JACKSON TWP — Municipal leaders in southwestern Butler County are taking another crucial step forward when it comes to better managing stormwater issues.

Representatives from Jackson Township, Zelienople and Harmony who make up the Southwestern Butler Council of Governments gathered Tuesday, Dec. 17, to discuss details in relation to hiring a Southwest Butler Stormwater Authority executive director.

According to the job description, the right candidate will provide financial management and oversight, contract and grants management, and overall budgeting and planning for the authority.

That work, however, is just half what the full-time job will entail as the director will also split time as an administrator for the Harmony Fire District. That role would include accounting, bookkeeping and related financial management and oversight for the organization.

“It’s based on dialogue with the fire district and ongoing dialogue that we’ve had as part of the stormwater consortium,” said Jackson Township manager Chris Rearick on the thought process behind combining the two roles.

The salary range for the position will be between $65,000 and $80,000, depending on an applicant’s experience in administrative duties.

Jackson Township, Zelienople, Harmony and Evans City are the four municipalities that make up the recently incorporated stormwater authority. Each of them will help fund the salary.”

“There will be an intergovernmental cooperative agreement likely considered by the municipalities in January or February that formalizes the level of contribution,” Rearick said. “Tentatively, the discussions have been that it’s proportional to the millage that we contribute to the fire district, which in turn is just proportional to the value of a mill in our respective communities.”

Some members of the council voiced what they believe are necessary qualifications for any potential applicants.

“I think it’s essential, in my opinion, that because this person is dealing with these contracts to have at least a limited background with construction contracts,” said Mary Hess, Zelienople council president. “I think it would be very beneficial to have that.

“This role is going to be so unique. This person is going to have to be a go-getter.”

The position will officially be advertised in the coming weeks. As applications come in, Rearick, Hess and fire district president Kevin Behun are set to lead the interview process.

After recently passing the Articles of Incorporation, representatives for the stormwater authority will formally meet for the first time at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 at the Jackson Township Municipal Building.