Freeman-Wilson will be Sanitary Dist. administrator

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Freeman-Wilson

Updated: March 16, 2012 8:17AM

GARY — With the stroke of a pen, U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano signed an agreement making Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson the next special administrator of the Gary Sanitary District for one year.

The district is under a 10-year-old consent decree with the federal government that sets goals for the district in managing sanitary and storm sewers and requires the approval of the U.S. Attorney and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for new special administrators.

Freeman-Wilson’s appointment required a federal judge’s blessing.

U.S. Attorney David Capp said the federal agencies will work more closely with the district than it has in the past.

“We’re encouraged by what we see in the new administration, and we’re going to actively work with them to get the Gary Sanitary District back on track,” Capp said.

“All parties agreed there’s going to be a more frequent review and submission of reports (from GSD) than there was in the past.”

Freeman-Wilson succeeds former Mayor Rudy Clay. The new mayor said she will spend significant time at GSD for her $54,000 salary supplement.

“I expect to play a greater role (at GSD) as far as attendance at meetings and working with the director to be sure we’re meeting our goals,” Freeman-Wilson said.

The mayor appoints GSD board members, but, as special administrator, she appoints the district’s director and has final say over the board’s actions. Freeman-Wilson said she aims to have all department heads, including GSD’s director, in place by late March.

Rinzer Williams III is now under contract as the district’s director.

The agreement by all parties to name Freeman-Wilson came after several meetings during which the mayor and her supporters assured federal officials she can be an effective administrator, said the mayor and other sources.

“One of the (federal agencies’) concerns was, what makes us different?” Freeman-Wilson said.

“I’m going to be more focused on meeting the legal obligations under the consent decree and our obligations to the people of Gary to provide clean water and discharges.”

Freeman-Wilson said her top priority at GSD will be remediating the contaminated Ralston Lagoon on the city’s north side and cleaning up discharges and meeting other requirements of the consent decree.