Adopting Applicable Statutory Basis for the Operation of the South Bend Water Works

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OFFICE OF THE MAYOR CITY ®f SOUTH BEAD ROGER O. PARENT, Mayor COUNTY -CITY BUILDING SOUTH BEND, INDIANA 46601 August 3, 1983 Mrs. Beverlie Beck President South Bend Common Council 4th Floor, County -City Building South Bend, IN 46601 RE: Water Works Ordinance Dear Beverlie: AREA 219 284 -9261 Effective September 1, 1983, I will appoint citizens who are not City employees to serve on the Board of the Water Works. Presently, the City Engineer, the City Attorney and the City Controller who are on the Board of Public Works also serve as the Commissioners of the Water Works. A citizen Board of the Water Works will permit outside oversight of the Water Works operations by individuals with new skills and viewpoints. I have been thinking about appointing citizens to the Water Works Board for several years and have decided to do so now for a number of reasons. First, we will be transferring a top - flight operation to a citizen Board because of the excellent work of the present Water Works Commissioners and Mr. Michael Vance, Director of Utilities. The Water Commissioners and Mr. Vance have instituted new computer operations, adminis- trative procedures have been streamlined, difficult matters such as the suit over the pollution of the Olive Street Well Field have been resolved and the Water Works itself has been put on a much sounder financial basis than it was three years ago.