Interim PUD manager named

EPHRATA - Assistant manager Tony Webb has been named as the interim general manager of the Grant County Public Utility District. Commission members selected Webb during their regular meeting Monday.

"Tony has been with the district the most amount of time, (and) probably has the most experience," said commission chair Tom Flint. "He's dealt with all the utility at one time or another."

The board did not raise Webb's salary.

Webb has been with the PUD since 1990 and previously served as Director of Human Resources and Support Services. He was named assistant general manager in April 2011, and also serves as director of customer service.

Webb will replace Tim Culbertson, who was fired July 9 for having a personal relationship with a PUD employee. In a press release issued that day, Flint said the relationship made it difficult for Culbertson to do his work without the appearance of a conflict of interest.

District commissioners are in the process of developing a job description and list of qualifications for the general manager, and will enlist the help of the district's human resources department, Flint said. That process is expected to take about two weeks, he said, then the utility will start advertising for applications.

No timeline has been established for choosing a new general manager, Flint said, but commissioners want to take time to do the best job they can, but without dragging out the process.