Quorum Court OKs position to oversee sewer

Full-time post to eye financial records

FAYETTEVILLE — The Quorum Court approved a full-time position Thursday that will, in part, oversee community sewer systems’ financial records.

The approval came despite some justices of the peace questioning whether the county should oversee community sewer systems when the state already regulates the maintenance and operations of the systems. The Quorum Court adopted the ordinance allowing county oversight in April and revised it in June with little dissent.

Twelve community sewer systems operate in the county, and nine of those have had problems, said Renee Biby, county public utilities coordinator and grants administrator. Oversight of the systems is a form of “consumer protection,” she said.

Justice of the Peace Tom Lundstrum, a Republican representing north-northwestern Washington County, said he voted for allowing the county to oversee the systems and that levies a $2 fee per month per home on the system in “ignorance.” The fee is meant to cover administrative costs connected to the regulating the systems.

Lundstrum said he thought the position shouldn’t include qualifications for overseeing the sewer systems.

“I don’t like growing government, especially when it doesn’t need to be grown,” Lundstrum said.

The new position will help protect homeowners and make sure there is money to repair and maintain systems, Biby said. When problems arise, residents also will have someone local to call, she said.

The new employee will work under Biby and help write grants, according to county documents.

The employee also will make sure operators over community sewer systems have adequate bonds, letters of credit or cash maintained, among other duties, according to the job description.

The position replaces one meant to be shared with County Attorney Steve Zega. Biby’s department fully paid for Zega’s employee’s salary, but the employee didn’t work for Biby at all, officials said previously.

That arrangement came under fire by several justices of the peace after Biby said she needed help in her department. That scrutiny led some justices of the peace to look more closely at the ordinance they passed earlier this year.

On Thursday, the Quorum Court approved a paralegal position for Zega, who plans to keep the same employee at the same pay as before. Both positions have a salary of roughly $45,000, including benefits, county records show.

The position for Biby will be partially covered by a $2 per month fee to homes connected to the systems. That fee is expected to bring in about $21,360 a year for administrative costs, according to county documents. Should the county expand oversight into some cities, via an agreement, Fayetteville, Goshen, Prairie Grove and Farmington, the fee will bring in another roughly $15,000, records show.

Two inter-local agreements are expected to be voted on during the next Quorum Court meeting Aug. 18. Even without the agreements, the county oversees 890 homes, documents show.

If approved, 626 homes would be added.

Several county residents whose homes use the systems spoke in favor of county oversight and Biby. Two operators said during the meeting the county’s ordinance isn’t needed.