The Benton Township Board of Trustees has approved a scaled down agreement with F&V Operations and Resource Management for the operation of the township water treatment plant.
At a meeting this week, trustees were told the existing township staff will need help running the plant until more employees can be hired. Supervisor Cathy Yates tells us Benton Township has been working with F&V for some time.
“We had a water plant superintendent and he took another job,” Yates said. “So we were left without anyone being qualified to run it. So we had to hire F&V and we’re paying them all that money per month because we didn’t have anyone to run our plant.”
However, Yates says a staff member completed the proper certification to operate the plant. The deal approved this week F&V is reduced from the previous contract as a result.
“So he’s now our key person out there and we’re looking to hire a couple more. Once we can get people in and trained, then we’ll be able to run our plant back ourselves. And we’re looking forward to that day.”
Yates says F&V will provide support for the two township employees while additional staff are sought. F&V’s services will cost the township $11,000 per month, half the cost of the previous contract. There’s also an out clause in the agreement so the township and F&V can part ways once new township employees are hired.
Yates says trustees look forward to having a water plant that can be independently operated by its own staff.
