By Cindi Andrews
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DOWNTOWN - Hamilton County commissioners decided Wednesday to ratchet up their oversight of the Metropolitan Sewer District after reports of management problems at the public utility.

The commissioners also said they're eager to take over MSD, which is owned by the county but run by the city. Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken said he might be open to such a move.

"It's an organization that operates without complete, clear direction because of this hybrid arrangement that exists," Commissioner Todd Portune said. "I don't see the city undertaking the effort that needs to be done."

City Council historically hasn't paid much attention to MSD because the county controls its budget, Luken said.

"I hate to admit it, but I don't know enough about what's going on at the Metropolitan Sewer District," he said.

The commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to spend up to $150,000 next year to station a county representative in the sewer district full time.

Their action was prompted by a confidential report by consulting firm Brown and Caldwell that said there was a "crisis in leadership" at MSD. Brown and Caldwell cited problems with specific managers and a survey that found many employees don't trust management. The report was disclosed Wednesday in the Enquirer.

"This is some assurance that their recommendations are carried out," Commissioner Phil Heimlich said in proposing the new position.

MSD will cooperate with the county's appointee, Deputy Director Robert Campbell said.

The commissioners said they're particularly concerned about the report's findings given that MSD just unveiled a $1.5 billion plan to fix sewage flooding problems in basements and streams countywide in the next 19 years. The plan was part of a court-ordered consent decree.

"I'm very concerned with moving forward with the consent decree under the current system," Heimlich said.

Even though the county controls MSD's budget, its managers answer to the city. Employees receive city benefits under an agreement that expires in 2018.

"It's not a good management structure. It's not," Luken said. "I think everyone knows that, and I'm willing to talk about ways to improve that."

Commissioner John Dowlin has long sought to take over MSD, a move supported by both Portune and Heimlich. They favor soliciting management bids. City Council may resist that.

"If we're going to take responsibility, I think we should take control over it," Dowlin said.

The county has pushed MSD in recent months to be more responsive to customers. Commissioners changed county policy Oct. 1 to make MSD pick up 100 percent of the costs of fixing basement sewage flooding in the county's oldest neighborhoods.

Toward that end, the commissioners approved a $40,000 pilot project Wednesday to test a new idea for eliminating backups by installing a small pump at the home.

Reporter Gregory Korte contributed. E-mail candrews@enquirer.com