HomeMy Public PortalAbout20120809InfraMinutes.pdfINFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE MINUTES
CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND
August 9, 2012
5:00 P.M.
ATTENDEES: Paul Wolff, Diane Schleicher, John Giordano, Barry Brown, Joe Wilson,
Steve Wohlfeil, George Reese and Tom Groover.
Approve the minutes of the previous meetings – Paul Wolff called the meeting to order;
asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the last meeting; Tom Groover motioned
to approve; Barry Brown seconded.
New Business:
I. A. Alternative Water Source - HGBD
a. Lower Floridian Well – Steve Wohlfeil (HGBD) states that the EPD will not
approve anymore Lower Floridian Wells in the Red Zone. Paul Wolff asked
why? Steve states that the EPD is worried about the effect it would have on
the upper Floridian and the concern that it could continue to aggravate the
situation with the salt water intrusion. It would be a very steep, uphill climb at
this point.
i. Possible Location of Well – Basically the steps are these: You would
develop a work program through the USGS, and that is reviewed by
the EPD. All the way through this process, in order for you to have a
chance at a successful program, you would need to be working in
“lock step” with EPD. The work program establishes a protocol, by
which you develop your test well. So, you get the work program
developed, you send it in to EPD, they review it; if they approve it,
then you get authorization to put in a test well. So you develop plans
and specifications for a test well, which really consists of two wells;
one well is to the lower Floridian; the other is for the upper Floridian
next to it. So, as you develop the lower Floridian well, you determine
what the impact is on the upper Floridian, at that location. There is a
one time expense to drill and case the well; the equipment, you will
have to buy. USGS monitors the development of the lower Floridian
well, for the effect it has on the upper Floridian, the quality of the
water, the quantity of the water, all those things. That goes into a
detailed analysis; that goes to EPD; they review that. If they’re
satisfied that you have a valid program then they will determine, based
on the testing that you have done, the impact on the upper Floridian.
Then they will consider a 1,000,000 gallon a day withdrawal from the
lower Floridian, but you’ve got to reduce your upper Floridian, by
400,000. So that’s a net increase of 600,000.
ii. Water Quality
iii. Treatment Options
iv. Potential Overall Cost of Project – Steve states that the City of Pooler
will have in excess of $1,000,000 invested by the time they get this
production well, in production. Another thing you should know is,
from the time we started on this program, to the point we are now with
Pooler, was 18 months; so 18 months and $500,000 to get to the point
where basically they say, you can come to the table and roll the dice.
I would suggest that you sit down with EPD and just have a frank
discussion; find out what your chances are.
Paul Wolff suggests that we work up the options with a cost benefit
analysis for what kind of volume we think we can get for X amount of
dollars; also what the long term yield would be; then go to the EPD
with these numbers.
b. Other Options – Steve states that one option would be to get a reverse osmosis
system put in and either draw water from the surface water, and purify that, or
go to a deeper aquifer, which is another big challenge. There’s also the City of
Savannah, with the possibility of getting some water from them.
There’s also the possibility that the EPD, in recognition of the fact that you’re
in a unique situation here, may let you get a larger, upper Floridian
withdrawal permit. That would be the best thing to try first.
Paul Wolff states that the Mayor has already talked to the EPD about that, and
was turned down. That’s why I thought the Lower Floridian was our best
option.
Old Business:
I. HISTORIC BUTLER AVENUE TE GRANT - HGBD
A. Project Status Update
a. Review Revised Concept Plan – Steve Wohlfeil states that the Concept
Plan has been done; the Construction Plans are in; we got review
comments from Moreland Altobelli (GDOT) on Tuesday; we expect to
respond to those next week; then we’ll send them back for review; that
should take around 2-3 weeks; once we get the approval we will
request authorization to bid.
b. Review Current Project Schedule – Paul Wolff asked if we’re still on
schedule for the middle of October. Steve states, I would think that’s
not an unreasonable time to start but it all depends on how quickly
DOT responds when they get the stuff.
III. HISTORIC RAILS TO TRAILS TE GRANT
A. Project Status Update – Thomas & Hutton
a. Update Committee Regarding Georgia Power’s Involvement in
Project. – John Giordano (Thomas & Hutton) states we met with
Georgia Power and they are not willing to participate with any money.
When we had the meeting, Georgia Power’s first, preferred option was
an aggregate, some sort of gravel trail; their second best option was
doing the 2 concrete strips; at that point we said we would look at the
costs and before we had a chance to do anything, we got the letter
from them stating they would not be able to help us out with any
money.
Paul Wolff asked what our minimum width is now. John responds, to
do your scope, we’re looking at an 8ft. wide trail; in the email that
Georgia sent back, they requested that if we did not go with the
aggregate trail that we look at doing a 4-6 footer so they could straddle
it; that’s probably not going to get approved. Ashco trail guide lines
show that you can do an off-road, 6 ft., 2 directional trail; I’ve yet to
see that get approved through GDOT. GDOT is sticking pretty hard to,
if you want to call it a “multi use”, then you have to go with 10ft.; if
you go less than that, you’re just calling it a “pathway”; it could be
used however. What Doyle and I are still recommending is, probably
sticking with the 8 ft. wide trail; that gives you adequate passing
distance with 2-way traffic. We looked at some of the costs; we looked
at doing granite crusher run or a 57 stone, then coming back with
granite fines over the top and compacting that in there, making it a
more solid, stable surface.
Diane Schleicher expressed concern over a skinny tire bike being able
to ride on that type of surface. She states that she has only seen 1 bike
path in Arcadia, Maine, where this type of surface has been successful.
Paul asked why we couldn’t replicate that. John responds that he is
looking into that. This type of surface would be your most cost
effective option. With the granite, we’re looking at about $18-20 per
linear foot; with asphalt you’re looking at $19-22 per foot. The big
drawback with doing the asphalt is going to be permitting through
EPD because it’s not pervious.
At this point I can wait to hear back from the gentleman up at Arcadia
National Park and see if I can get some numbers; I can also look at the
cost of pervious asphalt, if you would like. Diane asked John to make
sure this guy looks at the path at Eagle Lake; the others aren’t as
smooth.
b. Review Current Concept Plan – John states that we have had our
environmentalist consultant come out; he’s flagged the wetlands;
we’ve drafted a letter that Diane has signed; we sent it out to residents
along the route. We’re actually in the process of coming out and
locating everything; doing our topographic survey at this time.
I’ve sent Diane a draft copy of the Concept Report for you to read
through.
IV. 14th Street Parking Lot Reconfiguration Update – Joe Wilson
A. Joe Wilson states that the contractor had quoted $35,000 but he’s going to
come in and do it all for $29,000. What I’ve done on 15th St. has picked up 28
spaces; on the Strand, in front of the Hotel, we’ll pick up 35 spaces; he’s
going to start on September 10th. That parking lot will be closed down from
Sept. 10th through about the 15th. What I’m going to do about a week before
that, is go in and move those 6 palm trees out; they will be taken down to 14th
St., where we’ve had some die off, and replace them there. We’ll also need to
move the Pay-and-display machine, back over near the Hotel.
The ones on 15th St., we just finished today; we put signs up; they will be
available this weekend.
V. Substation Parking Area Update – Joe Wilson
Joe Wilson states he added 19 spaces over at the Substation. That’s 82 total,
give or take 1 or 2. I will start landscaping around the substation next week.
With no further business to discuss, Paul Wolff asked for a motion to adjourn. Tom
Groover motioned to adjourn; Barry Brown seconded.
A quorum of city council members may be present which would constitute a meeting.
Respectfully submitted by Karen Reese on 09/05/2012