Geneva council approves emergency HydroCorp contracts for mandated backflow-prevention surveys

The City of Geneva City Council on Feb. 9 unanimously approved two emergency resolutions to contract with HydroCorp to carry out mandated cross-connection control and backflow-prevention surveys.

City Manager (addressed in the meeting as "Mister Raquette") told the council the work is driven by state regulatory requirements and is labor intensive. He said the initial, year-one contract is for $43,145.34 and the multiyear agreement for years two through six totals $51,675.52 (about $10,003 per year on average). The manager described the contracts as necessary to complete initial surveys and then to maintain ongoing periodic inspections required by the applicable administrative code.

Council members moved to waive the normal three‑reading requirement for both resolutions and voted to declare each resolution an emergency so the city could secure the first round of compliance work in time to meet regulatory deadlines. Roll-call votes recorded councilwide assent on both items.

Supporters at the meeting emphasized the work is a regulatory mandate handled through the water department. During questions, staff clarified the initiative focuses on nonresidential accounts (businesses and other nonresidential users) and that the contracts will not increase residential water rates. Staff outlined the public‑health rationale: backflow devices prevent contamination of the public water supply when plumbing failures or pressure reversals occur.

The council’s action authorizes the city manager to finalize and execute the two HydroCorp agreements and moves the city forward on meeting cross-connection control deadlines.

What happens next: the city will execute the contracts with HydroCorp and begin the initial year‑one surveys; the administration indicated the work must be completed to satisfy state-mandated reporting and inspection timelines.