City of Tonawanda (population 15130)
Name of service/government operation: Water Treatment and Delivery
Form of sharing: Erie County Water Authority takeover of City of Tonawanda Water Treatment and Delivery System
Services affected: Water Treatment and Delivery
Year started: 2004
Partners: City of Tonawanda/Erie County Water Authority
Primary goal(s)/motivation(s): To provide a better service to City of Tonawanda residents without increasing the cost, as well as a significant cost avoidance of having to invest capital improvements to the Water Treatment Plant and delivery system
What planning process preceded the sharing? Evaluation of Capital Improvements that would need to be funded by the City of Tonawanda residents, also the fact that the Erie County Water Authority already maintained a Treatment Plant close to the City of Tonawanda that was operating at less than full capacity
What governance structures and/or agreements are required to maintain this agreement? Intermunicipal Agreement/Formal Sale of Assets of City of Tonawanda system to Erie County Water Authority, also a Public Referendum
Challenges: Convincing the residents that their "savings" is largely in the form of cost avoidance, and that their service is being provided to them by a much more competent, responsible, and financially stable entity with the resources and expertise that the City of Tonawanda did not have and could not maintain
Benefits: Cost avoidance, overall streamlining of cost of delivery and treatment, much more attention to hydrant maintenance and improved flow for fire protection, installation of up to date, accurate water meters for all customers, better attention to main breaks
Impact on budget: Elimination of an approximately $200,000 fund deficit
Impact on labor: Reduction of a work force of 12 employees through attrition
Impact on service: Improved and stabilized dramatically
Key contact: Joseph Hogenkamp, City Treasurer 716-695-8629