Klein joins Avon Lake Regional Water

AVON LAKE — The Avon Lake Board of Municipal Utilities has appointed Aaron Klein as Engineering Services Manager for Avon Lake Regional Water (ALRW). Klein joined the organization on November 17 bringing a wealth of experience in civil and environmental engineering, municipal infrastructure, and project management from his distinguished service in Sandusky and Elyria, officials said.

Klein previously served as Director of Public Works for the City of Sandusky, where he led a series of transformative infrastructure initiatives, including major waterfront redevelopment projects, sewer and water system improvements, water and wastewater plant capital projects, and long-term stormwater management planning.

Prior to that, he held roles with the City of Elyria, where he worked on capital improvement programs and advanced sustainable water and sewer operations. His extensive public-sector background combines strategic planning, fiscal responsibility, and community engagement — all essential to managing complex municipal systems, officials said in a press release.

In his new role with ALRW, Klein will oversee the engineering group, including the planning, design, and delivery of capital improvement projects. He will also serve as a member of ALRW’s executive leadership team, working closely with the Chief Utilities Executive and department heads to align engineering decisions with the utility’s mission of quality, safety, reliability, and affordability.

ALRW Chief Utilities Executive Rob Munro said that as Avon Lake Regional Water prepares to enter its second century of high-quality water and wastewater services, he is pleased to see Klein joining the senior staff. 

“Aaron’s leadership and technical expertise will be instrumental as Avon Lake Regional Water continues to modernize its treatment, distribution, and collection systems,” Munro said in a press release. “His experience managing complex municipal projects and fostering collaboration across agencies will strengthen our engineering and quality management programs, helping us continue to lead the region in innovation, service delivery, and affordability.”

“Aaron’s leadership and technical expertise will be instrumental as Avon Lake Regional Water continues to modernize its treatment, distribution, and collection systems,” Munro said. “His experience managing complex municipal projects and fostering collaboration across agencies will strengthen our engineering and quality management programs, helping us continue to lead the region in innovation, service delivery, and affordability.”

Klein is a lifelong resident of Lorain County, having grown up in Carlisle Township and graduating from Midview High School. He is a 2000 graduate of Ohio University and served in the private sector before beginning his public service work in Elyria.

“When you’re in civil engineering you can go multiple different pathways with structural, transportation, environmental, hydraulics and I really had a passion for hydraulics and environmental engineering,” Klein explained. “My first job was in environmental and then when I went to Elyria I did mostly sanitary sewer related things. I always really enjoyed the environmental and the hydraulics and all of that type of science.

“The Great Lakes are so important and it’s important to ensure that drinking water and also our wastewater and the streams going back into the lake, that is our our greatest resource in this part of the country, we have to make sure that we’re protecting it and protecting the residents,” Klein continued. “I want to make sure that we’re impacting the residents as minimally as possible, while at the same time giving them the quality of life that they expect in regards to water and wastewater.”

Avon Lake Regional Water is a publicly owned utility independently governed by the Avon Lake Board of Municipal Utilities.