Watershed Commissioner Rob Hunter resigns
Honcho faced increasing criticism over unusual spike in water bills
- City of Atlanta
UPDATE III: The city's released a statement about Hunter's resignation, including some words from the soon-to-be-former commissioner. The full release follows after the jump.
“I came to the City eight years ago to implement the federally mandated consent decrees, manage the $4 billion capital program and organize the Department of Watershed Management,” Hunter said in the statement. “By the end of the year I will have substantially accomplished those goals.”
“I thank Commissioner Hunter for his years of public service," Reed said in the statement. "His dedication of working to comply with the consent decrees has allowed billions of development investment dollars in Atlanta through the avoidance of a sewer moratorium.”
Chief Operating Office Peter Aman pointed out Hunter's leadership during the recent drought and the 2009 flood. He also highlighted the department's improved bond rating and work on the sewer overhaul during the commissioner's term.
Hunter will "continue to serve as a technical adviser on issues, including the consent decree modification, until the end of the year."
As noted below, Public Works Deputy Director Dexter White will become interim commissioner on Friday. Chief Operating Officer Peter Aman also picked James Beard to become the new deputy commissioner of finance for the Department of Watershed Management. He replaces interim Deputy Commission Angelo Veney who will remain with the department.
UPDATE II: According to an email sent this afternoon to city officials by Chief Operating Officer Peter Aman, four of Hunter's deputy commissioners also resigned. The email says that Dexter White will be named acting commissioner on Friday. White is currently the deputy director of the city's department of public works.
UPDATE: Sources tell us additional heads will soon roll in the billing and customer service departments.
Atlanta Department of Watershed Management Commissioner Rob Hunter, who has faced increasing criticism over unusually high residential water bills, handed in his resignation today.
A spokesman from Mayor Kasim Reed's office tells the AJC that Hunter's last day on the job will be Friday. Hunter, who joined the city in 2004, has overseen the department through its ongoing $4 billion overhaul of the city's antiquated sewer system and the most recent drought.
Residents have raised hell over an unusual spike in their water bills. The city said late last month it'd begun to investigate the complaints.
"While the complete details regarding Mr. Hunter's resignation are not known (as of noon today), the fact that he is stepping down hopefully will bring new leadership to a department in desperate need of just that," Barbara Payne, the executive director of the Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation, said in a statement. She added that the foundation was in talks with several different law firms to file a class action suit on behalf of water customers who've been overbilled.
More details to come.