EWEB Board of Commissioners — February 17, 2026

0:01 I'm going to call the special board meeting for um February 17, 2026 to order. Uh the first agenda item this evening is the agenda check. Is there anybody that has anything that you want to do with the agenda this evening? If not, um then the next thing I'm going to skip the facility and safety awareness meeting logistics briefing because I there's nobody present that isn't fully aware of everything I would say. So, no reason to say it. Um with that the first agenda item and the only agenda item is uh the proposed general manager employment agreement and our CPO and Steven W. So take it take it away. Thank you. >> Yes. So uh uh Mr. Harrison and I have been in communications over the last week um week and a half. We have uh come

0:46 to tenative terms for an employment contract um that was uh submitted to all of you yesterday. Um, thank you for indulgence and allowing me some extra time to finalize that. Um, it is within the uh compensation levels approved by the board at the October 2nd meeting. Um, and as is comprised of uh wage and benefits that are typical within the market and for this sort of position. Um, nothing really unusual. Um, it has been reviewed by Eric Defree of uh of uh >> Cobb. Loves Cobb. Thank you. I was stumbling on the first word. Um he has reviewed and approved the contract as well. Um and uh Mr. Harrison has uh uh

1:32 satisfied the background check requirements. Um so um I've offered a resolution number 2610 um that uh would allow the board to um basically empower President Brown to uh uh to sign the contract on the commissioner's behalf. Thank you. I'll open the queue to the commissioners. Now I' I'd like to first go to either Sonia or John. Um if you can hear me, uh you have anything you'd like to speak to uh before we go through the motion. Sonia, >> I'm very pleased with this process and I'm going to be very thrilled to welcome a a third John into the mix.

2:19 Thank you everyone for all of the work to just to make this a really thorough process and I I'm just very thrilled with where we ended up. Thank you. >> John B2. >> Uh dittos to that. I think everything went well. I think we found a great candidate and look forward to working with him in the future. I also want to say thanks to Dedra and to Frank for all of the work that you've done and I'm sure we'll have many more times to thank both of you. >> Thank you, Tim. >> Thank you, Chair. Yeah, I'll just echo the sentiments. I think that it was a great process. Uh I think Dedra and Laney did a wonderful job leading us

3:04 through it and uh thank you to Frank for everything uh setting up and also uh allowing us to make this decision sort of forward. Uh and I think um I uh just appreciate our our board of commissioners also for taking it so seriously and um making a great decision. Thank you, >> Mindy. Um, well, you had scared us a little bit, John, going into this telling us what a difficult process it was going to be, but I would say that it was really smooth and easy and, um, I am too grateful for everyone that made that happen. Um, and welcome aboard, John. >> Thank you. I'll go last. And I didn't mean to scare you. I meant to prepare you. So, that's what I'm sure my is why

3:51 it was so easy. And I'll also give a shout out to Laney Prrowse and Prrowse for their excellent uh recruitment and given this a great range of candidates uh throughout the process and and John, welcome. Um congratulations on being a grandfather. I've done it and it's a whole lot more fun than being a parent. So congratulations and you're going to have a great time. So we're looking forward to uh welcome you to not only EW but to the community. And so collectively we all have a lot of different variety of backgrounds and experiences thing in this in this community. And I just want to make sure that the welcome mounts out and uh if and when you have any questions about anything uh whether it's e webb related or community related you've got an incredible diverse group of people to rely on to to help you get

4:37 uh welcomed into this community. So welcome and uh from that I will um entertain if there's no more further discussion I'll entertain a motion. Mindy, >> I move that the board adopt resolution number 2610 approving the employment agreement for John L. Haristston Jr. and authorizing the board president to execute said agreement. >> Sonia >> second >> discussion hearing none. I'll call a question. All those in favor signify by saying I and raising your hand. >> I I >> opposed. >> No, I mean I'm in favor. Any opposed? The motion carries unanimously. Uh John, welcome to E Web. Is there anything you'd like to say before I collect my cupcake?

5:25 >> Yeah, abs. Absolutely. Um you know, first of all, I mean, I just want to thank everyone um who's been involved with the process. It's been a really well-run professional process. I you know I can't say enough um I think the great job that Dedra um you know has done and just working through what can be a challenging you know negotiation but um I think we um teamed up pretty well and and got it done and and I think met the um expectations of the board. So really appreciate that. I want to thank Laneany also um for her um support through the process. Um you know ran a really great process and and I just want to also um you know thank um you all the board the board of commissioners. Um

6:10 it's you know I'm incredibly honored u by the trust that you've placed in me. You know I watched the prior uh board meeting and in this one and all of the kind words and uh are really appreciated and taken to heart. Um, you know, I can tell you I feel a a a profound sense of responsibility and and honestly u I have a lot of excitement u to lead I think an organization um that is so vital to the daily lives of everyone in Eugene. So um you know it's really simple for me is to take what Frank has been doing and and and take it higher. uh the benchmark uh will be you know making e webb best-in-class uh you know provider uh for both um electric and water service. Uh I think

6:55 that's going to be critically important and um achieving that means just moving beyond kind of the the the standards that we have in place around reliability and and and really moving towards true excellence in everything that we do. So I'm excited about it. I'm looking forward to engaging with our workforce. Um, you know, I want to be a CEO who listens and um, you know, understands that our team is the backbone of this utility and I intend to tap into their expertise um, to really just build a culture of of safety, pride, and innovation. Um, and then with our community, uh, you know, Ebottom line is a public treasure. So, I'm committed to ensuring uh we are transparent uh

7:40 responsive and deeply connected to the people that we're we're serving and and then with you the board, I look forward to a partnership built on on cander and and you know, a shared vision. Um I think u your guidance is going to be essential as we navigate the you know real complexities of infrastructure investment and resource management. um you know and I understand um you know the legacy that's been here that Frank has put in place um is one that we I intend to uphold but also um you know build a future that is going to be I think um even greater. So I'm ready to roll up my sleeves u come out there and and get to work I think about miday. So um thank you all. I really appreciate it

8:26 and look forward to working with you. >> Thank you very much. And u Laney are you there? Is there anything you'd like to say about the process? >> I'm here. I just wanted to be quiet. Thanks everyone. I appreciate all the kind words. It's good to see everybody and >> I won't see you for another 10 years, right? So, it'll be great. >> Pretty sure you won't see me again. This is my fourth general manager. I'm done. >> That's right. Yeah. No, I appreciate it, too. Thank you. This was great. I enjoyed working with everyone. And I'm sure we'll be talking for a variety of reasons, John. But if I can ever help with anything, let me know. We really appreciate it. Thank you very much. And again, good job. Thank you. >> Thanks. My pleasure. >> So, is there anything else for the good of the order?