April 10, 2026

Richland Center connections strengthen community development

Member Utilities

For customers of City Utilities of Richland Center, part of life in the small city means there’s a good chance of having spoken directly to Superintendent Scott Gald. Not only does he oversee the utility, but Gald is fire chief for the community of just over 5,100.

These positions help him connect with all types of people in Richland Center.

“I’m proud to represent this community in a way where everybody knows they can reach out to me directly when they start making project plans or if they just have a general question,” Gald said. “As fire chief and utility manager for Richland Center, I speak to most residents regularly, either in an official capacity or just being a citizen myself.”

The city has changed around Gald in recent years. Developers have taken notice of the area, and the number of small businesses has grown as well. That connection with fellow stakeholders in his community and their ease in approaching him is a point of pride for Gald.

“I’m glad that not only do local business leaders want to invest in our city and its people, but that when they have ideas, they want to talk to me about them,” Gald said.

That approach is reflected by many within the municipality as they aim to build relationships that bolster a strong, local economy. Organized forums bring the utility together with large businesses, the school district and other key employers to collaborate and foster community growth.