City Council To Choose Consultant For Water Department

Tue, December 20, 2011

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KMUW / Carla Eckels

The Wichita City Council will vote Tuesday on which company to hire as an consultant to review the city’s water, meter and customer billing processes. KMUW’s Carla Eckels reports the move was delayed a week, after a request by a Milwaukee firm with local facilities.

Johnson Controls’ Chris Christensen told the council his company did not see the published bid requirements and requested an opportunity to submit information.

“One of the things that people don’t know about Johnson Controls is that this is one of our core businesses outside of our York plant here in Wichita, which we’ve had a long standing relationship with the city of Wichita,” says Christensen. “We respectfully requested of the council and city staff, allow us to put together a presentation in the next two weeks to present our version of what we do.”
The city plans to use a consultant to improve the timeliness and accuracy of customer’s water and sewer bills and for long-range planning.

Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer says the council should proceed cautiously in all fairness to others who have bid. City Manager Bob Layton says the delay would allow the council to make a more informed decision moving forward.