Danville City Manager Joe King announced today the resignation of Steve G. Saum as director of utilities. Saum is leaving to take a position in Hope, Ark.
His resignation is effective April 25.
“We are sorry to see Steve leave us,” said King. “We wish him well.”
King informed City Council and Danville Utility Commission members on Monday. He said that the city is immediately undertaking a national search to fill the utilities director position.
King has appointed Jason Grey as interim director. “We have a great management team at Danville Utilities,” King said. “I’m confident that Jason Grey and the utilities team will keep things running smoothly while we conduct the job search.”
Grey is the city’s division director of telecommunications. A Danville native and graduate of Averett University, Grey began his service with the city in October 2004 as a broadband engineer. He was promoted to division director in 2009.
Saum joined the city on Oct. 1, 2012. As director, Saum guided the department’s six divisions: customer service, power and light, support services, telecommunications, water and gas, and water and wastewater treatment.
“The people that I was associated with at the Utilities Department are tremendous individuals with the knowledge and skills to lead Danville to a positive future,” Saum said. “I would like to thank those who have helped my stay to be a success and wish everyone well with the projects we have put in place.”
Prior to coming to Danville, Saum served as general manager/CEO of Richmond Power & Light serving 22,000 customer accounts. He entered municipal electric service after a 21-year career with American Electric Power and two years with a consulting firm.
In all, Saum has nearly 35 years of utilities experience. In Arkansas, Saum will serve as general manager of Hope Water and Light Corp.
Danville Utilities provides natural gas, water, wastewater and telecommunications services in Danville and distributes electricity to approximately 42,000 customer locations in a 500-square-mile service territory covering Danville, the southern third of Pittsylvania County, and small portions of Henry and Halifax counties.