- One must be a member of Hamilton's Public Utilities Commission;
- One must be the owner of a Hamilton small business who also lives within city limits; and
The remaining two members are city staff members.
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“The purpose of the board is to review customer appeals of utility-related decisions,” said Nathan Perry, the city’s utilities business manager. “If customers have a concern after they’ve worked through us (utility officials), on a decision that’s been made related to their account, they have a place they can go to appeal that decision.”
The appeals board has the power to adjust bills and penalties after reviewing citizens’ complaints. Ordinary citizens are encouraged to apply.
Hamilton owns its own electric, natural-gas, water, sewer and storm-water utilities.
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Applications must reach the city by 5 p.m. Friday, March 3 — being in the mail doesn’t count. A
pplications can be downloaded from the city’s website, www.hamilton-oh.gov. They can be submitted in person, by email or by mail to nick.garuckas@hamilton-oh.gov or Office of the City Clerk, 345 High St., Suite 780, Hamilton, OH 45011.
“We’re not asking for somebody who has a business degree or some knowledge necessarily of this,” Perry said. “Everybody uses utilities, so everybody kind-of knows what their bill looks like and could have some valuable input on the board.”
The board hasn’t been active recently and is being reconstituted.
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