Operator seeks contract renewal and modest rate increase as testing costs climb

The operator told the board his contract is up imminently and proposed starting any new contract in January to align with other agreements, seeking a 3% increase (about $1,050 on the figures shown) to offset rising lab-supply and additional testing obligations.

Speaker 1 said recent changes mean the operator must perform seven heavy-metal tests (including chromium and cadmium), a change that has pushed lab-supply costs and turned a prior monthly pass-through of roughly $200 into several hundred dollars a month; he summarized the burden as "it's pushed our ... cost of $3,500." He said the operator historically absorbed some testing costs by taking on extra billable work, but that approach is "not sustainable forever."

Board members discussed timing and interim arrangements if the current contract lapses before a new one begins. Speaker 1 recommended beginning a new contract on Jan. 1 to align with other service agreements. Several board members asked for a revised contract proposal and promised to review numbers and reconvene.

No formal renewal vote was taken at the meeting; the board directed staff and the operator to exchange figures and return with a written proposal for consideration in the next regular meeting.