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Board continues search for
new general manager
Candidates sought for top Co-op job Flathead Electric’s Board of Trustees is continuing the search for a new general manager to replace Dick Heitman, who is retiring this fall. The board is working with Geoff Smith of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association on the manager search. Smith is reviewing a list of existing and potential applicants. A list of qualified candidates will then be provided to Flathead Electric’s board for review. This was the process used to locate and hire Heitman. Trustee President Karl Schrade has said the board is looking for an experienced manager who has worked with cooperatives and will continue to emphasize reliability, efficiency of operation and service to the members. Heitman plans to leave in September but has said he will stay on until a new manager is hired to ensure a smooth transition.
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Co-op installing new services at a record pace throughout the Valley 921 new electrical services energized Flathead Electric is installing new electrical
services in the Flathead Valley at a record pace this year. A total of 1,351 work orders were released by the
Engineering Department through July 31, including 921 orders for first-time
service. That compares with 610 for the same time in 2002, another busy year
at the Co-op. The work order total also includes such things as system
improvements and upgrades. "We’re about six weeks ahead of last year," said
Dan Anderson Senior Engineer, New Services, "What we’ve really noticed is a
huge increase in commercial projects." Anderson said nearly 100 commercial applications
for new service have been processed, including a number of large projects in
Whitefish, such as a conference center on Big Mountain, Whitefish Senior
Living, Whitefish River Retail Development, the City of Whitefish Ice Rink
and the Central School reconstruction. Large projects in Kalispell include the Kalispell
Regional Medical Center and Mountain View Plaza shopping center. The Co-op has received more than 80 requests for
new "backbone lines" which will serve more than one site: a total of 1,000
residential lots and 100 commercial projects. Included among those backbone
lines are a variety of residential subdivisions requesting new service to
between two and 82 new homes. "We’re a solid two weeks out on appointments now,"
Anderson said. "We’re trying to keep up, but it’s crazy."
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