Two Freedom Water Treatment Plant employees saved Carroll County government ? and taxpayers ? at least $45,000 last year.
The dump truck used to haul the Eldersburg plant?s sludge, or the debris filtered out of the water, was bleeding the county?s money in maintenance costs, and Carroll?s other used dump trucks were too large to fit into the facility.
Instead of using $100,000 to buy a new dump truck, Greg Wantz, plant superintendent, decided to contract the service out to Environment Organics, a New Windsor hauler that now takes the sludge to local farms to spread as a soil additive, diverting the material away from the county?s rapidly filling Northern Landfill.
Previously, the county shelled out $57 a ton to dump at the landfill but now Carroll pays $42 a ton ? saving taxpayers an estimated $20,000 a year, according to the county.
The change also increases staff efficiency because it eliminates frequent staff trips to the landfill, officials said in a statement.
But Organics? larger sewage disposal container presented another problem: It left no space for the plant?s forklift.
That?s when Don Leister Jr., an apprentice operator at the plant, offered his creative skills in frugality.
Leister not only recommended that Carroll build a storage building next to the sludge facility, but he also designed and constructed the shed in 12 weeks? time, saving the county about $25,000.
“Don came up with the shed. He came up with the idea, he got the prices together,” Wantz said. “He used to work for a carpenter. He?s talented.”
So talented that Wantz, Leister?s supervisor, nominated Leister for this year?s Cost Savings Award.
“I was a little surprised because I wasn?t looking for me to get it also,” Wantz said.
Both were recognized at an awards ceremony Wednesday and each given $1,000 savings bonds.
