The Cayuga County Public Utility Service Agency has hired Auburn native Justin King as executive director as officials look to revive the long-troubled agency, according to The Citizen.
King signed a one-year, $50,000 contract running from Sept. 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2027, with funding provided by the Cayuga County Industrial Development Agency.
The IDA allocated $110,000 to support the agency, with board members expressing hope that King can help develop revenue-producing projects before his contract expires.
King has degrees in chemical engineering and energy policy and climate, is attending Harvard Law School and has worked in energy, environmental law and climate policy roles.
The agency was created in 1984 but has not developed a utility project, and past spending and transparency concerns have included an unfinished strategic plan and meeting minutes that had not been posted online since 2019.
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