Hamilton is the only Ohio city that operates all four primary utilities for itself — electric, natural gas, water and sewage disposal. It also manages the flow of storm water into streams, rivers and its wastewater-treatment facility.
The city’s utilities operations, which include public works, has a budget of $179.4 million and 270 active employees.
“Dan is probably the best at utility operations of anyone I’ve ever worked with,” said City Manager Joshua Smith. “He understands all plants,” including water, wastewater and electric.
“He’s incredible in terms of the day-to-day operations of our utilities, and we’re very blessed to have him on staff,”
Moats said he would serve for as long as needed.
“I’m only acting (director), for however long that lasts, but I’m in the position here and trying to help us get through this tough time we’re going through with this (COVID-19) and all the other activities we’ve got going on,” Moats said.
Moats operated the city’s coal-burning plant from 1999 to 2010 before leaving for American Municipal Power, an organization with which Hamilton buys and sells electricity. In that capacity he was general manager of the Fremont Energy Center in northern Ohio, which produces power using natural gas. That facility is owned by the city of Fremont, from which Hamilton buys electricity.
“I was never totally isolated from Hamilton,” he said. “We were generating power that was being utilized in Hamilton from Fremont.”
The position came open when Director of Infrastructure Jim Logan left the city to take a top position with a high-tech ship-building company. Smith had taken on many of the duties until naming Moats to the interim role.
The city and AMP share ownership of Hamilton’s two hydroelectric power plants on the Ohio River.
Moats returned to the city’s utilities several years ago. Before working for Hamilton the first time, he operated a few other power plants, including Columbus’ former trash-burning power plant that was on the southern end of the city, along Interstate 71.
Moats said because the city’s power plant on Third Street has been out of service about six years, he expects the city will decommission it.
His favorite part of working with the city’s utilities isn’t one of them in particular. Instead, it’s something they all have in common.
“The most fun I have is working with the people that I work with,” Moats said. “They’re so committed, and it is a commitment to the residents. The dedication of some of the employees that we work with here, I’m just always really impressed with the total commitment they have to what we do on a daily basis to ensure that the residents get good, quality service.”
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