firm hired to take over water, wastewater
Johnson explains importance of new hire
Recent warning letters sent to the town of Century from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) concerning the town's on-going non-compliance and numerous violations in its water and wastewater treatment system and the recent resignation of its water superintendent prompted the council Tuesday night to approve hiring a company with personnel who will bring the system into compliance and manage it for one year at a cost of almost $240,000.
Gomez said there was a meeting with DEP about the town's water treatment plant April 10 and described it as 'strict' and 'eerie', and reminded council members that the town is still under the watchful eye of the DEP, adding that it seemed the DEP has mistrust, due to the problems being ignored for so long and he reiterated the town is still not 'out of the woods'. He told the council that Council member Alicia Johnson, who is licensed in water and wastewater and has been serving the town for no compensation as a water treatment personnel, will no longer serve in that capacity.
"We are releasing Ms. Johnson," said Gomez. "We still have a job to do for Century. We've reached out to a few vendors to try to help with the day-to-day operations."
Councilwoman Johnson explained the town needed total operation coverage, such as sampling, reporting requirements and more. The cost is $19,464 per month, paid monthly, for one year.
"With the council's approval, we are going to turn over operations while we are still attempting to recruit," said Johnson. "Unfortunately, that has taken much longer than any of us expected. Because we are offering very competitive wages, it was very surprising to me that we had no more interest in the positions than we have had. But those positions still have to be filled."
Johnson said it is in the town's best interest to hire a contract company to keep the town in compliance while it searches for and hires personnel to fill those positions. When asked if she thought a year would be sufficient, Johnson said she thinks that Century has gotten a lot of bad press, which scares people.
"We need to rebuild our reputation and to repair our systems," said Johnson. "Then people wouldn't be afraid to leave a job where they're comfortable and established to go to something that is unknown and scary and under consent and under a microscope where there's zero room for mistakes. It will be in our best interest while we are trying to attract our own qualified people to make sure we are covered and all all of our legal obligations with DEP are bring met by this contract company."
Interim City Manager Cheryl Lee said she thought the town would attract more qualified candidates if they thought they would have help.
Councilwoman Alicia Johnson made the motion to approve the mayor to sign a one-year contract with Clearwater Solutions out of Auburn, Ala. Councilwoman Sandra McMurray Jackson seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
The contract will have a clause that will allow the either side to release the other from the contract with a 30-day notice.
In other business, the council:
-Approved the purchase of a Dell Latitude 5540 laptop computer for $1,799.95 and accessories for $409.85 from Southern Computer Services to be used in conjunction with council meetings, to be paid from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds
-Approved a change order of 21 days extension (with no cost associated) on the No. 3 Town of Century miscellaneous wastewater Phase I Project, with a completion new date of May 5
-Approved to renegotiate with Southern Computer Services or solicit other proposals for Information Technology services for the town for a 1-year period
