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HomeMy Public PortalAbout03-02-2017 Minutes WSAC Regular Meeting MEETING MINUTES WATER SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, March 2, 2017 7:00 PM Town Barn 101 East Orange Street · P O Box 429 · Hillsborough, NC 27278 · 919 732 1270 MEMBERS PRESENT: Arthur Sprinczeles, Saru Salvi, Dan Barker, Scott Jennings, Jim Parker, Volker Mittendorf MEMBERS ABSENT: Aaron Butner, Frank Cohen STAFF PRESENT: Eric Peterson, Kenny Keel, Will Baker, Phil Cordeiro, Jenny Overman 1.1 Call Meeting to Order & Welcome to Guests Meeting called to order at 7:01 PM by Dan Barker. 1.2 Consideration of Additions/Changes to Agenda Dan Barker suggested moving Fathom to end of the meeting and to go into closed session. 1.3 Consideration and Discussion of Past Minutes Jim Parker moved to accept minutes accepted as written, seconded by Scott Jennings. All in favor. 2.1 Reports from Committee Assignments for Previous Months February 13 – Regular Board Meeting – Saru Salvi attended. Awards were given to staff. Discussion about OWASA’s problems. Kenny Keel said staff discussed “what went well, what didn’t,” and will produce paperwork next month. Saru Salvi talked to Julie Laws about confusion with customer on the water break issue, who, upon calling the after-hours WTP number, did not get a clear answer on the area that was affected. Training needs to happen in this area. February 23 – Joint Meeting with Orange County (Link Bldg.) – Arthur Sprinczeles substituted for Frank Cohen. There was discussion about concerns for water needs for the future. Otherwise, non- eventful. February 27 – Board Work Session – Jim Parker apologized for not attending. They were having a baby. Dan asked Eric Peterson for details. Eric said a developer came to the Board regarding possible development of an 80-acre parcel north of town. The Board said it was not interested in serving this property with water and sewer unless it could go commercial. 2.2 Engineering Status Report Highlights Kenny Keel gave highlights but didn’t have a report to send out yet. He talked about bid going out for cascade aeration project at WWTP – bids were much higher than anticipated. We will need about an extra $200,000 to complete the project. We will be hosting a tour at WWTP for ICMA. Phase 2 WFER will be getting started, hopefully, in June/July and had been delayed by DOT. TTHM results are back and are going down! Average is down by 1.5 PPB under 49ppb total for year. Started flushing yesterday beginning in the central zone first and then working our way out. Dan asked 101 East Orange Street • P. O. Box 429 • Hillsborough, NC 27278 • 919 732-1270 x85 about the water break, and Will gave the details. He called in the water break last Friday, but was concerned the water plant staff didn’t ask many questions. He said we would check out their procedures on this. Kenny mentioned we have a new operator. 3.1 Bill Assistance Program Update Saru Salvi sent an email with updates, and contacted Phil Cordeiro, who referred her to Kay Stagner at OCIM. They serviced 132 customers, with last year’s average payment being around $100. Saru said OCIM would like to have $10,000.00, but says this is not doable from our water system. Most customers are referred by DSS, and a single person can get up to $100 every 6 months. Dan asked if this is tax deductible, and Phil replied that it probably is not. IRS rules are vague, so it is not in the Town’s best interest to advertise it as so such. To increase participation in the program, we must first make sure all WSAC members are donating, and to publicize online donation. Scott suggested that having an online form would be more effective via the website. Phil says he would have to talk to Bob Hornik about the legality of publicizing the program on our website, and says he is okay with this plan as long as it’s okay with Bob. We will not publicize this program right now, but will post a notice on the water bills. Discussed upping the donation selection to $10.00. There was discussion about looking at doing a special mailing since most people don’t look at their bills. Dan suggesting asking Catherine Wright to do some promo for us. Saru suggested raising funds to do this mailing, and possibly seeking help from downtown business to get the word out. Volker related that there seems to be an issue with amount selection, i.e. he selected $5, but it only registered as $1. Phil said he would look into this problem. Jim Parker asked if OCIM is paying for deficit every year, and Saru confirmed that they are. They need $10,000 to meet the demand that is presented to them. Saru stated that if we can help meet the $10,000, this would allow OCIM to feed and do other good for the citizens. Saru will contact Catherine Wright via email to talk about promoting the program. Phil stated that billing puts out a semi-annual insert, but suggested they could put more info on the bill. 3.2 Budget Presentation for FY18 Kenny Keel talked about highlights of the utility division budget request. Engineering will get a new vehicle in 2019. The original WTP control panel was installed in 1972 will be replaced at $95,000. They will also add operator as well. The WFER will begin Phase 2 in FY18. Distribution will be getting disinfection monitors at tanks. Collections will replace our old tanker truck which is over 40 years old. Distribution & Collections will expand the Thompson facility, adding new offices, and will purchase a new dump truck to replace the current one, which is over 23 years old. There will also be an addition of a welding shop. Also for the WWTP, risk assessment for security and examine what cameras and other equipment might be needed. Phase 2 upgrade at the WWTP is also on the horizon. We will need to do a study and design for costly construction. Hopefully, we can delay this project for several years by reducing total nitrogen at the plant, which is the trigger for the upgrades. Volker Mittendorf asked for a timeframe, and Kenny replied that it could hopefully be 5-7 years, but may be able to extend it further. 3.3 Fathom Update Scott Jennings moved to go into closed session, seconded by Arthur Sprinczeles. All in favor. See separate CLOSED SESSION minutes. 101 East Orange Street • P. O. Box 429 • Hillsborough, NC 27278 • 919 732-1270 x85 4.1 Suggested Future Agenda Items for Upcoming Months  Saru will give an update on Utility Bill Assistance Program.  Eric will give an update on the Fathom issues. 4.2 Upcoming Board Assignments March 13 – Regular Board Meeting –Dan Barker will sub for Aaron Butner March 27 – Board Work Session – Volker Mittendorf (Saru Salvi, sub) 5.1 Adjourn Dan Barker moved to adjourn at 9:15 PM, seconded by Scott Jennings. All in favor.