FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The 19 applicants hail from 11 states, but less than half appear to meet the minimum educational requirements to be Fairhope’s first new electrical superintendent in 35 years.

However, a number appear to have extensive relevant experience for the job.

“We are narrowing the list,” Fairhope Human Resources Director Bryan Seibt said Tuesday. “Some will be invited for interviews at the end of the month. The process is ongoing. My desk is covered with resumes.”

The starting pay for the job as manager of the city-owned utility is between $95,000 and $110,000, he said.

Aaron Norris, the current superintendent who started as head of the department in 1973, announced last year that he would retire in 2008.

Mayor Tim Kant said they hoped to have someone hired by summer, and that Norris might continue with the department to help during the transition.

“This is not a job that you just walk into,” Norris said.

The job description as announced Nov. 1, 2007, states the basic purpose of the position is to plan, direct, manage and oversee the daily operations and activities of the city’s electric utility.

“Responsibilities include…determining electricity purchasing requirements, marketing activities, future capital projects, developing and administering department budget and directing the overall engineering and operations of the department, with accountability for results in terms of costs, personnel development and reliable customer service,” according to the posted job description. “The incumbent is responsible for the cost-effective and efficient operation of the department and reports directly to the mayor.”

The job description lists the following as “acceptable education, experience and training”:

• A bachelor of science in electrical or civil engineering, or a field directly related to the management of municipal utility;

• A master’s degree in public or business administration is desired;

• Ten years experience in engineering, operations and/or business management for an electrical utility, five years of which must have been in a senior management capacity.

The applicants for the job show a variety of experience and educational backgrounds from the following states: Alabama (five applicants including three from the Fairhope/Daphne area), Tennessee (three), North Carolina, Kentucky, Texas, Ohio, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, California and Washington.

Two applications for the job were withheld by the city, stating that the applicant had “made a specific request that his or her resume and any and all other documents pertaining to the application for the open position of electric superintendent remain confidential, so as not to put their position with their current employer in jeopardy.”

Of the applications provided, only seven of the applicants appear to meet the threshold educational requirements for the job.

The position has been advertised throughout the Southeast in newspapers and trade publications, city officials said.

Fairhope’s electric department was established in 1916, according to a report presented by the department in December to the City Council.

The report stated that Fairhope’s population was approximately 700 at that time, and the Jan. 14, 1916, vote in favor of establishing the electric utility was 84-24.

“The mayor stated that this would get rid of kerosene cans and oil lamps and would put Fairhope on the map,” the report stated. “At this time (by the 1920s), all of the gas lanterns downtown were replaced with electric lights.”

By the 1970s, the utility had 1,300 customers, seven employees and one bucket truck.

The report states that the electric department now has 6,355 meters, 16 employees, eight bucket trucks, two line trucks, six pickup trucks, three flatbeds, one back hoe, one trenchers and two boring rigs.

The reports lists the following current projects of the department: several parks and recreation department projects, including Barnwell softball and youth football fields, new tennis courts and gym; Thomas Hospital expansion; new hotel downtown; and the Fairhope Museum of History.

“Fairhope’s system was 20 years behind when I came in,” Norris said. “It could thunder in Mobile, and the lights would go out in Fairhope.”

Kant said that it will be difficult to replace Norris.

“He basically built the system we have today.”

APPLICANT BACKGROUND INFO

Here is a list of the current or most recent jobs held by applicants for the city’s electrical superintendent job. They are listed in order the applications were received and numbered by the Fairhope Human Resources Department:

(1) General Manager, Southern Missouri Natural Gas Co., (no address listed)

(2) Project Manager, U.S. Utility Contractors, Perrysburg, Ohio

(3) Chief Operating Officer, Lawrenceburg Utility Systems, Lawrenceburg, Tenn.

(4) Director of Information Technology, Harriman Utility Board, Harriman, Tenn.

(5) Assistant Professor (Electronics and Computer Technology Department). North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, N.C.

(6) Systems Engineer, Benton Rural Electric Association, Prosser, Wash.

(7) Operation Coordinator, National Grid, Brockton, Mass.

(8) Superintendent of Operations, Cleveland Public Power, Cleveland, Ohio

(9) Director of Utilities, City of Hagerstown, Md.

(10) Staff Adjuster, Allied American Adjusting Co., (no address listed)

(11) Electric Superintendent, City of Madisonville, Ky.

(12) Director of Central Services, AES/SONEL, Cameroon, Central West Africa

(13) President, ADR Investigation and Protection Corp., Cleveland, Ohio

(14) Principal Electrical Engineer, Fossil Power Group, TVA, Chattanooga, Tenn.

(15) Application withheld by Human Resources Department, citing specific request by applicant that it remain confidential (The Fairhope Courier could not find such an exception to the state public records statute.)

(16) Acting Public Works Director/Assistant Engineer, City of Northport, Ala.

(17) Application withheld by Human Resources Department, citing specific request by applicant that it remain confidential

(18) Examiner, Ala. Department of Insurance, Montgomery, Ala.

(19) Unspecified, Fairhope Electrical Department, Fairhope, Ala.