MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Leadership at MUB, one of the largest public utilities in the state, will change in January when current general manager Tim Ball steps down after a 33 year career. Recently, Michael McNulty was selected to assume general manager duties when Ball exits.
McNulty is currently the general manager of the Putnam Public Service District, has extensive experience in the industry and in leadership capacities across the state. He holds a Master of Science in Public Administration from Marshall University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia Institute of Technology. Throughout his 31 year professional career, he has served as assistant general manager of Logan County Public Service District, technical analyst for the WV Public Service Commission, and Executive Director of the WV Rural Water Association. He also currently serves as the President of the WV Rural Water Association.
On WAJR’s Talk of the Town, McNulty said coming to Morgantown will be a pleasant challenge.
“Morgantown Utility Board is the “gold standard” of utilities in West Virginia, hands down,”McNulty said,”Morgantown is a great city, it’s growing, it’s exciting, so much is going on up there it’s attractive for anyone to want to relocate there.”
In the 2018-19 audit prepared by Marietta, Ohio-based Perry & Associates, MUB lists more than 26,000 water connections, more than 22,000 sewer connections and about 15,000 storm water accounts. Also, MUB is engaged in in more than $100 million in upgrades to the water and sewer system.
“Everybody remembers the water crisis a few years ago- look at MUB, leaders in the industry,”McNulty said,”Building a reservoir, getting ready to tackle that issue if it ever comes, let’s hope it doesn’t it’s going to be a great insurance policy if we ever need it.”
McNulty believes his diverse background will give a little different perspective to the utility.
“I’m bringing a very different background to MUB-I’ve been a regulator,”McNulty said,”The 11 years I spent with the State Public Service Commission, a lot of experience in utility regulation and also working on the technical assistance side.”
Current general manager, Tim Ball has had a 33 year career with MUB, he’ll step down in January of 2021. Ball says he’ll spend more time with family and possibly take some road trips, if the pandemic allows.
“We will be working close together, be it physically or virtually until the end of the year,”McNulty said,”I think we’ll have plenty of time together so I can learn more from Tim about the projects that are ongoing and coming up.”