We often hear about the benefits of municipalities consolidating services. For example, village A and Town B both have volunteer fire departments. So they combine into one department that serves both, thus one chief, one administrative staff, maybe more strategically deployed equipment.
Does it work? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. A lot depends on how well the two (or more) units of government actually end up cooperating.
More and more now I see clean-water agencies collaborating on biosolids management. The latest example is the Tri-Lakes Biosolids Coalition, a proposed intergovernmental partnership that includes the Missouri communities of Branson, Branson West, Hollister, Kimberling City and Forsyth, along with Taney County.
The plan is to reach an agreement to construct a regional biosolids dewatering and drying facility. This could be a worthwhile venture. Drying is a good way to produce a Class A product suitable for public distribution and for a variety of unrestricted uses. The Tri-Lakes partners see drying as superior to the current practice of application to farmland.
According to the plan, the dewatering and drying facility would be built at the Cooper Creek wastewater treatment plant in Branson. The coalition would own and operate the facility; the partners would share the costs (and presumably the revenues from any sales of Class A product).
The coalition has been in the planning stages for about eight years. Lower natural gas prices (fuel for the dryer) have helped make the project more economically attractive. The cost of the new facility is projected at $1.9 million.
Would a joint biosolids operation be worth considering for your community? Comments on the pros and cons of such an arrangement would be most welcome. Send to editor@tpomag.com.
