ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Water and wastewater issues were again front and center during Monday’s teleconference meeting of City Council.

An unexpected malfunction of neglected equipment at the wastewater treatment plant spurred city leaders to begin the search for someone to take a more active role in managing this service, which will mean creating a new position of wastewater superintendent.

Safety and Service Director Jeremy Greenwood reported an expensive breakdown during a finance committee meeting prior to the council session.

“We had a blower-motor down at the wastewater plant that basically blew up, and it blew up from lack of maintenance,” Greenwood said, adding the cost of a new one would come to about $49,000. “We’ll have someone there full time to make sure these maintenance items are being taken care of.

“Currently, we don’t have a wastewater superintendent. We have a water and wastewater superintendent, which we don’t need anymore,” he said. “In order to go forward with just getting a wastewater (superintendent) we have to change the legislation.”

In answer to a question from Councilman Mark Bukmir, Greenwood said the salary would be about $65,000 yearly, plus benefits, which would bring the cost close to $90,000.

However, he said the city currently subcontracts through Quality Environmental to operate wastewater treatment and write reports for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for $105,000. Quality Environmental has no responsibility for maintenance or authority to direct the staff.

“We would save approximately $10-$15,000 by hiring somebody full time,” he said.

“It’s kind of like a boat without a rudder. We need to get someone down there who’s taking care of the long-term things,” Mayor Kathryn Thalman said.

Bukmir later said council would approve hiring and compensation.

Greenwood further elaborated to the full council.

“The fan itself broke from lack of maintenance. It was not being maintained, it was not being greased,” he said, adding he had intended to propose a wastewater superintendent position eventually. “It was something I was working on since January, but the actions and the things that have popped up in the last couple weeks have kind of pushed this to the forefront. … We need a superintendent down there all the time. … Our outside consultant right now is charging us over $100,000 a year to be there four hours a day to write the EPA report and just be on site, and that’s what the state requirement is. … It’s one of those things that just slipped through the cracks. The replacement of that is going to be $49,000, and it’s an issue that we can’t allow to keep happening.”

In answer to questions from Councilman Frank Sabatino, Greenwood said a water superintendent would not be needed once the city has begun purchasing water from Belmont County rather than using the older water treatment plant and reservoirs. The OEPA mandated that the city find another water source.

“Once we switch, within the year, to the county water, we are not going to be manufacturing water so we will not have to have a (Class-3 water) certification for our operator of record. We’ll be down to distribution, so there’s not really a necessity to have a superintendent in that department.”

He said he is looking for ways to transition the water department employees into other roles, since they will have fewer duties, such as assisting with the upgrading and replacing of the distribution system.

Greenwood said the requirement for the new position is a Class 2 wastewater license. There are currently four employees in the wastewater department and no one with that licensure. No one is currently in the water/wastewater superintendent position.

“I’m assuming that’s why we ended up with an outside consultant,” he said.

In answer to a question from Councilwoman Linda Jordan, Greenwood said the employees are usually attending to issues such as line breaks and testing.

“We just need a leader. Somebody to direct them,” he said, adding he had been getting no maintenance reports.

Council passed an emergency ordinance to advertise for the position. Council members Beth Oprisch, Perry Basile, Terra Butler, Mike Smith and Bukmir voted in favor. Sabatino and Jordan voted against.