City hires utilities director

The city has hired Mitt Tidwell as utilities director. It is the third major department heard position to be filled since Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin started in September.

Tidwell, who is currently the utilities director for the City of Daytona Beach, will begin work Feb. 25.

Tidwell will oversee efforts to get a long-delayed and troubled $12.5 million lift station construction project back on track.

The new Lift Station 87 is being built in Lukewood Park at the southeastern corner of U.S. 41 and Osprey Avenue to replace Lift Station 7 at 935 Pomelo Avenue, close to Hudson Bayou.

“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,” Tidwell said in a city press 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, Texas. He also has private sector experience.

This is the third major department head position Barwin has filled since starting work as City Manager. Chief of Police Bernadette DiPino joined the City of Sarasota three weeks ago and Finance Director John Lege will begin work next month. Mr. Barwin soon will announce a replacement for Human Resources Kurt Hoverter who is retiring at the end of the month.