Council considers forming Inverness River Chase Sewer Board to oversee local sewer assets

Council members heard presentations on two related items to create a government utility services corporation (GUSC) for the Inverness/River Chase sewer system.

Mr. Munger explained the actions would authorize an application to incorporate what the code calls a government utility services corporation and proposed the name "Inverness River Chase Sewer Board." He said the city is working with Wagner Engineering to inventory sewer assets and prepare a capital plan before any transfer of property is considered.

Munger told the council the system comprises two sewer plants and currently serves about 15% of city households and roughly 900 households outside the city. He said there are no costs associated with forming the GUSC at this time and that the formation would initially operate with city staff involvement.

The resolution also lists petitioners who would serve as the initial board: Dr. Elizabeth Martin, Robert Fowler and Scott McFadden. Council members asked for resumes and contact information and whether GUSC members could be city employees; staff said the code prohibits petitioners from being city employees.

Council members asked whether the condition-assessment work could proceed without creating the GUSC; staff said the asset inventory and capital-planning contract with Wagner were already underway and that the assessment could occur independently but that standing up the GUSC would make future transfers and oversight more transferable.

What happens next: staff said the council will receive the petitioners' resumes and an expected capital-plan timeline (staff mentioned August or September) and that any future request to transfer assets would come back to council for approval.