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Independence, MO —
Independence may soon combine the operations of its sanitary sewer, stormwater and water departments.
While the plan isn’t included in the 2012-13 budget proposal, City Manager Robert Heacock Tuesday night briefly discussed the idea in a City Council study session.
The concept, known as “managing from rain to drain,” would move toward an Independence Water Authority in combining the operations of the three separate departments. The three areas’ finances, sales taxes, rates and regulations, however, would remain separate, such as the stormwater sales tax renewed by voters in 2010 and the rates for water and sewer.
The plan isn’t official. The council-led Audit and Finance Committee, Heacock said, will likely hear more about the concept at an upcoming meeting, and from there, a proposal would go before the Public Utilities Advisory Board before reaching the full City Council.
All three departments now face both an aging workforce and aging inventories of infrastructure.
If implemented, the combined effort could save as much as $900,000 in its first three years, Heacock said, mostly through the elimination of mid-level management positions. Other potential benefits, he said, include accounting management, environmental compliance, construction coordination, safety training and laboratory cross-training.
“We think that this holds a lot of positive promise,” Heacock said. “... From an operational standpoint, we think it makes some sense.”
Independence may soon combine the operations of its sanitary sewer, stormwater and water departments.
While the plan isn’t included in the 2012-13 budget proposal, City Manager Robert Heacock Tuesday night briefly discussed the idea in a City Council study session.
The concept, known as “managing from rain to drain,” would move toward an Independence Water Authority in combining the operations of the three separate departments. The three areas’ finances, sales taxes, rates and regulations, however, would remain separate, such as the stormwater sales tax renewed by voters in 2010 and the rates for water and sewer.
The plan isn’t official. The council-led Audit and Finance Committee, Heacock said, will likely hear more about the concept at an upcoming meeting, and from there, a proposal would go before the Public Utilities Advisory Board before reaching the full City Council.
All three departments now face both an aging workforce and aging inventories of infrastructure.
If implemented, the combined effort could save as much as $900,000 in its first three years, Heacock said, mostly through the elimination of mid-level management positions. Other potential benefits, he said, include accounting management, environmental compliance, construction coordination, safety training and laboratory cross-training.
“We think that this holds a lot of positive promise,” Heacock said. “... From an operational standpoint, we think it makes some sense.”
