By Patricia Bogumil
Editor
Preliminary talks are underway to possibly replace the Town of Waterford Sanitary District (WSD) with a newly formed utility district.
The idea is “only in preliminary discussion, it’s for evaluation purposes only. It’s fluid and will likely change as efficiencies are identified and refined,” cautioned Dan Dickinson, the WSD board president.
The topic was aired Dec. 18 at a special joint meeting of the town and WSD boards. Officials agreed to research the idea and come back within 45 days to share ideas, information and any recommendations on how to proceed or not proceed, according to Dickinson.
Waterford Town Chairman Robert Langmesser said he’ll need to know exactly what benefits the town would receive from such a set-up before supporting it.
“I’m not sure that this is something I would go along with,” Langmesser said.
Before signing on to the idea, Langmesser explained, he would need to be sure forming a utility district is in the best interests of the township citizens, and not just a way for the sanitary district to clear up some of its long-standing problems.
If the idea of a utility district takes hold, WSD would no longer be in existence. Instead, its services would be provided via a utility district that would be part of the town rather than a separate governmental entity – and Dickinson would be out of a job.
That would be OK, Dickinson said.
“My promise to the people who voted for me is I’m going to do what’s right for them and if this turns out to be right for them, then it’s not a bad thing for me to lose my job,” Dickinson said.
Dickinson said he first became aware of research about forming a utility district shortly after the Aug. 14 recall election, in which he replaced former WSD board president Bill Gerard.
While familiarizing himself with paperwork on file at WSD, he came across an invoice dated April 2012 from former WSD attorney, John Macy, billing WSD for research Macy did about utility districts.
Macy was paid for that information, but the topic of a utility district does not appear to have been listed on any WSD meeting agenda, Dickinson said.
Former WSD Supervisor Donna Block said she does not remember the issue coming before the WSD board at a meeting, although she does recall Macy verbally alluding to a utility district after a WSD meeting.
Dickinson said the motivation for forming a utility district would be efficiencies of operation and cost savings.
After New Year’s, Dickinson said he would like the WSD’s ad hoc committee on restructuring and reorganization to meet about the issue, and he will also seek out information and involvement on the issue with staff.
“I’ve said all along no stone should be left unturned,” Dickinson added. “This is just one of those stones to look under.
“Hopefully, everyone understands we’re looking for the best balance of solutions to benefit the public.”
Dickinson said background information about a township that successfully switched from a sanitary district to a utility district can be found online at the web site for the Town of Liberty Grove in Door County, which created a new utility district per Wis. Stats. Sec. 66.0828: www.libertygrove.org.
He added that no decisions are being recommended or proposed at this time about any changes within the Waterford Sanitary District, or having to do with a utility district.
“Those will evolve over time and will be done before the public’s eye,” he said.
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