Columbus’ financial director is stepping down to take a job with Columbus City Utilities.
Jamie Brinegar, the city’s director of finance, operations and risk, is joining the utility department as its new manager of business and finance.
“We’re very fortunate to bring someone of his caliber and experience to the utility,” said Executive Director Roger Kelso. “And plus, we’ve been struggling to find anyone that was really, truly qualified for over a year.”
Brinegar officially moves into his new role on April 3 but will also assist with city needs until his replacement is found. He said that the position will become known as the director of operations and risk, since Columbus will be hiring a city controller to handle financial affairs as part of its move to “second class” status.
“I’m looking forward to it (his new job),” he told The Republic. “Seems like a really great group over here at utilities.”
Brinegar previously served as the director of business services for the Columbus Parks and Recreations Department before being appointed as the city’s financial director in 2016. He holds a bachelor of arts in economics and political science from Yale University.
Additionally, Erin Johnson has joined Columbus City Utilities as its new manager of treatment operations, according to Executive Administrative Assistant Melinda Burton.
“She comes to us from the city of Connersville, so very well experienced, very well known through some of the state associations and that sort of thing, is more than qualified to head up our operations in water and wastewater,” said Kelso.
He added that between Johnson, Brinegar and engineer Ashley Getz, the utility probably has “one of the better executive teams in the state.”
