OWASA to vote on strategic plan to address climate change, community needs

On Sept. 8, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) will vote on its proposed strategic plan, which will determine the organization's actions for the next five years. 

The draft plan, released Aug. 24, details OWASA’s goals for fiscal years 2023-2027. These goals were created after considering community priorities, according to the document.

Climate change readiness and adaptation were identified as high-priority issues for OWASA in the draft. A climate action plan and drought contingency through Jordan Lake were both presented as solutions.

Technological preparation was also defined as a high priority in ensuring operative resilience, such as in the case of cybersecurity.

"We definitely know that we need to take all the steps possible to make sure our community is as protected as possible from any sort of cybersecurity threats," Todd Taylor, executive director of OWASA, said.

The organization used a departmental scan — conducted by OWASA's Strategic Planning Advisory and Resource Council (SPARC) — to help make revisions to its priorities, according to the draft plan. 

The scan surveyed current and past board members, employees and community partners, with a total of 1,153 community participants contributing to the survey. A review of strategic plans from different businesses across the country was also included.  

In order to better implement projects to address community needs, OWASA plans to regularly survey community members. Additionally, the organization hopes to integrate an online billing portal to streamline the payment process for customers.

OWASA’s plan also prioritizes employee recruitment through multiple outlined initiatives. 

The draft plan stated that the department will implement a "Pay and Class Study" in order to maintain a competitive pay rate. To ensure well-prepared and informed employees, the department will also enact an Employee Development Plan. 

Blake Hodge, OWASA's communications specialist, said the organization wants to be able to recruit a pool of applicants when positions become available. He said OWASA also wants to work to retain team members and offer professional development. 

Hodge said part of the department's development plan includes increasing the number of applicants and conducting a study to ensure a fair pay rate. Both of these initiatives are aimed at retaining employees in fields with high turnover rates. 

"We want to be able to provide those leadership development programs and plans to all team members so they have a path forward on what a career at OWASA could look like," he added. 

OWASA is also developing strategies to combat the number of disadvantaged individuals without access to the department's services. In order to help reach that goal, updates will be made to its Care to Share program.

Formerly known as ‘Taste of Hope’, Care to Share works in collaboration with the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service to help provide relief to customers struggling to pay their water bills, Taylor said. 

“OWASA was one of the first utilities in North Carolina, maybe even in the country, to have a customer assistance program,” Taylor said. “Our customers can donate directly to Care to Share on their bill to provide assistance to customers that may be struggling in paying their bills.”

The organization welcomes feedback as it continues to modernize its strategies and develop emergency release plans. 

Mary Tiger, OWASA's Strategic Initiatives Manager, said it has been a team effort to reach the department's objective of being collectively confident in its strategic plan. 

"In order to do that, we’re really focused on being inclusive and being a team effort," she said.

Tiger said the plan is one that employees, as well as OWASA's Board of Directors, can look at and feel excited about. 

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