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Council questions high payments to TSK Waterworks, weighs bringing water operations in-house
Summary
Councilors flagged large consultant payments to TSK Waterworks and debated whether to bid the contract or retrain staff to perform operations in-house; staff said the contractor trained a new operator but DEQ requirements for backup certification and staff reluctance are complicating a transition.
Councilors at the budget hearing scrutinized the town's relationship with TSK Waterworks, the contracted water operator and consultant, after staff cited substantial consultant payments and described the origins of the contract.
A speaker said the town had paid TSK services nearly $972,000 for activity spanning July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025 (as presented at the hearing), and urged the council to bid the work or otherwise review the contract. Councilors asked staff to verify licensing information and to provide documentation of invoices and services.
Staff explained the contract originally formed when the town lacked a licensed operator: the contractor took a salaried role without benefits to provide certified operator services and on-the-job training for town staff. That arrangement saved the town benefits costs, staff said, but when the contractor obtained higher licensing he and others formed private businesses and no longer served as full-time employees.
Councilors debated the trade-offs: a contracted operator brings specialized experience and may be cost-competitive for some services, while in-house staffing could reduce consulting costs if someone attains and keeps required certifications. DEQ requirements for a backup certified operator were highlighted as a constraint: staff said the town needs a fully certified backup or it risks regulatory noncompliance.
The council requested: a) documentation of TSK invoices and licensing numbers, b) a formal recommendation on whether to competitively bid the contract, and c) a plan showing the timeline and cost for training and certifying in-house staff (including who would serve as a backup operator). No procurement decision was made at the hearing.
