Ogallala, Nebraska
The Issue: Like most communities, the City of Ogallala, Nebraska was having a hard time finding qualified water and wastewater staff, including certified operators. The city had not yet reached a “staffing crisis,” recalls City Manager Kevin Wilkins – but he knew it was only a matter of time. So, Wilkins reached out to PeopleService in the fall of 2024. “We needed to take a pro-active approach,” he said.
The PeopleService Solution: Since partnering with PeopleService, Ogallala remains fully staffed and its water and water operations are led by an experienced, full certified operator. But, as Wilkins points out, the benefits of partnering with PeopleService for contract operations extend well beyond addressing hiring challenges. Those benefits include:
- Potential regional collaboration: Ogallala is exploring water and wastewater partnerships with neighboring communities who face similar issues but don’t have the resources to hire the staff they need.
- Prioritizing cost-effective upgrades: The city’s 1985 treatment plant requires extensive repairs and upgrades. Now, with improved oversight and planning from an experienced staff, city officials feel confident in moving forward with these vital projects for maximum efficiency and cost savings.
- Staffing efficiencies: The city previously had eight staff members who weren’t cross-trained, leading to inefficiencies. The water and wastewater department is now operating smoothly with six staff members, including an operator, while maintaining service quality.
“We not only have the added layer of confidence with a company like PeopleService that services more than 200 communities, but we also have a peace of mind that this agreement brings a deep bench that would otherwise be unattainable,” Wilkins said. “There are layers of benefits we’re getting from this that go beyond our initial desire to make this change.”
Read more examples of how PeopleService works with communities to solve their problems.