City Extends Water Service Contract By Three Months

By Gordon HopkinsOn March 5, 2024, the Fairbury City Council voted unanimously to sign a three-month contract with People Service Inc., a company headquartered in Omaha that provides water and wastewater services.On May 21, 2024, the City Council voted to extend that contract by an additional three months. The People Service Inc. contract is intended to supplement the new water superintendent, Dennis Gaston, who is currently a grade three operator. The job of superintendent requires a grade two operator or higher. The People Service contract will provide those services that Gaston is not qualified to do, which involves the Crystal Springs Wellfield. In addition, Gaston will be retiring in August of this year.According to Mayor Brown, the contract is a stopgap measure while the city searches for a qualified grade two operator to perform those functions. The mayor the contract is necessary because of the difficulty in finding grade two water operators. At one point the city did have a grade two operator, Dennis DeFrain but he was let go earlier this year. Mayor Brown has not said why, indicating the city does not comment on personnel matters.At the meeting. City Council President Kelly Davis asked, “If we take Crystal Springs offline, we don’t have to have a grade two water operate. Well, why don’t we do that? We can’t pump water.”The Crystal Springs Well has been offline since 2021 due to biofilm contamination.“Well, it’s because it’s under review right now,” said the mayor.The cost of the contract is $2,250 per month. Duties included in the scope of the contract are: Once a month in person visits to review logs, test results and operations. Operational oversight and certification compliance. Provide phone support for staff questions. Act as City’s liaison with regulatory agencies.Any work outside the scope of the contract will be an additional $150 to $150 per hour.The city council voted to extend the contract. Kelly Davis was the lone dissenting vote.

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