The Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA) welcomes Tom Gallier as its new General Manager. Gallier, a 30-year utility veteran, replaces Chris Lippe, who is returning to full-time retirement.

Lippe served as General Manager since the 2007 inception of the BCRUA, a partnership created by the cities of Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock to access, treat and deliver water from Lake Travis.

“Chris Lippe played a critical role in getting the BCRUA off the ground, and the board thanks Chris for his excellent service,” said Board President Chris Fielder, who also serves as Leander Mayor. “From the early days of project planning to the successful completion of the first phase of the $131 million project – which came in $40 million under budget and on time – the board and the water customers of our three cities are grateful for his diligence and expertise.”

Lippe had retired from the City of Austin before taking the BCRUA post. The first phase of the project included a water treatment plant, a 78-inch raw water pipeline, distribution pipelines and a temporary intake infrastructure on Lake Travis.

Gallier has managed water utilities in Texas, Arizona, Colorado and California. He received both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Lamar University. He retired in 2005 after 30 years in water utility management. At his retirement as Water Utilities General Manager for the City of Tempe, Ariz., the Mayor and City Council declared “Tom Gallier Day” in the City. He has come out of retirement twice to serve temporary positions at water utilities.

“I’m very honored that the Board has given me the opportunity to help lead this fine organization into its next phase,” said Gallier, who started April 1. “BCRUA is an outstanding example of local governments working together to deliver critical services to their citizens in the most efficient and cost effective ways possible, and I’m proud to now be a part of it.”

The second phase of the BCRUA project includes construction of a permanent deep water intake in Lake Travis, and expansion of the distribution system and water treatment facility.
Since 2009, Gallier and his wife have divided their time between homes in Cedar Park and Lake Chapala, in the central highlands of Mexico.