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Deep Trouble: Century Must Hire Wastewater Treatment Operator ASAP
October 7, 2014
The Century Town Council was informed Monday night by Mayor Freddie McCall that the town is headed for “deep trouble” with its wastewater treatment facility because there may not a certified operator available enough hours per day.
State regulations require Century’s wasterwater treatment facility to have a certified “Class C” operator six hours per day. The town had a qualified operator, but he’s often unable to work to ongoing health issues. So far, the town has been able to cover all the required hours with a backup operator.
The town recently advertised a job opening for a temporary operator, but there were no qualified applicants willing to accept a part time job. Two current town employees have expressed interest in the position, the mayor said, but they would first be required to undergo training.
“I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring for us,” McCall said as he asked the council to approve hiring a full time operator with a “Class C” permit. “This is critical,” he said.
The council approved the position and authorized a salary of $14 per hour, with a guaranteed $1 per hour raise after one successful year on the job.
Without a certified wasterwater treatment plant operator on duty six hours per day, Century could face fines and other sanctions from the state.
The job will be posted in the NorthEscambia.com classifieds in the next few days.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
4 Responses to “Deep Trouble: Century Must Hire Wastewater Treatment Operator ASAP”
Century will pay the rate required to obtain the right person.
Start low and go from there.
Might take a long time before someone bites, but someone will eventually.
Wages in this field are very low in North & NW Florida. I took a position in Lake City simply because I couldn’t afford to stay in the Pensacola area.
A correction to my previous comment regarding ECUA minimum salary:
Wastewater Ops (trainee) – no certification – minimum salary $14.23
Wastewater Ops I have a class “C” certification – minimum salary $14.94
Wastewater Ops II have a class “B” certification – minimum salary $16.98
Wastewater Ops III have a class “A” certification – minimum salary $18.17
$14 an hour seems to be an extremely low starting pay for such a “mandatory” job position that requires state certification. I say this based on the ECUA starting salary for a trainee WITHOUT the required certifications is $14.23.
Once an employee has obtained the state certification they move to:
A WasteWater Operator I with a minimum salary of $14.94;
A Wastewater Operator II has a minimum salary of $17.18;
A Wastewater Operator III has a minimum salary of $18.17