OMAHA, Neb., Oct. 20, 2000 (Omaha World-Herald)—Mayor Hal Daub has vetoed an ordinance requiring the approval of Omaha voters to privatize city wastewater treatment plants.
The city has spent more than a year working with employee unions to reduce the staffing of the two treatment plants through attrition and early retirements. City administrators have said this will enable the city to continue running the plants as public entities rather than privatizing them, as some cities have done.
The council passed the ordinance on Aug. 1 as a safeguard against turning the plants over to the private sector.
Daub's veto letter said his administration isn't considering privatizing the plants.
The ordinance would "send a confusing message" to the citizens. If, in the future, a change in approach is considered, he wrote, "this administration will be very up-front and explain the rationale for any changes."
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