Metropolitan Sewer District
3:57 pm
Mon May 13, 2013

County and city sparring over hiring language for sewer work

Credit Tana Weingartner / WVXU


The city wants all construction firms to have apprenticeship programs.


Companies without apprentices say they're being called "unqualified" for sewer projects despite having done business with MSD for decades.

Commissioners want the hiring practice changed but, so far, the city isn't budging... and that's slowing down construction. Commissioners Greg Hartmann and Chris Monzel say the county and city need to find a resolution soon.

"This is just limited to MSD," says Commissioner Todd Portune. "If the city really believes in this, why aren't they applying the same rules to the MSD utility work on the streetcar program. Why aren't they applying the same rules to other contracting (like) street and bridge repair."

Commissioners say they'd like to settle the issue in the next seven days. Commissioners argue they have final say on Metropolitan Sewer District hiring practices because while the city runs the utility, it's owned by the county.