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County apprenticeship program for water and wastewater operators presented to Narrows council
Summary
A county representative briefed the Narrows council on a registered apprenticeship for water and wastewater operators that would require substantial classroom and on-the-job training; the council signaled interest and staff will consider a modest budget allocation for participation.
Council members heard a detailed presentation from a county representative about a registered apprenticeship the county seeks to extend to towns including Narrows.
The presenter described the apprenticeship as a multi-year program combining classroom instruction and extensive on-the-job training designed to prepare apprentices to sit for Class 4 water or wastewater operator exams. The program model calls for related instruction hours delivered by local schools (described in the packet as 288 hours for some program stages) and thousands of hours of on-the-job training across multiple years. The presenter estimated the town’s share of support for on-the-job training at roughly $3,000–$5,000 per apprentice per year, and said the county and participating towns would serve as sponsors and trackers of hours, attendance, and trainer assignments.
Council members asked about enrollment limits, prescreening, and partnerships. Staff and the presenter said there would be a prescreening and vetting process, and that partners include the county administration, public schools, and local workforce organizations. The council indicated interest in including modest support for the program in next year’s budget and emphasized prioritizing quality over quantity when selecting apprentices.
No formal council vote was taken; staff agreed to acknowledge council interest and build the program cost into the proposed budget for further consideration.
What happens next: staff will include the program in the budget planning process and return with details on expected town costs and implementation steps.
