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Sarasota News Leader January 25, 2013 Page 65 TIDWELL NAMED SARASOTA'S NEW UTILITIES MANAGER Mitt Tidwell, "a veteran utilities manager with vast public and private sector experience, has accepted the position of utilities director with the City of Sarasota," the city announced this week in a press release. He will begin work on Monday, Feb. 25, the release adds. Tidwell is the utilities director for the City of Daytona Beach, the release notes. He has served in that position since 2005. "In 2011, the City of Daytona Beach was awarded the prestigious gold medal for best tasting water in the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting competition," the release points out. "I am excited to be a part of the Sarasota Utilities Department as we continue to improve the infrastructure and daily operations to provide the best possible service to our customers, while protecting the environment," said Tidwell in the release. Tidwell has more than 20 years of experience working in the field of water and wastewater utilities, including serving in utilities management positions for the City of Dallas and the City of Austin, TX, the release notes. He also has private sector experience. "We have an accelerated Capital Improvement Project plan that will be implemented over the next five years and we need a seasoned veteran professional to oversee the Utilities Department," said City Manager Tom Barwin in the release. "Mitt has run a utilities system as large or larger than the City of Sarasota for the past 20 years. I look forward to him becoming part of our team and guiding our utilities Mitt Tidwell/Contributed photo systems to provide the best water and wastewater service possible for our residents as we continue to upgrade our utility systems." This is the third major department head position Barwin has filled since starting work as city manager in September 2012, the release points out. Police Chief Bernadette DiPino joined the City of Sarasota three weeks ago, and Finance Director John Lege will begin work next month. Barwin soon will announce a replacement for Human Resources Director Kurt Hoverter who is retiring at the end of the month, the release adds.