Robert Stevenson is a newcomer to Hannibal. However, the Board of Public Works’ new general manager has a strong sense of the organization’s history.
“This place has been here for 100 years and I’m just the next one in line. I have a strong sense of history in that regard. I take it as a big responsibility to not screw it up for the next guy,” said Stevenson Friday afternoon at a press conference during which his selection as GM was publicly announced.
Although the announcement of Stevenson’s appointment was made on Friday the 13th, he feels lucky to be joining the Hannibal BPW.
“I’d done some research before I got here,” he said. “The place is a complex operation. It looks to me like the people here have a good grip on their business. They know what they’re doing and are doing it well. My hope is to continue that.”
Stevenson is aware of the city council’s recent efforts to change the BPW Board’s membership. The friction behind that action did not give him any second thoughts about the opportunity in Hannibal.
“The board members I have met are good, honest men. They care about the city and utility. They seem reasonable to me. I have seen them already deal with some issues. You couldn’t ask for more, I don’t think,” he said.
The council’s actions stemmed from its dismay over recent BPW rate hikes. Stevenson says Hannibal’s utility rates, especially when it comes to electricity, could be higher.
“The electric rates as I understand it are lower than the surrounding co-ops and that’s a good thing. There will be things coming up in the future that might impact rates in the next power supply contract or the next decisions that we make in that regard,” he said, referring to cap-and-trade legislation now under consideration in Washington, D.C.
Stevenson is not opposed to tapping into alternative energy, citing the small scale use of wind power when he served as director of utilities for New Ulm, Minn. He expressed his support for the BPW’s recent decision to back away from a proposed hydroelectric project on the Mississippi River.
“Hydro would be nice if it’s available, but that particular opportunity just didn’t look all that swell,” he said. “My sense is that the board is not real enthused about doing things that cost premiums. They’re very economically oriented, which I support. I think that’s a good thing.”
While at first glance Stevenson says the BPW’s electric, water and sewer departments appear sound, he intends to give them closer scrutiny after settling into his new job later this month.
“I think it’s in pretty good shape. There’s always things to do to improve. This organization has been improving for the past 100 years in one way or another. That needs to continue,” he said. “We need to find ways to improve. What they’re going to be right now, I don’t know. I have committed to the board that that will be ‘job one’ for me. I’m going to spend the first significant period of time, weeks, months maybe, just surveying everything and giving them a report of what I think may need to be looked at.”
Stevenson stressed that future changes won’t be made without cause.
“There’s always challenges with finding money to make improvements and with justifying improvements. We’ll not spend money that cannot be justified,” he said. “Bottom line, economics drive most of what I do.”
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Robert Stevenson is a newcomer to Hannibal. However, the Board of Public Works’ new general manager has a strong sense of the organization’s history.
“This place has been here for 100 years and I’m just the next one in line. I have a strong sense of history in that regard. I take it as a big responsibility to not screw it up for the next guy,” said Stevenson Friday afternoon at a press conference during which his selection as GM was publicly announced.
Although the announcement of Stevenson’s appointment was made on Friday the 13th, he feels lucky to be joining the Hannibal BPW.
“I’d done some research before I got here,” he said. “The place is a complex operation. It looks to me like the people here have a good grip on their business. They know what they’re doing and are doing it well. My hope is to continue that.”
Stevenson is aware of the city council’s recent efforts to change the BPW Board’s membership. The friction behind that action did not give him any second thoughts about the opportunity in Hannibal.
“The board members I have met are good, honest men. They care about the city and utility. They seem reasonable to me. I have seen them already deal with some issues. You couldn’t ask for more, I don’t think,” he said.
The council’s actions stemmed from its dismay over recent BPW rate hikes. Stevenson says Hannibal’s utility rates, especially when it comes to electricity, could be higher.
“The electric rates as I understand it are lower than the surrounding co-ops and that’s a good thing. There will be things coming up in the future that might impact rates in the next power supply contract or the next decisions that we make in that regard,” he said, referring to cap-and-trade legislation now under consideration in Washington, D.C.
Stevenson is not opposed to tapping into alternative energy, citing the small scale use of wind power when he served as director of utilities for New Ulm, Minn. He expressed his support for the BPW’s recent decision to back away from a proposed hydroelectric project on the Mississippi River.
“Hydro would be nice if it’s available, but that particular opportunity just didn’t look all that swell,” he said. “My sense is that the board is not real enthused about doing things that cost premiums. They’re very economically oriented, which I support. I think that’s a good thing.”
While at first glance Stevenson says the BPW’s electric, water and sewer departments appear sound, he intends to give them closer scrutiny after settling into his new job later this month.
“I think it’s in pretty good shape. There’s always things to do to improve. This organization has been improving for the past 100 years in one way or another. That needs to continue,” he said. “We need to find ways to improve. What they’re going to be right now, I don’t know. I have committed to the board that that will be ‘job one’ for me. I’m going to spend the first significant period of time, weeks, months maybe, just surveying everything and giving them a report of what I think may need to be looked at.”
Stevenson stressed that future changes won’t be made without cause.
“There’s always challenges with finding money to make improvements and with justifying improvements. We’ll not spend money that cannot be justified,” he said. “Bottom line, economics drive most of what I do.”
