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About DU
History
Decatur Utilities (DU) is located in Decatur, Alabama and is a municipal utility owned by the City of Decatur. "Decatur Utilities" is the operating name of the Municipal Utilities Board of Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama. The Board was created by Local Act No. 89 of the Alabama Legislature in 1939. DU has 165 employees working to achieve our vision of being your “supplier of choice” for utility services.
Management Staff
L-R:
Paul Nosal, director of customer and employee relations
Kim Baker, customer service manager
John Kuhlman, information systems manager
Rebecca Sheets, executive assistant
Ray Hardin, general manager
Steve Pirkle, business manager and chief financial officer
Gary Borden, operations manager
Glenn Boyles, electric manager
Jimmy Evans, gas/water/wastewater operations manager
Tom Cleveland, water resources manager
Board and General Manager Bios
Neal A. Holland, Jr.
Chairman
Term expires June 30, 2023
Neal A. Holland, Jr. has served on the Municipal Utilities Board of the City of Decatur since 1996 and as Chairman since 2002. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Sand and Aggregates, LLC, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Holland Company, Inc. and the owner and operator of Miracle Mountain Ranch, LLC.
As a business owner and entrepreneur, Mr. Holland has more than 40 years of experience in business operations, general contracting, transportation logistics, and fiscal management. Mr. Holland is also very active in local civic, educational, and church organizations.
Tom Counts
Secretary
Term expires June 30, 2026
Tom Counts joined the board in July of 2017 and currently serves as Secretary of the board. Mr. Counts is CEO of Velox, LLC, a modern fiber construction company, and founder and former CEO of 3-GIS, a leading provider of Geographic Information Solutions for the telecommunications and utility industries.
Mr. Counts has more than 30 years of experience and education in product development, project management, and organizational operations management. He also serves on the board of directors of the Decatur-Morgan Entrepreneurial Center business incubator, Alabama Robotics Technology Park, Decatur Downtown Redevelopment, and several private business boards. Mr. Counts is also involved in many local, educational, and civic organizations.
Al Cheatham
Member
Term expires June 30, 2029
Al Cheatham joined the board in January of 2018. Mr. Cheatham is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc (AFC) and a director on the boards of AFC’s various other entities including Bonnie Plants, Inc., Agri-AFC, LLC, and SouthFresh Aquaculture, LLC.
Mr. Cheatham, a Certified Public Accountant, is experienced in project management, corporate finance, and manufacturing. He has implemented systems integration projects, overseen financial and securities regulatory compliance, and led mergers and acquisitions.
Ray Hardin
General Manager
Ray Hardin joined Decatur Utilities as General Manager in March of 2008. Prior to coming to DU, Mr. Hardin held various engineering, operations, and leadership positions with Spire Energy, including General Manager of the company’s 155,000-customer Birmingham Division.
Mr. Hardin holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University and has more than 25 years experience in utility operations, system planning, budgeting, and safety. He is a Tennessee Valley Public Power Association Certified Power Executive, a Rotarian, and active in local community service efforts.
Board meetings are held monthly at the Main Office located at 1002 Central Parkway SW in Decatur.