Paducah Power Systems is hoping to land the former director of the American Public Power Association as its interim CEO while it proceeds with a longer search for a permanent replacement.
Mark Crisson recently led the A-P-P-A which advocates for municipal power agencies across the country.
Paducah Power is looking for a new leader after CEO David Clark resigned amid controversy over high power bills stemming from the underperforming Prairie State Energy Campus of which PPS is a part owner.
Paducah City Manager Jeff Pederson serves on the PPS Board. He says a search firm has presented PPS with three options for short term leadership including Crisson. Pederson says Crisson is the most expensive option, but presents the best skillset to set a better trajectory for the struggling municipality. Board Chairman Hardy Roberts says this is a good move.
“We need help up here. Paducah Power System needs help. And this we think is the best we can find. I think it is a slam dunk," said Roberts.
Crisson wouldn’t be on the Paducah Power payroll, rather he’d be paid through a contract with a search firm. Pederson says if the board proceeds with bringing in Crisson, he could be in Paducah and working by next week.
