May 7, 2010

The Lincoln Electric System Administrative Board held a special meeting May 7 at the Lincoln Electric Building. Items from the meeting, as well as other pertinent information, include the following:

LES Board approves Kevin Wailes as CEO; Mayor, City Council must next approve

Kevin Wailes, general manager of the municipally-owned electric utility in Tallahassee, Fla., was confirmed Friday (5/7) on a 5-2 vote as administrator and CEO of Lincoln Electric System (LES).

Voting for the motion were Pat Beans, Richard Evnen, Marilyn McNabb, W. Don Nelson and Dawn Rockey. Voting “nay” were Dan Harshman and Matt McNair. Kathy Campbell and Jerry Hudgins were not present.

The Lincoln City Council and Mayor Chris Beutler also must approve Wailes’ appointment. If he is approved by the Mayor and City Council, a start date will be determined. His salary was set at $270,000.

For 15 years, Wailes has served as general manager of the municipally-owned electric utility in Tallahassee, Fla., including transmission, distribution and power generation for a 221-square-mile area in and around Tallahassee. The utility serves 113,000 customers. By comparison, LES serves a 200-square-mile area and about 130,000 customers. He has worked at the utility since 1987.

Wailes previously worked at the City of Lamar, Colo., Utilities Board for 11 years, the last six as superintendent.

He has served as chairman of the Florida Reliability Council, Florida Electric Coordinating Group, Southern/Florida Reliability Coordinating Agreement Executive Council, and president of the Florida Municipal Electric Association. He has been on the American Public Power Association’s legislative and resolutions committee since 1989. Wailes also was president of the Lamar Chamber of Commerce.