Kinsey Russell explains that the days when “unskilled labor” could fill many public works positions are long gone.

Mexico's Public Works Department director underscored this point during his annual report to the City Council because the Wastewater Division is short staffed. One post is open due to retirement, the other because of leave. Dustin Johnson left for military duty in October of last year.

“We should get him back in the fall,” Russell noted.

While Johnson's eventual return will help, the department must rely on a consultant to pick up some of his duties in the interim. The city contracted with KimHEC, an environmental consulting firm out of St. Louis, to assist with the industrial pretreatment program.

But that still leaves the department one person down.

The team is charged with maintaining a treatment plant, 15 pump stations, 98 miles of pipe and more than 1,900 manholes. In 2020 the Wastewater Division cleaned 11 miles of pipe and made 219 sewer calls.

In addition, the division is responsible for overseeing the industrial pretreatment program. This covers seven industries in the city and involves local limit calculations on chemicals discharged from the facilities, as well as industrial waste surveys, enforcement and other functions.

Russell points out that wastewater from the city's plant discharges into the south fork of the Salt River, eventually making its way into Mark Twain Lake. Not only is the lake a recreational destination, it feeds drinking water to 19 counties.

“It is important that we maintain a well functioning plant,” Russell said.

Wastewater positions can be difficult to fill. Russell explains that it is unusual for an experienced person to move from one system to another. And the job is burdened by perception.

“People think wastewater work is dirty, nasty work,” Russell observed. “But much of the work is testing, monitoring equipment – all of which takes some knowledge and skill.”

Staff members must also be licensed, and there are several levels applied by the state.

Yet along with running scopes of sewer lines and performing industrial pretreatment surveys, there is still some grunt work involved.

Two weeks ago the city approved the replacement of a sewer line on Grove Street that is prone to clogging. It is an older four-inch pipe. The department now uses larger eight-inch lines that require less maintenance.