TRAVERSE CITY -- Ed Rice can now scratch the word "interim" from his title of executive director for Traverse City Light & Power.
Rice took over as interim director in April after the public utility drove out its top two administrators amid incidents of misconduct and public discord.
Light & Power board members on Tuesday voted to retain Rice as their permanent director.
"We're glad to have him because he brings an executive style of leadership," said board Chairwoman Linda Johnson. "He has direction and commitment, and he brings his team along with him."
A national search would have cost between $75,000 and $100,000, Johnson said. Rice's salary will be $107,000.
Rice, 62, retired in 2002 from a management position at Consumers Energy after 32 years with the company.
"It's exciting times for the electric utility and there are a lot of challenges that we face," Rice said. "I hope to bring my experience and knowledge in order to be successful for the area."
Rice knew there were plenty of issues to deal with as director, including contentious plans for electric transmission line upgrades on the west side of town.
"I think we've gotten through some of them, although we're still under a watchful eye of a number of different groups and people, which is fair," he said. "That's why we're here, it's a public entity."
Former Director Richard Smith was ousted in March. The board put him on partial suspension for purposefully bumping a member of the public during a break in an Elmwood Township government meeting in February.
Board members ultimately paid Smith more than $50,000, plus health insurance premiums and other benefits to resign.
Deputy Director Greg Pierce, who took over Smith's duties, resigned less than two weeks later after improperly taking furniture owned by Light & Power.
The board reprimanded Pierce for a separate incident about a month before his departure. He wrote a letter warning a citizen volunteer committee that disclosure of information could be at risk after a committee member revealed the utility's plans to increase electric rates and invest in two coal plants and a wind farm.
Print this story
E-mail this story
