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Quincy approves five-year wastewater contract with Inframark amid operator shortages
Summary
City Council approved a five-year renewal with Inframark to operate Quincy's wastewater treatment plant, citing a shortage of licensed operators and an annual fee that city staff estimate at about $1.1 million in year one.
The Quincy City Council on Tuesday approved a five-year contract renewal with Inframark of Houston to manage and operate the city's wastewater treatment plant, with the term beginning April 27, 2025, and ending April 26, 2030.
City officials and committee members said the contract addresses a local shortage of Class 1-licensed wastewater operators. Public works staff said Inframark supplies the facility's personnel and can draw on licensed operators from other projects when a local employee leaves, a capability the city lacks to fill quickly.
Public works staff member Jeffrey described the contract's price and structure in committee and said the company's fees include employee pay and required analytical testing; the city will continue to pay for chemicals, electricity and replacement parts. Jeffrey said the contract contains an annual adjustment factor tied to the Midwest Urban Consumer Price Index, which rose 2.6% in the prior year; staff projected a 2.5% annual increase over the contract term.
Council members questioned the cost and the decision to continue contracting operations rather than run them in-house. A resident who spoke during public comment criticized privatization and called the debate "ignorant"; the council did not amend the contract in response.
The council adopted the resolution by roll call, with the tally recorded as 12 ayes, 1 nay and 1 absent. The roll call list in the record shows Alderman Rhine, Alderman Ebbing, Alderman Reese, Alderman Reid, Alderman Uzeliak, Alderman Holzschlag, Alderman Fletcher, Alderman Entre Bergman, Alderman Bauer, Alderman Holtz, Alderman Mayes and one other voting yes; Alderman Farha recorded the sole no vote. The meeting record lists one member absent.
The contract covers not only the main treatment plant but also eight lift stations and the airport lagoon; staff said Inframark also provides on-call technical resources when local staff cannot resolve problems. Staff estimated the first year's fees at about $1,100,000, not including city-paid energy and chemicals.
Council members and staff framed the vote as a response to limited local availability of qualified operators and a need to maintain permit compliance and testing schedules. The city will carry the cost of energy, chemicals and parts while Inframark provides staffing and reporting.
The resolution passed and the contract renewal will take effect per the dates on the adopted resolution.
