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Board authorizes short-term contract increase for Marshall wastewater operator after grease-related work
Summary
Supervisors approved a one-year extension and $88,130.89 amendment to the operating contract with Natural Systems Utilities to cover routine O&M for 2025–26 and past invoices tied to fats/oils/grease (FOG) investigations and cleanup; staff said businesses will assume future routine FOG testing beginning November.
The Board of Supervisors on Aug. 12 approved a fifth amendment to the professional-services contract with Natural Systems Utilities, Inc. (NSU) to operate the Marshall Community Wastewater System, adding $88,130.89 and extending the agreement through Oct. 31, 2026.
Why it matters: County staff said the Marshall system — a small community wastewater zone serving the unincorporated Marshall area — experienced an uptick in fats, oils and grease (FOG) exceedances beginning in 2022. That problem required additional cleaning, testing and outreach beyond the contractor’s routine scope and left NSU with unpaid invoices from February–July 2025.
What the board approved: Assistant CDA Director Chris Chiu told the board the amendment covers two elements: $56,878.88 for routine operation and maintenance from Aug. 2025 through Oct. 2026 (regular O&M, lab fees, supplies and emergency response) and $31,252.01 in past-due invoices from February–July 2025 related to FOG response.
“NSU has identified exceedances of the FOG levels through testing at the commercial establishments,” Chiu said, adding that 1 commercial establishment has been disconnected from the system and is serving sewage via pump-and-haul until improvements are completed.
Board action and oversight: Supervisor Rodoni moved the amendment; Supervisor Milton Peters seconded. The motion passed with board assent. The board asked staff to return within one to two months with a budget and financial update, details on outstanding receivables, the county response to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board’s enforcement matters, and a proposed schedule for governance and fee-setting discussions.
Business responsibility and testing: Chiu said the county will shift FOG testing to the commercial businesses beginning in November, per a corrective-action plan submitted to the Regional Water Board; businesses will collect samples under a protocol and provide results to the county. County counsel reminded the board that, under existing ordinances, fees for the Marshall zone are set by ordinance and the board acts on behalf of the zone as the governing body.
Public comment: Marshall residents urged clearer governance and earlier financial reporting to ensure residential users are not subsidizing commercial costs. Resident George Clive, who helped shepherd the wastewater system into existence, asked the board to meet in its statutory role as directors of the Marshall on-site wastewater disposal zone to address fee-setting and governance questions.
Ending: Supervisors said they approved the short-term amendment to keep the system operating while the county evaluates longer-term governance options and works to collect commercial charges for the extra FOG-related work.
