utility District’s acting general manager, Kevin Streett has been promoted.
On Tuesday, the PUD commissioners unanimously agreed to make Streett’s role permanent after an executive session prior to the general business meeting.
Commission President Jeff Randall is charged with drafting an offer letter that will be discussed with Streett and is expected to be formally accepted at the next business meeting May 21.
Streett, who had left the utility in November to pursue other opportunities, agreed in December to return as acting general manager after Larry Dunbar was removed.
He planned to serve until commissioners found a replacement for Dunbar.
Streett also served as PUD interim general manager between the departure of Jim Parker in October 2017 and Dunbar’s hiring in March 2018.
Organizational goals, personal and staff development, and communications are expectations the commissioners plan to focus on during Streett’s tenure.
His salary is being negotiated. As acting general manager, he earned $160,000 annually.
Randall said that the PUD is at a point where it needs to move from an acting manager to a permanent one.
“We’ve had a lot of experience with Kevin and I personally feel indebted to Kevin, and I appreciate him,” Randall said.
“He was here from the beginning and he left when we had some challenging things going on and he came back when we needed him to.
“We are developing a really strong leadership and management team now.”
Streett originally was hired in November 2012 as the district’s first electrical employee and served as electrical superintendent during the utility’s transition from providing only water and sewer service to adding electrical service.
Streett told the commissioners this week that making him the general manager would eliminate many of the issues the utility has encountered on key hires and he was ready to take on the role.
Commissioner Ken Collins said he felt Streett’s institutional knowledge has proven to be invaluable and his commitment to the PUD is exceptional.
“Having gone through a really uncomfortable process with the last two general managers, after Mr. Parker’s tenure that was difficult, and then hiring someone and then having to let them go after seven to eight months was also difficult process,” Collins said. “We know Kevin. It’s time for us to face this decision. Kevin is the right person at the right time.”
Commissioner Dan Toepper said Streett has proven that he’s been doing things beyond what he did in his previous roles noting that the commissioners should “take the stability in front of us.”
________
Jefferson County Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
