When cattle prices dropped significantly in the 1980s and 1990s, Floyd Hartman, then a rancher, only had to look across the street for a solution.
“The cattle business is a high-risk business. Cattle prices dropped, so it was time for a change,” said Hartman, who grew up on a ranch in Umbarger. “I had everything settled and had just walked out of the bank when I looked across the street and saw an opportunity at city hall. I went right over and applied for a job. It was just like that.”
And just like that (over the next three decades), Hartman turned his career in local government into becoming one of the leading municipal water experts in the Texas Panhandle, if not the state and nation.
Hartman, who turns 65 in March, will retire Friday after almost 30 years in local government, and more than 20 years with the City of Amarillo (COA). Hartman started in municipal government in 1994 with the City of Canyon and joined COA in April of 2004.
He has held as many as eight titles with COA, and retires as Special Advisor to the Water and Sewer Utilities team – departments where he spent the majority of his career overseeing the city’s water supply for more than 200,000 residents.
During his career with COA, Hartman has led or helped with water-related projects totaling between $600 million to $1 billion.
“As much as I want to say it is all about the pipes and the pumps, the best part of the job is the people. I can guarantee you that,” Hartman said. “I would not trade my experience with the people of Amarillo and my coworkers for anything. When you work in a town of 200,000-plus people, it takes a team. That has been rewarding.”
“Floyd Hartman is the epitome of a public servant,” said COA City Manager Grayson Path. “He has created a standard for all city staff to follow – now and in the future. The projects he led and helped complete will serve Amarillo residents for decades to come.”
Hartman had a background in water due to his time in agriculture and ranching. Through the years, he expanded his knowledge of water-related issues to become one of the leading water experts in the Panhandle area.
When one of his grandchildren (Hartman has been married for 42 years, has three children and eight grandchildren), asked him where he ranked in the water business, Hartman had to answer honestly.
“I had to tell my grandson I am the No. 1 municipal water expert in the Panhandle,” Hartman said with a smile. “There are all kinds of experts in the water business. It is very complex. I was able to gain experience and knowledge as far as water in a municipal setting – from long-term strategic planning to the purchase of water rights. When you work with engineers, staff and elected officials, you gain the experience and confidence in running a water system.
“I am grateful that the citizens, elected officials and management in Amarillo had the confidence in me for the past 20 years to do this.”
A few of the highlights of Hartman’s COA career:
- The Amarillo Northeast Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Project: This was a $71 million project in 2023 (one of the largest in COA history) creating 13 miles of sanitary sewer pipe in north Amarillo, significantly increasing sewer capacity for the entire city.
- CRMWA and COA Reach Historic Deal with Mesa Water, Inc.: In 2011, the COA, along with the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority (CRMWA) purchased groundwater rights from T. Boone Pickens’ Mesa Water Inc. for $103 million. COA’s part of the deal was $16 million. The deal consisted of nearly 4 trillion gallons of water for 11 CRMWA member cities.
- Potter County Wellfields: In 2010-2011, COA completed another major and historical project, the Potter County Wellfields. The wells are for the city’s municipal water supply and include pipelines to transport water. In addition, COA has approximately 259,842 acres of water rights in multiple Texas Panhandle counties.
- Digital Water Meters: In 2021, Amarillo City Council approved a $29.5 million loan (with a $1 million loan forgiveness) by the Texas Water Development Board’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund to fund a digital water meter system, greatly modernizing the city’s water utility system.
- The Georgia Street Interceptor Project: In 2015, COA completed the Georgia Street Interceptor project – a $4.9 million sewer infrastructure upgrade. Sewer lines were replaced along Georgia Street from Wolflin Avenue to 26th Ave. to eliminate the Austin Park lift station.
“To see a project through to completion is just amazing – and the impact is for decades and decades,” Hartman said. “Nobody can tell you who did the 1957 Carson County Wellfields. In 50 years, no one is going to say Floyd Hartman did the Potter County Wellfields. But that is OK, because that is how utilities work.”
Hartman is proud of his role in securing water rights for the future of Amarillo.
“That is what I am most proud of,” Hartman said. “We are adding water rights from generation to generation. This way it is a rolling idea that will serve current residents and address our future water needs.”
Following Friday’s retirement ceremony (set from 10 a.m. to noon at the Amarillo Civic Center Regency Room), what will be Hartman’s first goal in retirement?
“I am going to shut off my phone,” Hartman said with a laugh.
