----5/4/2010----

LINCOLN - The Administrative Board of Lincoln Electric System (LES) will hold a special meeting Friday (5/7) at 1 p.m. to reaffirm the appointment of Kevin Wailes as administrator and CEO.

The Board's Personnel and Organization Committee has been negotiating with Wailes on the terms and conditions of his employment since the Board's April 16 meeting. The Lincoln City Council and Mayor Chris Beutler also must approve his appointment.

For 15 years, Wailes has served as general manager of the municipally-owned electric utility in Tallahassee, Fla., including transmission, distribution and power generation for a 221-square-mile area in and around Tallahassee. The utility serves 113,000 customers. By comparison, LES serves a 200-square-mile area and about 130,000 customers. He has worked at the utility since 1987.

Wailes previously worked at the City of Lamar, Colo., Utilities Board for 11 years, the last six as superintendent.

He has served as chairman of the Florida Reliability Council, Florida Electric Coordinating Group, Southern/Florida Reliability Coordinating Agreement Executive Council, and president of the Florida Municipal Electric Association. He has been on the American Public Power Association's legislative and resolutions committee since 1989. Wailes also was president of the Lamar Chamber of Commerce.