According to Mayor Jason Akers, Monticello will be one of the first cities in Arkansas to participate in a new 2 year training program designed for training Water Quality Operators.
The two year program consists of nearly 300 classroom hours of advanced instruction, over 120 field hours of technical instruction and use of advanced technology. The program has a mandatory mentorship program where Class 4 Operators shadow participants in the training as they address water quality issues and test for advanced state required certifications.
The program is designed to modernize and improve water quality by creating more highly trained water operators. The program originated in the National Rural Water Association and is being administered on the state level by the Arkansas Rural Water Association.
Monticello will have two existing water employees participate.
“We are working to rebuild water and sewer infrastructure and simultaneously building more staff capable of managing and improving it,” Mayor Akers stated.
