This week, News Director Terry Frank concludes our 2025 guest interviews with retiring Jamestown Board of Public Utilities' General Manager Dave Leathers. Leathers says he's working to finish up projects he's involved with at the BPU before his final day on Jan. 23, 2026. He was pleased that the board has now approved 2026 budgets for all five divisions... two of which will have no rate increases. The other three will, he says, led by District Heat... which had a 10% increase that took effect last Nov. 1. In addition... a 7.5% increase was approved by the board for all Water Division customers. The final increase, which needs to be approved by the New York state Public Service Commission, is for a just under 10% increase in electric rates. Leathers says that was approved for submission by the board last Summer. As for his retirement after 17 years at the helm... Leathers says he's pleased with where the BPU has seen improvement -- mainly along the lines of safety for employees, and the general public. He says he enjoyed the job because of the public service the BPU provides it's customers. He also says that Deputy GM Kris Sellstrom, who will replace him in January, is a "very capable manager" who he feels will do well in the position.
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