EPA joined Jackson city council to discuss next steps in water crisis

EPA joined Jackson city council to discuss next steps in water crisis

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EPA joined Jackson city council to discuss next steps in water crisis

Jackson City Council members met with the Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday to discuss how the city will approach the ongoing water crisis.

Joining the meeting virtually, an EPA representative said the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant isn't adequately staffed with only two class-A operators and four vacancies at the plant. Class-A operators serve as supervisors of the plant.

"We have two operators that will be taking the class-A operator exam within the next month," Public Works Director Marlin King said.

King told a city council committee Wednesday that his department is looking at hiring retired operators and have increased the salary for that position.

The EPA says the plant should have at least three class-A operators employed to ensure proper 24/7 plant operation. The EPA says these issues could complicate the city's ability to secure more federal funding to fix several problems in the city's water system.

When asked by an EPA representative during Wednesday's city council committee meeting how many class-A operators were working at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant, King didn't immediately know.

"I would have to get you that information," he said.

"The fact that the public works director does not have any idea, or clue, of how many class-A operators we have in our water plant is astounding," said councilman Aaron Banks.

Later in the briefing, King said someone texted him the information the EPA had requested.

"We have two full-timers at O.B. Curtis and one full-timer that's able to sit in," King said.

King confirmed they are class-A.

"To be adequately staffed and trained, it's a critical piece in getting Jackson's drinking water system where it needs to be," said Carol Kemker, with the EPA.

Jackson residents remain under a citywide water-boil notice for surface connections.

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