Research / Public alternatives

Could local public operation work?

A feasibility question with real tradeoffs: legal authority, ownership, financing, maintenance, service standards and public oversight.

What would have to change?

Moving from a privately operated wastewater system to publicly accountable operation isn't as simple as replacing the company name on a bill. Local officials would need to determine which authority could legally assume the service and evaluate system condition, capital investment, debt, staffing, treatment capacity, and acquisition arrangements.

Madison County Water Department is a water distribution utility; it should not be presented as an already-established county sewer operator.

How alternatives should be compared

Question	Evidence needed
Lower bills?	Full current tariff vs full projected cost including capital/debt
More reliable?	Maintenance condition, incident and response records, staffing
Local accountability?	Governance, public meeting rights, records access, rate oversight
Practical transition?	Legal authority, acquisition method, grants/loans, permits

Public utilities can offer a useful reference, not a takeover quote

Madison Utilities publishes October 2026 wastewater rates, which we use as a documented public reference. Those figures do not establish the price of serving Integra's existing customer base under a hypothetical county purchase.

See the rate reference and assumptions →

Our campaign goal is fair service and accountable oversight. We can advocate for a public alternative while still investigating whether it is economically and operationally achievable.

Next research priorities

Map affected facilities, customers and service obligations.
Identify county/city/public authority options and governing approvals.
Obtain independently reviewed operating and acquisition cost assumptions.
Ask public providers about capacity, workforce needs and realistic transition timelines.
Document any proposed rate control agreements and changes to PSC oversight.