(A) A governing body to oversee the operations of all municipally owned utilities shall be established by the passing of an ordinance pursuant to I.C. 8-1.5-3-3 by the Common Council, and shall be commonly referred to and referenced in this Code as the “Utility Service Board” no matter which statutory structure is chosen.
(B) The governing body of the Utility Service Board shall have the powers and duties defined by I.C. 8-1.5-3-4, insofar as they do not conflict with division (E) below.
(C) A Utility Superintendent shall be hired and shall have the powers and duties established by I.C. 8-1.5-3-5.
(D) The Utility Service Board shall set the desired experience and education requirements for its Utility Superintendent, draft and publish an advertisement, interview, and negotiate employment terms using reasonable hiring methods and practices as determined by the Board as appropriate under law.
(E) The Mayor shall have authority over the day-to-day operations of the utilities. The Mayor shall report to the Utility Service Board all necessary information and data concerning the operation of the utilities. The Utility Superintendent and all utility employees shall report to the Mayor for day-to-day operations and management. The Mayor shall direct the Superintendent and utility employees as to all matters so long as they do not interfere with the statutory authority of the Utility Service Board to set and enforce the policies of the utilities.
(F) Before taking office, the Utility Superintendent shall furnish a fidelity bond in the amount required by statute, conditioned upon the faithful performance of his or her duties with a corporation licensed to do business in the state as surety. Such bond shall be filed with the Clerk-Treasurer after being approved by the Common Council.
(G) The Mayor shall preside over the meetings of the governing body of the utilities, shall have veto authority, and shall be a voting member only in the instance of a tie vote.
(H) The city shall operate its municipal utilities under the name “Lawrenceburg Municipal Utilities,” which shall consist of the following departments:
(1) Electric Department, which shall construct, operate and maintain the electric transformer, distribution and metering system;
(2) Water Department, which shall construct, operate and maintain the city water distribution system including wells and the pumping, purifying, softening, and metering of the waste supplied;
(3) Sanitary Sewer Department, which shall construct, operate and maintain the sanitary sewer collection system including pumps and metering and either contract for or provide treatment of the sewerage.
(I) The Utility Service Board shall have the sole authority, by majority vote at a public meeting, to engage in any contracts or binding agreements on behalf of the utilities.
(J) The spending authority of the Utility Superintendent and any utility employee shall be set by the Utility Service Board.
(K) The rates of the utilities shall be calculated by the Utility Service Board and proposed to the Common Council for approval. The Common Council may approve or reject these rates but may not amend them without the majority consent of the governing body of the utilities.
(L) The Clerk-Treasurer shall be the Fiscal Officer for the Utility Service Board, and shall exercise all powers of an Indiana municipal Fiscal Officer. The Utility Service Board shall cooperate fully with the Clerk-Treasurer and perform any action reasonably necessary to allow the Fiscal Officer to fulfill its duties.
(M) Mission statement. The Utility Service Board shall take all steps necessary to ensure that all of its customers receive the most efficient and affordable services possible on an ongoing basis.
(`94 Code, § 30.18) (Ord. 5-1992, passed 6-15-92; Am. Ord. 3-1999, passed 2- -99; Am. Ord. 6-2020, passed 4-6-20)