Water board considers Waste Water administrative assistant

OSKALOOSA- At their regular meeting on October 17, the Oskaloosa Water Board heard an update from on Wastewater Operations. The Oskaloosa Water Board and the City of Oskaloosa previously entered into a 28E Agreement in September 2015, which called for the Oskaloosa Waste Water Department to be operated by the Oskaloosa Water Department. During a presentation from General Manager Chad Coon, a request was made to add a position to assist Coon with Waste Water operations.

“Based on what’s in the 28E and requirements and trying to get all that done, as well as everything on the water side, I do not have the time or resources to accomplish all of that,” Coon said. “There aren’t enough hours in the day and I’m not getting everything accomplished the way it needs to be,” Coon said later in the meeting.

He said that if approved, the position would begin January 1. Coon said that he had water department staff develop a wage and benefits package to compare to the present budget for Waste Water to see where the numbers end up.

“It does impact the budget for Waste Water because it was not something that was included last year,” Coon said.

City Manager Michael Schrock said in response to a question from Water Board Chairman Mike Vore that when the 28E agreement had been put together, a staff plan was put together. Schrock said that the plan showed 16 full time equivalent positions between the Water Department and the Waste Water Department. Schrock said that the staffing plan called for three field staff for collection, and one supervisor.

“From what I can tell, Chad has hired four field staff, but we don’t have a supervisor position. So, this would be one additional position above what was shown to the city council at the time the agreement was done, one additional position above what was shown to the water department,” Schrock said.

He also said that the ultimate wage/benefits package for the position proposed by Coon would be $66,000, which Schrock said was not budgeted for.

“I agree there needs to be some relief to Chad on the field side, but I guess what I get concerned about is we talked about four total in collections, and now we’re talking about five,” Schrock also said.

Schrock ultimately stated that he did not support adding the position midyear.

“I struggle with the addition of the position as a fifth to the collections system when we had agreed on four,” Schrock said.

Throughout discussion on the item, concerns were expressed by board members about the timing of the request and adding the position midyear. Board member Danny Nance also noted that at the previous Water Board meeting, the board had authorized an increase in Coon’s salary.

“Now you’re telling me, you can’t do the job,” Nance said.

Coon defended the pay raise saying that it came as a result of his obtaining a Grade I Wastewater Certification.

“The increase in pay was based on the agreement and a license that was obtained as part of this work,” Coon said.

“I understand what it was for… your pay was increased but you’re telling me you can’t do the job,” Nance responded. “There’s not a lot of places that would tolerate that,” he also said.
Other board members, however, said they did not agree with Nance’s statement, saying Coon’s request should not be reflective of his abilities to do the job.

Ultimately, the board did not take any action on Coon’s request and opted to table the request until the next meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Oskaloosa Water Department will be on November 21 at 3 p.m.