December: City hires public works contractor; holiday donations rise

December was, for many, a time of giving. It also was a time of unrest centered around the city of Nevada's decision to hire a contractor to administer its water and sewer operations.

In October the city's talks with Alliance Water Resources came to light and sparked great concern among public works employees.

At the time, Alliance was working on a proposal to provide day-to-day operation, purchase necessary chemicals for the treatment plants and assume the city's liability for operations if the contractor puts the city in non-compliance of regulations.

The city positioned this move as a way to save money by increasing efficiency, and City Manager JD Kehrman told the Nevada Daily Mail that bids had not been requested because there were Alliance was the only company with a track record of operating a full public works department.

In late December a contract was presented to the city council. Kehrman, who along with city attorney William McCaffree negotiated the contract, told the council during a budget work session Dec. 17 that this contract with Alliance is what every other town that uses their services wishes they had.

Under the terms of the contract, Alliance will come to Nevada with their expertise in operating water and sewer systems, use that expertise to run Nevada's systems for the five years of the contract for a flat fee, provide all needed training for the personnel running the systems -- most of whom will likely be the people who are currently doing that for the city -- and if the contract is not renewed, Alliance will leave Nevada with the same expertise they had when they came, the fee they are paid, and nothing else.

Alliance will not have ownership of any part of the system and at the end of the contract the city will have the first right to hire any of their Nevada employees, and included many other provisions.

The contract still met with opposition, particularly from councilmember James McKenzie, who said he believed training and other issues could be worked out in-house. McKenzie cast the lone vote against the measure in the first reading on Dec. 21 and again at the second reading on Dec. 28.

The city's last action of 2010 was the first reading of the 2011 budget, which could not be voted upon until the Alliance issue was decided.

News accounts also poured into the Daily Mail offices throughout the month that told in no uncertain terms of the generosity of the people.

Groups, organizations and individuals all dug deep into their hearts and into their pockets to help make this Christmas a merry one for those facing financial hardship in Vernon County.