Woes continue at the Round Mountain Water and Sanitation District.

The Tribune has learned former RMW manager Josh Cichocki is considering suing the RMW district for breach of contract.

RMW president pro-tem Chris Haga confirmed earlier this week that he has received a letter from Cichocki’s attorney stating a lawsuit is pending.

The letter, said Haga, has been turned over to RMW’s attorney, Greg Watkins, for his review and response.

Haga said Watkins had been engaged in Cichocki’s job performance review six month’s prior to his firing.

Cichocki was hired as the RMW manager and operator in responsible charge in December 2007. He was fired due to poor job performance a year later.

When he was hired, Cichocki had a two-year contract with the district. Cichocki is claiming that contract was breached.

Haga confirmed that no monthly reports regarding the discharge of treated water at RMW’s sewer treatment plant were submitted to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in 2008 as required by state regulations.

The job of submitting those reports falls to the district’s ORC, who in 2008 was Cichocki.

Current interim ORC Wayne Jones is now in the process of submitting the 12 reports for 2008. He is also keeping up with the 2009 reports, said Haga.

Once sewer water is treated at the plant located north of Westcliffe, it is discharged into the leach field and onto land Native Woods of Westcliffe uses to grow trees.

Haga said all fresh water reports for 2008 were completed and submitted to the health department as required. He also said RMW’s fresh water quality exceeds state standards.

The RMW board of directors will hold a special meeting on Friday, Jan. 30, beginning at 5 p.m. On the agenda is the restructure of staff and discussion regarding the hiring of a new manager.

In the meantime, as president of the board, Haga serves as ad hoc manager.

The RMW district has been plagued with turmoil since the retiring of longtime manager Bud Piquette in the fall of 2007. Since then, there has been office and maintenance staff turnover and many board members have resigned for various reasons.

In addition to Haga, current board members are Darrell Niles, John Potts and John Johnston. A vacancy on the board will likely be filled on Feb. 5. Wishing to be appointed to the RMW board are Jerry Lacy, Bob Gilchrist and Sonny Dowdy.

– Nora Drenner