Bargersville council approves three-month contract with August Mac for wastewater operations oversight

The Bargersville Town Council on Jan. 14 approved a three-month contract with August Mac to serve as the town’s certified wastewater operator and responsible charge, at a not-to-exceed amount of $20,450 and subject to legal review.

Council members and staff said August Mac intervened this month to address operational problems at both town treatment plants and that the firm had already been working at the Waverly plant. Chase Hixson, an August Mac representative and licensed Class 3 operator, told the council his team had corrected valving that was bypassing the plant’s UV system, stabilized flows and brought recent testing events into compliance.

The contract, Mayor pro tempore/President-designate Jamie Pfeiffer and council supporters said, is intended to provide licensed oversight while town staff rebuild capacity. Kevin (staff member) told the council the wastewater department had been budgeted for six positions in 2025 but was currently down to three workers; council members said that staffing level affects daily maintenance of 23 lift stations in the town’s system.

Hixson outlined the scope of the August Mac proposal and operations approach. He said the firm would provide a certified operator on site as needed, mentor the town’s apprentice operator and look for efficiency gains in energy, chemicals and labor. “It does look like there’s opportunity at your plant for some significant energy reductions,” Hixson said, estimating, based on published studies, potential energy savings “somewhere between 17–50%,” which he said could help offset operating costs.

Hixson described the proposed service elements and costs during the presentation. He said the proposal had an on-call maximum of $2,000 per month and that the firm had been on site and working without charge while learning the facilities. In discussion, Hixson also noted that the proposal figure mentioned in the presentation transcript (“68100 a month”) was not clearly transcribed; the council approved a three-month engagement capped at $20,450 and asked staff to finalize a prorated start for the remainder of the current month.

Councilmember Andrew Greenwood moved to approve August Mac for a three-month contract not to exceed $20,450, subject to legal review; Councilmember Susie Qualls seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.

Council members pressed staff on longer-term staffing and certification timelines. Hixson explained certification pathways for operators: an apprentice can test for a Class 3 with the required experience, and the time to reach higher licenses varies depending on prior certification and education. Kevin and Hixson both recommended maintaining a local labor force to perform routine maintenance while using a certified operator for oversight, training and troubleshooting.

Council members also asked how August Mac’s role would interact with Strand, the engineering firm that originally designed the plant. Kevin said Strand’s role is higher-level — reviewing design and collection-system interactions — while August Mac’s role is operational and chemistry-focused.

The council instructed staff to complete legal and administrative details and to present a prorated start date for the remainder of the current month before the contract takes effect.

The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 28, 2025.