Appointing directors is City of Gulf Shores main involvement

Appointing directors is City of Gulf Shores main involvement

By Fran Thompson
Tom Giles has been on the Gulf Shores Utilities Board of Directors for 19 years and chairman of the board for 13 of those. He said he often gets complimented for the professionalism and customer service provided by the company’s 38 employees.
“We’re very low key,’’ he said. “Our objective is have our operation run smoothly so the city does not have to worry about water & sewage.’’
Giles said the seven member board, appointed to six year terms by Gulf Shores City Council, meets 11 times per year and includes appointees with backgrounds in chemistry, business, construction, engineering and finance.
The board’s main responsibilities are oversight and approval of capital projects. The City of Gulf Shores has no jurisdiction whatsoever over Gulf Shores Utilities other than appointing its board of directors. In fact, Gulf Shores City Council can’t replace board members they’ve appointed until the end of that appointee’s six year term.
In addition to Giles, the board’s treasurer, current board members include chairman Michael Diehl, vice-chairman John W. McCormick, secretary Billy Adcock, and members Philip Harris, Greg Kennedy, and Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft.
Pictured: (left to right) Board members Greg Kennedy, Michael Diehl, Tom Giles.