Recent staffing changes with the Jefferson Water Department has resulted in searching several options.

City Administrator Scott Peterson says the resignations from Kyle DeMoss as the Water Superintendent and another Water Department employee has caused a staffing shortage at the Water Plant. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio, they are looking at some options to replace the Water Superintendent position, including hiring a new Superintendent. He describes that option as being difficult because that position requires an individual to be a Grade III licensed water operator, which are few in number. 

Peterson explains the other option is hiring a private firm.

“Now this could be that they just contract the operations of the plant and we would take care of the distribution system, it could be that they take care of everything, could be just a consulting type of an arrangement. There’s several things that we can look at. But when we look at that thing, compliance with the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) is one of the top priorities that we ultimately want to achieve.”

Peterson points out that while the hiring search is underway, water customers will not notice any changes in the standards of water quality.

“I do want the public to rest assured that operations at the Water Plant don’t change, the quality of the water always remains top notch, the water is tested here every single day, and we know that the quality of the water that we put out is not just compliant with DNR rules, it’s high quality. And we just don’t have concerns about that and we do not anticipate any concerns in the future.”

Peterson adds that DeMoss has agreed to be an Affidavit Water Distributor, as that is a Grade II Operator and allowed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which handles the distribution system. The City Council approved the resolution on a month-by-month basis with a $400 fee.