Jim Fair
Mark Harvey, a native of Greer who worked in Libya and Saudi Arabia in the past four years, has been hired at Greer CPW as engineer and planning manager.
Mark Harvey, who graduated Greer High School and earned degrees at Clemson University, was introduced at the monthly commissioner’s meeting Monday. He replaces Randy Olson who retired at the end of 2014.
“I’m excited to be part of CPW and hope I can help become a part of the community I have lived throughout my life,” Harvey said.
Harvey’s career includes experience in water, wastewater, environmental, and engineering management fields for large public and private organizations.
“We are excited to have Mark join our staff,” said Jeff Tuttle, CPW General Manager. “Mark’s extensive experience and expertise will benefit our organization and our community as it grows. He’s going to make a great member of the CPW team.”
Harvey is responsible for engineering, long-term system planning and expansion, permitting, right-of-way and easements, project design and management, Geographic Information Systems, utility coordination, and system rehabilitation planning within each utility.
The past four years Harvey worked internationally as an environmental engineer, spending one year in Libya until that country’s leader, Muammar Gaddafi, and its government was overthrown in 2011. Harvey was in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia the past three years.
“Leaving GSP (Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport) for Libya you don’t know what to expect. But it all turned out good,” Harvey said.
Harvey graduated Clemson with a B.A. in civil engineering and a master’s in environmental engineering. He worked at the J.E. Sirrine & Co. industrial engineering firm and at AECOM since 1999 until joining CPW.
He was born in Allen Bennett Hospital and his father, Dan, and CPW Commissioner Eugene Gibson, were roommates at Clemson.
Commissioners Monday:
• Awarded KVA, Inc. of Duncan the low bid of $427,500 for construction of the Victor Hill substation. KDA came under the $500,000 projection.
• One injury was reported when a linesman reached back during a routine call and strained his back.
• No traffic accidents have been reported since July 2 last year.
• Commissioners approved a Purchased Power Adjustment Clause giving the utility authority to pass cost increases onto customers when entities increase its fees to CPW.
• General Manager Jeffrey Tuttle told commissioners he anticipates less than a two percent increase in the rate Piedmont Municipal Power Agency will charge CPW for electricity in 2016.
• Commissioners will meet with the Greenville County School District to discuss bringing Blue Ridge High School into the CPW system.