HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0847.000 2018-2020 Harry Kim •-o0. .°`.is.. Deanna S. Sako
c,• -:. •4. . Director
Mayor 4,4".,4"
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•A� : Steven A. Hunt
Deputy Director
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CountY of Hawaii
Finance Department
25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2103 • Hilo,Hawai`i 96720
(808)961-8234 • Fax(808)961-8569
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March 18, 2020
coAaron Chung, Council Chair and -
Members of the Hawai`i County Council
Hawai`i County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Re: Agreement with the University of Hawai`i, Water Resources Research Center
The certification of wastewater treatment operators is essential to ensure the competence
of those employees to operate wastewater treatment plants within the County. The State
of Hawai`i Department of Health is authorized to issue certificates entitling qualified
individuals to operate wastewater treatment plants. The success of the Hawaii law for
mandatory certification of operating personnel in wastewater treatment plants depends
heavily on the Statewide Wastewater Operator Training Center(SWOTC).
Enclosed is a resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the
University of Hawai`i, Water Resources Research Center to provide training via the
Statewide Wastewater Operator Training Center to County wastewater treatment
operators.
If there are any questions,please do not hesitate to call Robin Bauman of the Department
of Environmental Management at 961-8179.
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Deanna S. Sako
Director of Finance
Enc.
Comma No.
c: Environmental Management Ref,,To
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Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider
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Form#: B-52
7/18/9t
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
DEPARTMENT: Dept of Environmental Management DATE: 3/9/2020
STAFF CONTACT: Dora Beck PHONE: 961-8513
A. REQUEST:
Pursuant to Hawai'i Revised Statute Section 46-7, a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a Multi-
Year Memorandum of Agreement with the University of Hawai'i, Water Resources Research Center (UH-
WRRC)to provide training via the Statewide Wastewater Operator Training Center(SWOTC) to Wastewater
Treatment Works Operators within the County of Hawai'i, Wastewater Division.
B. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION (USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS AS NEEDED):
'Certification of wastewater treatment works operators assures employment of personnel competent to provide
:proper operation and maintenance, and therefore efficient management of wastewater treatment works. The
/ importance and need for competent wastewater treatment plant operators is essential in order to realize public
;health and water quality objectives as well as to maximize the benefits of the investment of public funds.
:Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes, section 340E-3, upon Board of Certification (BOC) approval, the State of
`Hawai'i, Department of Health (DOH) is authorized to issue certificates entitling qualified individuals to operate
wastewater treatment plants. The success of the Hawaii Law for Mandatory Certification of Operating Personnel
in wastewater treatment plants depends heavily on the implementation of a Statewide Wastewater Operator
`Training Center("SWOTC").
The SWOTC has been in operation since 1987 providing wastewater training classes. Upon completion of such
classes, operating personnel are awarded Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by the BOC qualifying operators
to sit for exams for obtaining and/or renewing an operator certification. The DOH has sponsored and
administered the functions of the SWOTC to serve the four(4) counties of the State of Hawaii (Honolulu, Maui,
Hawaii, and Kauai) since 1988 and provided 40% of the funding for the SWOTC with the other 60% being
funded by the counties. In 2015, the DOH discontinued it's involvement in the SWOTC. Sponsorship and
administrative functions were transferred entirely to the UH-WRRC.
The UH-WRRC anticipates obtaining an annual funding of$16,052 for the 5-year service period of July 1, 2020
through June 30, 2025 (a total cost of$80,260) to continue administering the SWOTC and providing twelve
wastewater operator training courses per year.
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SIGNED: t fly DATE: `
Department Head