January 25, 2012

JOB VACANCY

Job Title:                                     Field /Water Distribution Manager

Starting Pay:                          Negotiable

Immediate Supervisor:             General Manager

Deadline to apply:                          Open until filled

Send Resume to:                        Meade County Water District

                                                ATTN: Joe Bartley           

                                                1003 Armory Place

                                                Brandenburg, KY 40108

Minimum Training and Experience Requirement: Graduation from high school or GED equivalency and job related experience in operation of a water distribution system.  Certification by the State of Kentucky in the following: Water Distribution System Operator Class III-D, and a Valid Kentucky Driver’s License.  See Job Duties Below.

Meade County Water District is a Distribution Only System with approximately 4,350 connections and 300 miles of pipe.

RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to: General Manager

Works with:  Office Manager, Billing Clerk, Inventory Clerk and Field Crew

Outside the District: Vendors, Customers, KY Division of Water, KY Public Service Commission, Contractors, State Highway Department and other public utilities.

Supervises technical, skilled, semi-skilled personnel

WORKING CONDITIONS

The primary duties are performed in a public office building, shop environment, and outdoors work in all kinds of weather, many times in awkward positions and dangerous places and exposure to power equipment and hazardous materials.  Heavy lifting and stooping required.  Works more hours as needed to meet emergency needs.

Meade County Water District is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

Complaints of discrimination should be sent to:

USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, Washington, D.C. 20240-9410

JOB DUTIES

• The Field/Water Distribution Manager manages the operation and maintenance of the county’s water distribution system to assure safe, potable water is provided for drinking.  In addition, is responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the activities of the water distribution staff.
• Assures water quality will meet all Kentucky Division of Water and EPA regulation.
• Coordinates and monitors work by contractors and consultants for bid specification and compliance.
• Reviews, evaluates and makes recommendations on plans and proposals for changes, upgrades and additions, and prepares input for new construction and operational planning.
• Prepares and maintains activity reports and prepares oral and written reports concerning water distribution system.
• Evaluates work of subordinates and writes performance appraisals.
• Supervises procurement of equipment and services for remote site operations.
• Responds to emergency situations involving water distribution systems, as well as for complaints and inquires.
• Provides training to personnel in policies, procedures, techniques and regulatory standards pertinent to water distribution systems.
• Monitors the on-call status required for responses to after-hour emergencies and readings.
• Prepares oral and written reports as required on operations and maintenance.
• Works in safe manner and reports unsafe activity and conditions.
• Has knowledge of methods, equipment, materials, tools and standard practices for the operation of water distribution systems and equipment.
• Has knowledge of computerized and automated system monitoring, control equipment, and GPS procedures and operation.
• Has knowledge of supervisory skills, employee evaluations, and training methods.
• Has knowledge of federal, state and county water distribution rules, regulations and ordinances pertaining to water distribution standards.
• Has ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Has ability to aid in the design of water distribution projects.
• Has ability to read and interpret technical and operational manuals, documents, diagrams and blueprints.
• Has ability to read and interpret meters, gauges, controls panels, and testing and monitoring equipment.
• Has ability to operate standard office equipment, including a computer using program application appropriate to assigned duties.
• Has ability to prepare written reports and maintain system performance records.
• Has ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and the general public.
• Has ability to communicate effectively with the public and other employees.

Any other duties deemed necessary by the General Manager.

Please click the links for a sample copy of the EPA Support Letter along with the EPA Letter of Support Instructions.

“Now, with the most recent continuing resolution set to expire on December 16, we need to act quickly to keep the government operating. Beyond that, it’s imperative that we finish these Appropriations bills to get our government agencies and departments the funding they need and to assure our citizens that the government will continue to provide the services and programs they rely on. The most basic duty of Congress is to provide necessary funding for the core functions of government – including our national defense.

With these nine bills, we all recognize the need to make smart choices on how we spend our precious but limited tax dollars. We are sticking to the spending rate agreed to under the Budget Control Act – $1.043 trillion for the fiscal year – and providing funding at levels proportionate to the effectiveness of the program, the quality of the service and the importance to the taxpayer.

All told, we are on track to reduce overall discretionary spending by nearly $93 billion compared to Fiscal Year 2010 – continuing the downward trend towards accountable, responsible levels that will help address our deficits and spur economic growth and job creation.

In addition, we lived up to our promise to include absolutely no earmarks in any appropriations bills this year.

Although we were not entirely able to get through these bills in regular order, I am proud of the work of our Subcommittees thus far. I believe we’ve successfully laid the groundwork for a more complete and open Appropriations process next year.

It is our hope and expectation that we will have a final agreement on this must-pass legislation by next week. So many months after we began this appropriations cycle, it’s time to finish it. After all, Fiscal Year 2013 is right around the corner.”

Congressman Davis said, “The point of the REINS Act is accountability.  Each member of Congress must take a stand and be accountable for regulations that will have the greatest impact on our economy.  Regulatory compliance costs small businesses an estimated $10,500 per employee annually.  At a time of high unemployment, we must do something about this massive burden.  No longer would Congress be able to avoid accountability by writing vague laws requiring the benefits up front and leaving the unpopular or costly elements up to the bureaucrats who will write those elements of the law at some later date. 

“I want to thank all of the supporters of the REINS Act, especially Speaker Boehner, Chairman Smith, Senator Paul, and the over 200 co-sponsors for their tireless efforts to advance this commonsense legislation.” 

Speaker of the House John Boehner said, “Passage of the REINS Act is a significant step towards fulfilling our obligations to the American people outlined in the Pledge to America.  The REINS Act will make the regulatory process more open and accountable, and rein in unelected bureaucrats from strangling small businesses in red tape, which will give private sector job creators the confidence they need to grow our economy and hire.”

House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith said, “More than once this year, the President has talked about the dangers that excessive regulations pose to our economy.  But unfortunately, his actions speak louder than his words. The Obama administration is preparing numerous regulations that each will cost the economy $1 billion or more per year. 

“The American people want job creation, not more regulation.  The REINS Act reins in out-of-control federal regulations that burden America’s businesses and job creators.  It guarantees that Congress – not unelected agency officials – will be accountable for all new major regulatory costs.”

Background:

The REINS Act would require an up-or-down, standalone vote in Congress and the President’s signature on all new major rules before they can be enforced on the American people, job-creating small businesses, or State and local governments.  Major rules are those that have an annual economic impact of $100 million or more.

Congressman Davis originally introduced the REINS Act during the 111^th Congress, and reintroduced the bill in the 112^th Congress as H.R. 10, which has the bipartisan support of over 200 co-sponsors.  Senator Rand Paul [KY] introduced the companion bill in the Senate as S. 299, which currently has the bipartisan support of 31 co-sponsors.

More than 30 organizations have endorsed the REINS Act.  Click here to view a complete list and read letters of support.

To learn more about the REINS Act, visit: http://geoffdavis.house.gov/REINS. 

Funds Available for Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Projects

FRANKFORT, Ky.– Governor Steve Beshear today announced $1.8 million in grants are available for projects in Kentucky to help clean up polluted streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater and for projects that protect water resources.

“Protection of our water resources is fundamental to our environment, our economy and good public health,” Gov. Beshear said. “These grants will fund efforts to help control pollution from sediment, pesticides and other substances that run off our land when it rains.”

The grants are for watershed restoration projects and for watershed implementation plan development, as well as for other projects that reduce and prevent runoff pollution.

Runoff pollution, also known as nonpoint source pollution (NPS), is the No. 1 contributor to water pollution in Kentucky, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the impaired rivers, streams and lakes in the state. Runoff pollution occurs when water runs across the land and carries sediment, nutrients, pesticides, metals and animal and human waste into streams, rivers and groundwater. 

The Kentucky Division of Water (DOW) administers the federal NPS grants, which are funded through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act. The funds are provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and can be used to pay for up to 60 percent of the total cost for each project; a 40 percent nonfederal match is required.

The DOW gives priority to projects involving watershed-based plan development and implementation in impaired waters, as well as protection of Special Use Waters (e.g., cold water aquatic habitat, exceptional waters, state wild rivers and federal wild and scenic rivers) with identified threats.

To be considered for this competitive 2011 funding, a project proposal form must be submitted to DOW by Feb. 3, 2012. The DOW NPS staff will review the project proposals and rank them according to eligibility and priority criteria to determine if they warrant further consideration and formal applications. Grant applications will be accepted by invitation only from entities identified through the proposal process.

The project proposal form, along with supporting documents, can be found at http://water.ky.gov/Funding/Pages/NonpointSource.aspx.  Proposals may also be submitted throughout the year for NPS program staff review and consideration for a future grant cycle.

For more information, contact Jim Roe at 502-564-3410 or James.Roe@ky.gov.

In a recent article posted on November 11, 2011 to the KRWA website entitled KRWA Requests Congressional Support for CCR Publishing Legislation, KRWA invited Kentucky’s congressional delegation to look at H.R. 1340 and S. 1578 as a way to help public water systems in Kentucky and across the United States save millions of dollars every year.   H.R. 1340 and S. 1578 eliminates the requirement for public water systems to provide an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) via mail to every consumer. H.R. 1340 and S. 1578 update the SDWA to allow drinking water utilities to distribute water quality reports over the Internet, while also ensuring that the public maintains robust access to water quality information. KRWA supports the public’s right to know about the quality of their drinking water and agree that utilities should continue to be required to mail reports announcing violations of federal water quality standards to their customers. We also support allowing individual customers to request a paper copy of a water quality report by mail.

We ask that all utilities located in the Kentucky’s 2^nd Congressional District send a message of thanks to Congressman Guthrie for his much needed support.  We encourage all KRWA member utilities to contact their Congressman and Senators McConnell and Paul to voice their support of H.R. 1340 and S. 1578.