• City of Atlanta

“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.

From the city:

Watershed Commissioner Robert Hunter Announces Resignation

Continued Responsibilities include Consent Decree Extension & Modification

Atlanta, GA — Chief Operating Officer Peter Aman announced today that Department of Watershed Management (DWM) Commissioner Rob Hunter will resign as of Friday, September 10. Hunter will continue to serve as a technical adviser on issues, including the consent decree modification, until the end of the year and will assist with the transition of the department.

COO Peter Aman is making other organizational changes at the Department of Watershed Management. Aman announced that newly appointed Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Public Works, Dexter White, will serve as interim Commissioner for DWM. White brings 16 years of experience as a department head, including 10 years as a Public Works Director. He brings extensive experience with complex watershed issues. In his previous roles, White established a stormwater utility program, implemented and managed the water line replacement plan and managed a water meter replacement program. White also established a four-year program for Sanitary Sewers Evaluation System (SSES). White will continue to focus on improving customer service and thoroughly reviewing the billing operations of DWM.

“With Rob’s departure, we are working to ensure the steady transition of leadership at the Department of Watershed Management. I have the utmost confidence in Dexter White and his abilities to lead this department”, said Aman.

In addition, James Beard was named the new Deputy Commissioner of Finance for DWM, replacing interim Deputy Commission Angelo Veney who will remain with the department. Beard brings more than 20 years of finance, treasury and investment management experience to this position. Most recently, he was the Treasurer/Director of Revenue and Compliance for Palm Beach County. While there, he had direct daily management and oversight of a $2 billion investment portfolio and $1.7 billion fixed income debt portfolio.

“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. “By the end of the year I will have substantially accomplished those goals.”

Mayor Kasim Reed said, “I thank Commissioner Hunter for his years of public service. 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.”

“Commissioner Hunter has guided this critical city department through a severe drought and record floods,” said COO Peter Aman. “During Commissioner Hunter’s tenure, the Water & Sewer Fund’s bond rating has improved, we have exceeded Wall Street’s financial requirements, and the possible consent decree extension’s 20-year financial model outlines the department’s path forward. Since 2003, DWM has completed the consent decree requirements on-time and under-budget, issued over $2 billion in bonds and just last week was awarded $50 million in state revolving fund loans. It is not surprising that the federal judge for the consent decrees, Judge Thomas Thrash, has termed the performance ‘a remarkable accomplishment’.”

Robert Hunter was named Commissioner of the Department of Watershed Management in July 2004. Prior to that appointment, he served as Deputy Commissioner for Engineering since
November 2002. He was intimately involved in the organization of the department, which, for the first time, incorporated the City’s wastewater and drinking water systems and operations into one unit.

Hunter worked closely with the Mayor’s office and the Atlanta City Council to develop and
implement the 2004 and 2008 water and sewer rate increase packages and the sales tax (MOST) public referendums, which have enabled DWM to continue funding an operational budget in excess of $500 million and capital improvements and rehabilitation for the drinking water and wastewater systems.

Since 2008, the operational budget for the department has been reduced by 29.9 percent and the number of authorized personnel by 21.3 percent. The backlog of work orders for meter leaks, water service line leaks, sewer line repairs and street plate removals has improved to less than one week and, in many cases, approaching 24 hours. The in-service level for the 24,000 fire hydrants in the system is maintained above 99.9 percent. Annually, the department is now cleaning more than 3 million feet of sewer and more than 10,000 catch basins. The delegation of the soil and erosion permitting program from the State of Georgia has reduced the building permit time by 60 days.