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<br />rei ---\) <br />( )j <br />tli< <br /> <br />Item:#5.5. <br /> <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />River <br /> <br />TO: Mayor & City Council <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br /> <br />or <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Management of the Wastewater <br />Treatment System <br /> <br />It has been over a month now since Darrell Mack left the city and Gary Leirmoe has <br />been in charge of the Wastewater Treatment System. It is now time to make some <br />decisions on the future management of this operation. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Currently, I don't believe the city needs to hire a Wastewater Treatment System <br />(WWTS) Superintendent. The city has Gary Leirmoe as the WWTS Lead Operator <br />and he can manage the system under the direct supervision of City Engineer Terry <br />Maurer. Terry and his engineering firm (Howard R. Green) will be able to provide <br />advice and supervision related to the ongoing operation and management of the <br />WWTS, while Finance Director Lori Johnson will be able to provide assistance on <br />finance/budgeting issues and on personnel issues. Gary will have to work with Lori <br />on purchases and complying with all state laws regarding the selection of vendors, <br />and dealing with day-to-day financial issues. Over the past month, I have seen <br />Gary work much more with Lori than with Terry and I think this reflects the nature <br />of the WWTS operation plus Gary's level of experience and expertise. <br /> <br />It is my intention to have Gary in charge and responsible for: 1.) the day-to-day <br />operation and maintenance of the system; 2.) the direct supervision of the WWTS <br />employees including assigning work responsibilities; 3.) taking care of the required <br />state and federal reports; and 4.) miscellaneous public relations activities. In this <br />last activity, I am thinking about being the first contact for citizen inquiries and <br />complaints, and doing such activities as speaking at the Y2K community meeting <br />last September 28,1999. Gary has been with the department for 6 years and has <br />previous management experience, so there shouldn't be anything "too new" for him <br />in assuming the lead responsibility for the WWTS. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The reason I am recommending to not establish a department head position at this <br />time has to do with the city organizational structure. I believe that our future <br />includes a staff city engineer or public works director position within the next 5 <br />years, and that this position will have ultimate responsibility over the wastewater <br />treatment system, storm water management, the street department, and maybe the <br />parks department. This position/department is hypothetical at this time. Today, I <br /> <br />13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420. Fax: (612) 441-7425 <br />