Cosmopolis hires short-term certified water operator amid state compliance warning

Cosmopolis officials moved quickly this week after being placed "on the Department of Health radar" for missing required water-distribution certification and overdue reports. Mayor Springer told the council the city negotiated a short-term, month-to-month agreement with Community West Water Systems to provide certified oversight and reporting.

"If we don't have somebody certified overseeing the work that's being done currently by our public works team, we're in violation, and we can be fined up to $5,000 a day per violation," Carrie Barr, interim clerk/treasurer, told the council. Barr said the company will take over reporting duties and work with the Department of Health to bring the city back into compliance.

Community West's owner, Chris Orkney, confirmed the firm would begin immediately. Barr described two contract options: $1,900 per month for oversight and reporting, or $2,500 per month if training toward in-house certification is also provided. She said the service would be paid from the water fund and is intended to be temporary while the city evaluates longer-term staffing and training needs.

Barr said the city had fallen behind on reports "several months" and faces deadlines including a consumer confidence report due July 1 and other deficiency reports. She told the council the Department of Health had granted a brief grace period but expects rapid progress.

Councilors asked for clarity on hours and cost; Barr said the vendor was working intensively to meet immediate deadlines and that Aberdeen had provided interim assistance earlier. "This just buys us some time to be able to shop, to make some decisions, and find out what other options are available," she said.

The council authorized the short-term agreement during the meeting. Barr emphasized that the contract is month-to-month and that the city can discontinue the arrangement if it proves inadequate. The next steps include completing the overdue reports, working with Department of Health contacts, and deciding whether to pursue in-house certification for an existing employee (a multi-year training process) or continue with an external contractor.

The council did not provide a timetable for hiring a permanent certified distribution manager; Barr said the certification process could take about three years if pursued through an internal hire and that the city would evaluate compensation and staffing studies as part of a long-term plan.