Council members in Karnes City took a serious look at the town’s contract with its utility provider after the city administrator claimed the city could save more than $140,000 doing the job themselves.

The special meeting December 4 was called to discuss Karnes City’s status with utility contractor Veolia Water and what it would mean for the city to go back to providing their own utility services.

Currently, Veolia Water provides Karnes City four employees and various equipment at an annual contract rate for maintaining the town’s water, sewer, and street systems.

"There’s a lot of stuff we can do better because we’re not profit oriented," City Administrator Larry Pippen said, adding that "Nobody’s questioning the quality of (Veolia’s) work." It’s just a matter of money.

Pippen estimates $114,000 worth of savings in the water department and $27,600 in sewer department savings once the city gets rolling on its own again.

Initially, Karnes City will have to incur some expenses to get back into operational status, though. The town needs a new backhoe, sewer jetter, and at least two new pickup trucks.

They still own a dump truck, a small tractor and shredder, and an emulsion distributor.

The city also needs six more employees, according to Pippen’s report. The new help will assist with added responsibilities that will arise after both the new sewer plant and city park are constructed.

Council members Jimmy Loya, Sr. and Leroy Skloss were concerned about employee productivity and whether the city needed 10 people working.

"You would have to find a good, strong superintendent to keep these folks in line," Skloss said.

Skloss suggested Karnes City look at the matter again in their regular December meeting, then come back for an official vote in January.