Candidate Profile: Charles Whitmer for Avon Lake Board of Municipal Utilities

Name: Charles D. Whitmer

Date of Birth: March 19, 1944

Occupation: Former owner and President of The Whitmer Company a consulting and distribution company in the water treatment and commercial swimming pool industry.

Education: Graduate of The Ohio State University and attended graduate school at George Washington University, Washington, DC

Family: Wife, Mary G. Whitmer married for 40 years

Resident:  Avon Lake for 24 years

Political Affiliation: Republican

Office Sought: Re-election as a Member, Board of Municipal Utilities. Term commencing January 1, 2012 for a four year term

Previous Offices Held: Member of the for 16 years, Chairman for the last 12 years. Former Captain in the US Army having served in Korea, Vietnam and Washington, DC. I have served on a number of Trade and non-profit boards

Email Address: cdw@whitmer.com

Cell Phone: 216-407-8895

Candidate statement:

Over the last eight years, this Board has:

• Implemented a comprehensive strategic plan
• Completed a water treatment expansion and is planning for the next expansion.
• Installed back-up electric generators to power our plants, distribution pumps and the administration offices for use during power outages.
• Performed Master Planning for renovation of our waste water treatment Plant.
• Continued major sanitary sewer separation from the City owned storm sewer system to prevent back-flow into residential basements, discharging untreated water into Lake Erie and to free up capacity for future growth.
• Built the LORCO waste water treatment system to bring sewer services from Eaton and Carlisle Townships to our plant with the first flow anticipated in July 2011.
• Maintained the highest quality water and sanitary treatment which far       exceeds EPA’ requirements while maintaining one of the lowest water and sewer rates in Ohio.    

My goals for the next four years include:

• Complete the next waste water treatment renovation project to insure adequate treatment for our customer base.
• Continue to increase use of our water and waste water plants by pursuing growth outside our boundaries. Growth of the wholesale business of our services lowers the cost to our residents and industry through economies of scale while maintaining the superior condition of our infrastructure.
• Complete the review of our water treatment master plan and pilot systems that allow us to increase capacity out of operating funds not bonds
• Continue to look for opportunities to grow the utilities under our strategic plan.
• Continue to exceed all EPA drinking water and waste water standards while maintaining the lowest rates, thus returning low rate benefits to our customers.