Sebastian Kitchen

@writeonsk

Louisville Water Co. chief executive officer and president Jim Brammell was arrested for driving under the influence last month after he was pulled over for driving 96 miles per hour in Oldham County.

Brammell's breath alcohol level registered more than twice the legal limit to drive in Kentucky.

The Oldham County Police Department arrested Brammell, 54, in La Grange on Saturday, Aug. 23, between 10:59 a.m. and 11:11 a.m., according to an arrest report. He was driving 96 in a 60 mph work zone.

"I take full responsibility; this is my mistake," Brammell said in a statement sent to the Courier-Journal. "I regret that this has happened and take full ownership and accountability. I realize it's my obligation to set the highest standard for our company and I failed to do so in this instance. This will not happen again."

Mayor Greg Fischer, who appoints the board that oversees the city-owned utility, expressed his disappointment in Brammell.

"I've talked to Jim and expressed my deep disappointment in his actions," Fischer said in a statement. "Importantly, he has taken full responsibility for this unacceptable behavior. The water company board will be discussing consequences and next steps."

Brammell informed the chair of the board immediately after the incident, according to company spokeswoman Kelley Dearing Smith.

The officer, according to the police report, could "smell the odor commonly associated with an alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle" after stopping Brammell. "Subject's actions were slow and uncoordinated. Subject denied consuming alcohol within the past 24 hours."

Brammell was "unsteady on his feet and used the car for balance while exiting" his vehicle, according to the report. He "failed to follow finger, moved head, lack of smooth pursuit" and "failed to count out loud, used arms for balance, placed foot down twice" and had difficulty with the proper number of steps and turning during field tests by the officer.

Brammell, driving a 2014 Ford Taurus, registered .177 on his breath alcohol test. It is illegal to drive in Kentucky with a breath alcohol level of .08 or higher. Dearing Smith said the company does not provide a company car to Brammell, and he owns the Taurus and pays insurance on the vehicle.

Police cited him with aggravated driving under the influence and speeding. Brammell, who lives in New Castle, was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 22.

The Board of Water Works named Brammell, who had served as vice president of operations and chief engineer since 2007, president and CEO in July 2013. The board approved a salary of $238,403 for Brammell in August 2013.

He had served as interim president and CEO since Greg Heitzman left the water company in May 2013 to become executive director of Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District. Brammell started at the water company in 1995 after working 11 years with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

The city is the sole stockholder in the company, which is overseen by a board appointed by the mayor and approved by the Metro Council.

The water company provides water to about 850,000 people in Jefferson County and parts of Bullitt, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby and Spencer Counties.

Reporter Sebastian Kitchen can be reached at (502) 582-4475. Follow him on Twitter at @writeonsk.