Water/sanitation district changes leadership; former GM to consult

FORT COLLINS — The Fort Collins-Loveland Water District and South Fort Collins Sanitation District have named Chris Pletcher, current district engineer, as interim  general manager, and Chris Matkins, current general manager, as a strategic consultant. 

Matkins will continue to work with the two districts in this new consulting capacity, and Pletcher will assume leadership responsibilities beginning Feb. 1.

“As an employee since 2019, Chris Pletcher has an intimate knowledge of the water and sanitation  districts and will bring his expertise in water and wastewater engineering, long-term planning for  infrastructure as well as financial, operational and technical comprehension to this role,” Jim Ling,  sanitation board of directors chairman, said in a press statement.

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In the statement, the districts said that Matkins has worked with both the FCLWD and SFCSD since 2016. In that time, he has overseen rate studies and introduced cost efficiencies for customers, improved the security and monitoring of the district’s infrastructure to avoid service outages and interruptions, implemented conservation programs to reduce water usage, completed two major plant expansions, and navigated a pre-treatment program upgrade with the Environmental Protection Agency.

“Chris Matkins has been an instrumental leader to both the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District and  South Fort Collins Sanitation District,” said Jim Borland, water board of directors chairman. “His  contributions have advanced our mission to provide high-quality, secure, reliable and affordable water and reclamation services. He led us through one of the most difficult times in our history as we brought [to the] public our investigation of criminal sabotage, and we are grateful for his passion and commitment.”

The water district reported in November that ongoing acts of criminal sabotage had been discovered that resulted in damage to district and employee property.

Matkins told BizWest that he saw now as a good time for him to step out of the general manager role because the districts are stable.

“I’ve always had a dream to start a small business,” he said. He will be forming a consulting company that will work with utilities, first regionally and later in a wider area. He said he will attempt to provide continuity for Pletcher as he moves into the GM role while also helping with a couple of projects for the districts.

The two districts serve about 56,000 people in an area of about 60 square miles in parts of Fort Collins, Loveland, Timnath, Windsor and Larimer County.