July 3, 2012 — The mood was light and welcoming at Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Morehead Utility Plant Board as members elected new officers and welcomed a new yet old board member.
Porter Dailey was elected board chairman for the local utility, taking the reins from Dr. Charles Derrickson who had served in an interim role since Dr. Ewell Scott retired last December.
“I appreciate the confidence you have boldly placed upon my shoulders,” Dailey told the board. “There’s been great leadership and I think together we will continue to do good work.”
The board also chose Derrickson as vice chairman and Russ Ward as board secretary.
City Council appointed Alan Baldwin to replace MUPB board member Charles Patrick, who resigned last month. Baldwin had previously served on the utility board.
“There’s been considerable progress made in board organization and functioning,” Baldwin said. “Somebody has done good work.”
Dailey and Baldwin, who worked previously worked together at Morehead State, traded friendly barbs throughout the meeting.
At one point, Derrickson waved his gavel and asked the men, “which of you want this,” he laughed.
Joking aside, Derrickson said that recent efforts to develop bylaws and now a strategic plan will keep the utility company moving forward.
“This is why I’ve been so insistent upon a strategic plan so that we can continue this progress,” he said.
In other business, MUPB General Manager Mike Nickell said the agency won its 10th gas safety award and invited the board to an employee celebration luncheon at the maintenance department.
“This is the tenth award we received and we have won it eight years in a row,” Nickell said.
The board also approved monthly financials and the general manager’s report.
Noelle Hunter can be reached at nhunter@themoreheadnews.com or by telephone at 784-4116.
