During a special called meeting Tuesday, West Pelzer Town Council approved an agreement with Greenville Water to operate the town’s water system.
The agreement provides that Greenville Water will operate, maintain and make necessary repairs to the Town’s water system.
Following the vote, West Pelzer Mayor Jim Riddle said regarding the Town’s water system, “Very little will change.”
Greenville Water is basically replacing the Town’s Public Maintenance department which only had one fulltime person.
Riddle said the town’s maintenance person had quit recently, leaving the town with no one to operate the system, make repairs or read meters.
The Town reached out to their water supplier, Greenville Water, for assistance.
Mayor Riddle said the staff at Greenville Water was very helpful and provided someone immediately to read meters and operate the system.
Greenville Water Chief Operating Officer Jeff Phillips said Greenville Water will be the operator of record for the system and has the resources to operate and maintain it.
“One person was replaced by a staff of sixty,” he said. Phillips said in addition to reading meters, Greenville Water has staff available 24/7 to respond if there is a problem.
Under the agreement, Greenville Water will make necessary repairs or replace equipment up to a cost of $2,000. Anything over $2,000 will be brought to the Town for approval.
Greenville Water will provide a primary contact to work with the Town designee, who will have full responsibility for all Greenville Water employees on site.
A representative will be available to attend Town Council meeting when requested and be prepared to report Greenville Water’s activities regarding the water system.
Greenville Water will provide necessary oversight and responsibility for functions and tasks for administration and expertise required to establish, maintain, preserve and safeguard the water system.
Also will provide technical expertise, including employees who have met certification requirements of the state, to perform technical work associated with the operation and maintenance of the water system.
Greenville Water will pay all costs incurred during normal operations and provide the town, on a monthly basis, an invoice for compensation for all services performed in the prior month.
Greenville Water will prepare all required permits, reports and other documents required to maintain water system facilities in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
Also provide and document all maintenance and repairs for the system.
The Town will continue to own the water system and be responsible for all capital expenditures, construction costs, maintenance and repairs costs, chemicals and other costs related to it.
The Town will also pay Greenville Water for any services rendered and use of equipment.
West Pelzer will continue to pay Greenville Water for all water purchased for resale to the Town’s customers.
Town Clerk Paula Payton said the Town will continue billing as usual and payments can be made as they have in the past. Work orders will continue to be placed through the town office, she said.
“Nothing has really changed,” Payton said. “The agreement provides that Greenville Water will operate our water system for us.”
The agreement with West Pelzer states that Greenville Water is an independent contractor for the town and that Greenville Water employees or agents will not identify themselves as being employees or agents of the town.
The agreement also references a Utility Asset Purchase Agreement in which the Town would grant Greenville Water the right to purchase the water system sometime in the future subject to approval by the West Pelzer Town Council.
Mayor Riddle said that may be a possibility but is not being discussed at this time.
