Albemarle introduces new public utilities director

Published 10:07 am Tuesday, July 29, 2025

ALBEMARLE — Tom Johnson, Albemarle’s new director of its public utilities department, has officially begun his new job after being hired last month.

The former water resources director for Lexington was formally introduced to the public at the Albemarle City Council’s recent meeting at City Hall on Monday night.

“We’re very pleased to have Tom with us on board — today is his first day,” Albemarle City Manager Todd Clark said. “He has previously led the full development of an advanced metering infrastructure system which we are currently undertaking, so he’s got tremendous experience coming to us.”

Clark explained that Johnson previously oversaw the management of drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment, sewer collection and water distribution in Lexington, leading a crew of four department managers and a staff of 45 people.

With 35 years of experience heading into his new job in Albemarle, Johnson also has also worked in High Point, Winston-Salem and Thomasville, as well as with stints in the private sector.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business management from Brookstone College and holds certifications in water treatment and wastewater treatment.

“For a new hire experiencing the first day, it’s been an amazing journey,” Johnson said to the Albemarle City Council. “Your staff is amazing and they’ve very welcoming and warm. It’s been really great with the whole onboarding process — a lot of municipalities could learn from what’s going on here. I’m excited to be a part of the team and jump right in there.”

“Thank you and we’ll get to know you as we move forward,” Albemarle Mayor Ronnie Michael responded.

As Albemarle’s new public utilities director, Johnson will oversee the management of the city’s essential services and be responsible for ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations. The role also involves responding to service issues, working with regulatory agencies and implementing policies to promote reliable utility services for residents and businesses.

Under his new job title, he will also help to maintain local infrastructure, develop budgets, manage staff and coordinate utility projects to support the community’s needs.

As of late June, Albemarle began rolling out a comprehensive advanced metering infrastructure system that will replace all water and electric meters across homes and businesses. The new smart meters offer two‑way, real‑time communication of usage data, enabling the city to pinpoint outages, accelerate service restoration and improve billing accuracy.

Under the new system, customers will gain access to detailed daily or hourly usage information, helping them to better manage utility costs.