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HomeMy Public PortalAbout03-07-2019 Minutes WSAC Regular Meeting Utilities Analyst Julie Laws 105 E. Corbin St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278 919-296-9630 | julie.laws@hillsboroughnc.gov www.hillsboroughnc.gov | @HillsboroughGov Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MInutes | 1 of 3 Minutes Water and Sewer Advisory Committee 7 p.m. March 7, 2019 Town Hall Annex Board Meeting Room, 105 E. Corbin St. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Barker, Paul Cough, Barry Hupp, Daniel Rawlins, Saru Salvi, Arthur Sprinczeles, Jenn Sykes GUESTS: Commissioner Kathleen Ferguson STAFF: Utilities Director Marie Strandwitz, Public Information Officer Catherine Wright, Utilities Analyst Julie Laws 1. Call to order and welcome of guests Chair Dan Barker called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. 2. Introduction of new and potential members Barker and Utilities Analyst Julie Laws introduced new in-town member Paul Cough and potential out-of-town member Barry Weston. Weston’s appointment is to be considered at the next Hillsborough Board of Commissioners meeting on March 11, 2019. 3. Agenda changes and approval None. 4. Minutes review and approval: February 7, 2019, meeting Member Jenn Sykes moved to approve and accept the minutes, and Member Arthur Sprinczeles seconded. The minutes were approved by all. 5. Reports from Board of Commissioners meetings A. Meeting Feb. 11: Member Barry Hupp attended and reported there was discussion at the meeting about proposed fees for credit card use when making water and sewer payments. Hupp asked if he should speak up on utilities- related discussion at town board meetings, and Commissioner Kathleen Ferguson encouraged him to do so. B. Work session Feb. 25: Sprinczeles attended and shared that Cough’s appointment to the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee was approved at that meeting. 6. Updates A. Utilities status report highlights Utilities Director Marie Strandwitz reported that hydrant flushing has begun, with use of ammonia turned off at the plant during March. Joel Lashley, the town’s distribution and collections supervisor, had inquired how other systems handle flushing schedules. He learned that other systems flush only critical Water and Sewer Advisory Committee Agenda | 2 of 3 hydrants needed to properly flush the system. Flushing such hydrants only may allow the town to complete flushing early instead of taking all month. Member Saru Salvi asked about savings by handling flushing in this manner. Strandwitz stated savings is in time spent on the flushing project. The director also reported that a new generator is being installed at the raw water pump station and that a request for qualifications has been posted for a conceptual plan for the Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Division’s facility. There were questions about where the facility is located, and Barker suggested it may be time for a tour for new committee members. It was noted that March 30 is the Hillsborough Citizens Academy tour date for the utilities system and that committee members may be welcome to tag along on that tour. Alternatively, they could do a separate tour with the utilities director. Strandwitz will check with Assistant to the Town Manager Jen Della Valle to see if there is room on the Citizens Academy tour. Cough asked for mapping of the utilities system and was told there is nothing available to the public but staff can share maps with him if he would like. There was discussion on the new collections system modeling request for qualifications. Sprinczeles and Barker suggested checking the inflow at the Wastewater Treatment Plant during storms to see how much water is getting into the system and how this affects inflow and infiltration. B. Rate study discussion Strandwitz reported that she, Financial Services Director Daphna Schwartz, and the assistant to the town manager are working on completing the data for the rate model. They plan to bring this information to the May meeting. Della Valle is working on the Fiscal Year 2020 budget proposal and should be able to provide the amount of the proposed rate increase. Under consideration is a lower increase over a longer period of time. Barker stated that the rate modeling is needed to make rates more equitable. Member Daniel Rawlings asked if the model is a good one to apply to Hillsborough. He asked if tweaks would be needed. Barker explained to new members that a model from Raftelis Financial Consulting had been used in the past and briefly brought members up to speed with regard to previous discussions in this area. 7. Recurring items A. Review of recurring items list The committee moved some recurring meeting items to more appropriate months, depending on budget dates and balanced scorecard publication. It was decided to delete other items that are no longer relevant to the committee. B. Topics for press Public Information Officer Catherine Wright noted that providing information on the utilities system due to the rates is a big focus of the Public Information Office this year, as well as providing information on the transition to an in-house billing system. When asked, she said information on required actions will be provided in the March and April bills. There was discussion about promoting the Water Assistance Program and discussion about topics the committee would like to see communicated to the public, including that the utilities system is a break- even service; that flushable wipes and fats, oil and grease do costly damage; and that the system’s high standards and rates mean avoidance of failing infrastructure, sewer spills and drought effects. Strandwitz suggested sharing with customers a state report that showcases some of the worst cases. Ferguson stated that 20 percent of small water and sewer systems in North Carolina are financially insolvent and that the state could take these over and consolidate them with other systems. Removing local control would impact customer service, service calls, repairs, installations, standards, and quality control. Sykes said this information should be shared so customers understand why the town needs to raise rates. Water and Sewer Advisory Committee Agenda | 3 of 3 It was noted that public information should be provided on sewer and storm drain prohibitions and related fines. 8. Future agenda items • Water Assistance Fund promotion and publicity • Interim Water/Sewer Fund Balance and Projection • Water Treatment Plant utilization and improvements for the year • Wastewater Treatment Plant utilization and improvements for the year 9. Upcoming assignments for Board of Commissioners meetings • Meeting March 11: Jenn Sykes (substitute, Paul Cough) • Work session March 25: Saru Salvi (substitute, Barry Hupp) 10. Adjournment Salvi moved to adjourn at 8:55 p.m., seconded by Paul Hupp.