The Orange City Council will be turning over operations and maintenance of the city’s sewer plant to a private contractor. The city will pay $876,000 for the first year to Inframark LLC under the contract.
The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the council auditorium next to the Orange Public Library. The city’s Economic Development Corporation board of directors will meet at 5 p.m.
If the council approves the contract, Orange will have the first municipal wasterwater system in the county to be operated by a contractor. The council last year during a workshop instructed the city staff to proceed with the contract.
The 26-page contract can be found on the city’s website under the council agenda.
Under the contract, Inframark will provide everything to operate the Jackson Street Wastewater Plant, including labor. The city will still own the plant and will be responsible for maintaining the sewer lines.
Inframark will have the job of conducting laboratory testing and making sure the plant meets federal and state regulations. The city will maintain the operating license.
Inframark is a nationwide company that contracts to run wastewater and water plants. Under the job openings listings on the corporate website, the company operates plants in Livingston, Richmond, Katy, Brookshire and Kingwood in Texas.
The contract will last for five years and the first year’s cost will be paid at nearly $73,000 a month for 12 months.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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