Forty-one days remain until the city's decade-long contract with Severn Trent expires, and with time ticking, City Council members last week hung out the help wanted sign.
Council members on Tuesday voted unanimously to seek bids from companies interested in operating all or part of the city's public works department, which has been overseen by Severn Trent, a private company. The contract expires June 30.
The push to seek new providers comes as Council members and city staff put the final touches on a proposed $18.3 million 2011-2012 city budget that is set to be approved in June.
Over the last decade, Severn Trent workers have seen their roles expanded in the city to include not only running the city's wastewater treatment plant but also repairing roads, mowing grass and even running the animal shelter.
City Manager Mike Rutledge has said he believes dividing up the work among other companies may be beneficial because other firms may have expertise in areas such as road repair. He said it is an idea worth exploring even if it ends up costing more.
The proposed 2011-2012 fiscal year budget is based on estimates of what the cost of the public works services will be since the city is only now going out for contracts.
Heather Campbell, city finance director, said the estimates were built on the current year budget with an additional 8.5 percent to 12.5 percent built in to each area of the budget that public works touches. There are four key divisions under the public works umbrella including water, sewer, streets (which includes mowing and animal control) and a maintenance fund.
In the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the city budgeted $700,000 for water services. For 2011-2012 that figure is estimated at $752,500.
For sewer services, the current year cost is $374,000 while next year's proposed amount is $430,100.
Under the streets budget, the city will spend $660,000 this year while $709,000 is included for next year.
The maintenance fund will remain unchanged as it has for the last five years at $295,650.
Rutledge said the public works request for proposals will be constructed in several ways so that companies can offer to run all or just a part.
The search for new public works service providers, though, could stretch past June 30 — the day Severn Trent's contract expires. Rutledge said the city could then enter into a month-to-month contract with Severn Trent to continue to provide services, and he expected to meet with Severn Trent officials by Friday.
No formal talk between Severn Trent and the city had been held prior to Tuesday.
The short-term contract is expected to appear on the June 7 City Council agenda.
Severn Trent officials said the cost of a month-to-month contract could be significantly higher due to it being a short-term contract.