UPDATE: Deal Struck, No Layoffs At Solon Sewer Plant

Solon officials have a tentative agreement with Teamsters Local 436 that would prevent layoffs at the sewer plant until the end of 2012.

Under the tentative collective bargaining agreement, Solon would offer $10,000 retirement incentives to sewer plant workers eligible to retire this year. If enough senior employees retire.;

A union representative and city officials will sign the tentative agreement today, but it won't be official until City Council approves it. They are expected to vote at tonight's City Council meeting.

If the agreement is approved, the city can't lay off any more employees until the end of 2012.

The sewer plant has been struggling with decreasing revenue and increasing cost, resulting in a budget deficit of $340,000 to $400,000 this year. 

City Council raised sewer rates earlier this year, but told water reclamation officials they want to see cost savings.

The city had been exploring outsourcing several of the sewer plant's functions to make up that shortfall, and council to outsource sludge hauling to a private company.

But other functions at the plant handled by union workers were also on the table. This deal with the union will prevent that outsourcing, at least for now.

Check back to Solon Patch later for updates on this story.