Little Rock sewer utility chief fired

By Associated Press - Thursday, January 30, 2014

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A committee that oversees Little Rock’s wastewater utility fired the agency’s chief executive on Wednesday after reviewing a police investigation detailing questionable expenditures.

Wastewater Utility Chief Executive Officer Reggie Corbitt was fired during a meeting Wednesday night, according to a story published Thursday in The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (https://bit.ly/1hQQwii ). Corbitt had authorized Operations Manager Stan Miller to stay at Miller’s own trailers on company property at the expense of ratepayers. Miller received free utilities during those stays.

The Sanitary Sewer Committee voted to terminate Corbitt, but the committee agreed to pay Corbitt three months’ salary as severance. That comes out to nearly $47,000. Both Corbitt and Miller had been placed on paid administrative leave since December. During that time, Corbitt was paid about $25,000.

Utility executives are expected to determine whether Miller will keep his job on Thursday. Miller has been paid more than $20,000 while he is on leave.

The month-and-a-half long police investigation looked at the “questionable (trailer) expenditures,” as well as bullet holes and shell casings found throughout a sewage treatment plant. Miller and Corbitt’s authorization of an acquaintance to remove hundreds of feet of pipe belonging to the utility for free was also investigated.

The chief’s memorandum cites three Arkansas laws that prohibit a public official from accepting free utilities, from giving away property owned by a public agency and from destroying property. The case file has been forwarded to Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley, who will ultimately determine whether charges will be filed. Jegley did not return messages seeking comment.

“In the end, Mr. Miller said CEO Reggie Corbitt authorized all work and expenditures at both facilities to have his RV on-site and he felt he had done nothing wrong. Mr. Miller said he never offered nor was he asked to reimburse Little Rock Wastewater for any monies spent on either facility or any utilities he used while staying on the sites,” the police memo said.