AUBURN - A committee of city, town and Cayuga County representatives is ready to offer a job to the Owasco Lake watershed inspector, who could be in place as early as Aug. 13.

The committee reviewed about 12 applications and is prepared to make a selection, Water Quality Management Agency Chairman Bruce Natale told fellow board members at a meeting Thursday.

However, a clause in the agreement between the city, town of Owasco and two county agencies stipulates $12,000 must be available in the Soil and Water Conservation District account before the hire is made.

The inspector candidate, who hasn't been named yet, will be a SWCD employee.

“If we know the check is cut and we know it's going in, we will give this person a start date,” Natale said. “We're so close, we're actually getting a group of people together to decide what this person will do in the first couple of weeks.”

The contract details the payment structure, with Auburn water users fronting 85 percent of the $60,000 expected from the office of Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, and Owasco users picking up the remaining 15 percent. The two municipalities will raise rates by 3 cents per 100 cubic feet (750 gallons).

The contract provides a $35,000 annual salary for the steward, with $13,300 in benefits, $2,000 in travel expenses, $2,800 for a vehicle fund, $2,655 for an office, and $4,245 for miscellaneous items.