By Payton Tholstrup
On Wednesday, August 14th, Interim City Manager of Manhattan, Jason Hilgers, announced that Kevin Niles has been hired as Manhattan’s new Director of Public Utilities. Niles currently serves as the Utilities Director for the City of Odessa, Texas but will take over his new role on September 3rd, 2024.
Niles will oversee the reconstructed Public Utilities Department, which provides essential services for Manhattan.
Niles has a bachelor’s degree in political and economic studies from the University of Colorado, where he graduated in 2004. He also has a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Colorado and has completed the Franklin Covey 4Dx Management Training.
He has more than 10 years of experience as a utility manager. Niles has led a department that operates five divisions in Odessa, including laboratory, water treatment, wastewater treatment, distribution collections, and administration. He also manages a $25 million budget and leads a team of 70 full-time staff members.
Before becoming the Utilities Director of Odessa, he worked for three years as the district manager of Stratmoor Hills Water and Sanitation District; six years as a general resources manager of Pueblo County, Colorado; for the Arkansas Groundwater Users’ Association; and one year as Parks and Open Space Director for the Cherokee Metropolitan District in Colorado Springs.
“I am honored and privileged to introduce myself as the new Utilities Director for Manhattan,” Niles said. “With a deep commitment to service excellence and sustainability, I am eager to collaborate with our dedicated team and engage with our community to ensure reliable and innovative utility services. Together, we will uphold our commitment to efficiency, environmental stewardship, and customer satisfaction.”
Niles will work under the direction of the Deputy City Manager and will be responsible for leading, planning, and managing all activities and operations and the department and its six divisions. He will also oversee a team of 61 full-time employees. Public Utilities currently manages 30 million gallons of water per day; 11 million gallons of waste per day; 5,400 manholes; 280 miles of water mains; 260 miles of sanitary sewer lines; 26 lift stations and 20 underground wells, plus six water towers and six booster stations.
Niles is married to his wife Jami. Together, they have six children and five grandchildren.
