(A) A Utilities Superintendent shall be appointed in the event that there is more than one city utility and the City Council determines that it is in the best interest of the city to appoint one official to have the immediate control over all the municipal utilities. Any vacancy occurring in that office by death, resignation, or removal may be filled in the manner hereinbefore provided for the appointment of all city officials.
(B) The Utilities Superintendent’s duties over the following departments shall be as follows.
(1) Water Department. He or she shall have general supervision and control over the city water system and shall be primarily responsible for its economic operation and prudent management. Included in the water system shall be the water plant, the pump house, all machinery, and appliances used in connection with producing and distributing water to inhabitants of the city. All actions, decisions, and procedures of the Utilities Superintendent shall be subject to the general directives and control of the City Council. The Utilities Superintendent shall be subject to the general directives and authority over all employees of the water system which the City Council may from time to time hire to operate and maintain the system. Unless some other official is specifically designated, he or she shall collect all money received by the city on account of the system of waterworks and shall faithfully account for and pay over to the City Treasurer all such money collected in the name of the city and receive a receipt from the City Treasurer for the depository evidence of the faithful discharge of this duty. This receipt shall then be filed with the City Clerk, and the second copy shall be kept by the Superintendent. He or she shall make a detailed report to the City Council at least once annually of the condition of the water system, of all mains, pipes, hydrants, reservoirs, and machinery, and such improvements, repairs, and extensions thereof as he or she may think proper. The report shall show the amount of receipts and expenditures on account thereof for the preceding year. No money shall be expended for improvements, repairs, or extensions of the waterworks system except upon the recommendation of the Superintendent. The Utilities Superintendent shall provide a bond conditioned upon the faithful discharge of duties which shall amount to not less than the amount set by resolution of the City Council and on file in the office of the City Clerk. He or she shall perform those additional duties as may be prescribed by the City Council.
(2) Sewer Department. The Utilities Superintendent shall have the immediate control and supervision over all the employees and property that make up the city sewer system, subject to the general control and directives of the City Council. He or she shall at least every six months make a detailed report to the City Council on the condition of the sewer system and shall direct their attention to such improvements, repairs, extensions, additions, and additional employees as he or she may believe are needed along with an estimate of the cost thereof. He or she shall have those other duties as the City Council may delegate. He or she shall issue permits for all connections to the city sewer system and inspect and supervise all repairs made to the system.
(3) Street Department. The Utilities Superintendent shall, subject to the orders and directives of the City Council, have general charge, directions, and control of all work on the streets, sidewalks, culverts, and bridges of the city and shall perform those other duties as the City Council may require. It shall be his or her responsibility to see that gutters and drains therein function properly and that the same are kept in good repair. He or she shall, at the request of the City Council, make a detailed report to the City Council on the conditions of the streets, sidewalks, culverts, alleys, and bridges of the city and shall direct its attention to those improvements, repairs, extensions, additions, and additional employees as he or she may believe are needed to maintain a satisfactory street system in the city, along with an estimate of the cost thereof. He or she shall issue permits and assume those other duties as the City Council may direct.
(Prior Code, § 1-212)
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see Neb. RS 17-541 and 39-2512