(Posted May 14, 2020)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Certified operators employed by Madison County now perform day-to-day operations at Plain City’s wastewater plant.
At the end of April, the county and village entered into an agreement by which the county provides the services at a rate of $1,200 per week.
Earlier this year, the two entities struck a similar deal for day-to-day operations of the village’s water treatment plant. Late last year, the county took on operations at both of Mount Sterling’s plants.
“Last year, I started looking into forming partnerships with our municipalities as far as water and sewer is concerned,” said Rob Slane, county administrator.
He held a meeting to gauge interest and present the pros and cons. One of the pros, he said, is labor stability.
“A lot of them were having trouble keeping staff,” Slane said. “When you lose one person from a three-person staff, that’s big. But at the county, we have more staff, so it doesn’t hurt as bad if we lose one.”
Also on the pros list–cost savings and efficiency.
“What we are charging them is less than what they can do it for themselves,” Slane said.
Additionally, sharing employees and equipment amounts to efficiency for both parties, he said.
“Instead of three sludge trucks or three camera systems, you only need one. Same goes for staff and meeting the requirements of having staff members with certain classifications (to meet EPA requirements),” he said. “It’s a win-win for everyone.”
The new contract with Plain City is good for six months and self renews in six-month increments. Either party can bow out of the agreement with 30 days’ written notice.
