Water and Sewer 11/18/24

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Water and Sewer Minutes 11-18-24 147 KB

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Town of Richmond
Meeting of Water and Sewer Commission

Minutes of November 18, 2024

Members Present:, Lisa Miller, Jay Furr, Erin Farr, Bard Hill, Morgan Wolaver(remote)
 

Members Absent: None

Staff Present:  Superintendent Steve Cote; Town Manager Josh Arneson; Assistant to the Town Manager Duncan Wardwell; Town Clerk Linda Parent; Admin Assistant Linn Caroleo.

Others Present: The meeting was recorded for MMCTV Erin Wagg.

MMCTV Video: MMCTV Erin Wagg

https://youtu.be/EUbACg2Tc-E?si=xIVvDx5qXM9zNrtp

Call to Order:  6:00 pm
 

Welcome: Farr

Public Comment: None

Additions or Deletions to the Agenda:  None

Approval of Minutes, Warrants and Purchase Orders

Timestamp: 0:00

Minutes:

People who participated in discussion: Farr

Furr moved to approve the Minutes as written on 11/04/2024. Miller seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Wolaver & Hill abstain; Furr, Miller, Farr in favor. Motion approved.

Purchase Orders:

Furr moved to approve Purchase Order number 4753 to All Seasons Excavating for repair of the forced main sewer line under the Bridge St. bridge in an amount of $82,000. Hill seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Wolaver, Hill, Furr, Miller, Farr in favor. Motion approved.

People who participated in discussion: Farr, Cote, Furr, Miller

Cote commented that this bill was larger than after the July 2023 flood, but he was satisfied that the work was completed, albeit a bit less cosmetic than he would have liked. Furr commented that he mentioned to a friend in California about the damage to the sewer line under the bridge and that person suggested installing a baffle upstream from it [the bridge] that would stop a tree from coming past it. Miller wondered where the baffle would be installed. Cote stated that the water line is installed tight up under the bridge and has not been damaged in any of the floods, he would like to have the sewer line installed likewise.

Warrants:

Furr moved to approve the Warrants as presented. Miller seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Wolaver, Hill, Furr, Miller, Farr in favor. Motion approved.

Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present
 

Consideration of approval of a policy, and the amendment of a current policy, which would limit each structure to only one Town water meter
Timestamp: 0:08
 

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2024/11/4a1_Policy_Controlling_The_Number_Of_Water_Meters_Per_Structure_FINAL_DRAFT_11-15-24.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2024/11/4a2_Public_Private_System_Policy__v2__DRAFT_11-15-24.pdf

People who participated in discussion: Farr, Arneson, Cote, Wolaver, Hill

Arneson stated that some extra language was added after Gary Bressor’s question about a new construction that has two (or more) owners needs to have more than one meter. Wolaver pointed out that a duplex may have different laws governing them, as opposite to a Townhome or condo. Arneson reminded people that this policy would be for houses that get built moving forward. Farr wondered what happens if there is commercial property that also has residential properties in it. Cote stated that one curb stop and one meter is firm, but if someone is building a new construction they should be warned if they intend to sell off one-half of a duplex, they should install two curbstops. He feels Planning and Zoning should be notified and invited to a future Water and Sewer meeting before the policy is approved. This still needs more discussion.

Discussion of water service line letters to customers
Timestamp: 0:25

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2024/11/4b1_Water_Service_Line_Letter_-_Unknown_Material.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2024/11/4b2_Water_Service_Line_Letter_-_Galvanized.pdf

People who participated in discussion: Farr, Arneson, Cote, Hill

Cote stated from the service line inventory that was done there are 165 service lines, which are made of unknown material, because there were no records kept. A service line starts at the water main and goes to the curb stop, then there is a curbstop line that goes from there to the house, that whole thing is called a service line. We don't have documentation from the engineers that did the study for us stating that there are still not some lines that may have a lead pigtail, from the main to the curbstop. 95% of the service lines in Richmond are copper from the curb stop to the house, I am relatively sure that they went all the way to the main water line with copper at the time of installation. But because it does not say that in the documents, we don't know for sure. This is the reason for this letter going out to the 165 people stating there is the possibility that it could be a lead service line. Hill queried if Cote could remind everyone of when the first service lines were installed in Richmond, when the first water line came down off the reservoir, up the hill. To which Cote responded, “the Tilden line,” when that was he isn’t sure. All the lines on Tilden Ave have been upgraded. Cote continued that the EPA has informed him that houses that were upgraded to galvanized service lines are as bad off as residents who have lead pipe, and those people’s letters are a bit different. Railroad St and across from Stone Corral have galvanized pipes. Presently the EPA does not have a program to get financial help with these projects. Cote hopes that after they do the Tilden Ave, Cochran Rd and Huntington Rd projects, that about 80% of those 165 will go away. Hill mentioned that a statement about pig tails being inspected and replaced as needed should be added to the letters. Cote is weary of using the word “lead pipes” because people could react to that. Hill added that you have to assume in old houses in Vermont that there is lead, until proven otherwise.

Update on installation of water meters
Timestamp: 0:40

People who participated in discussion: Farr, Arneson, Cote

Cote said he is progressing and they are installing around 4-5 meters daily. They have completed over 150 installed presently.

Superintendent’s Report
Timestamp: 0:41

People who participated in discussion: Farr, Cote, Wolaver

Cote reported the programmable logic controller (PLC), from the septic receiving unit has been an issue. We have to manually run the machine when a septic truck is there, so somebody literally has to be there all day waiting for a septic truck. Dan Pratt said he would be done with it in about 10 days and be ready to install it, he had to rebuild the program from scratch. Once installed we'll have to run it to verify that it's working and hopefully that will rectify the issues.

Cote had a meeting with Hoyle Tanner, and a decision was made to not put the job out for bid to do the installation. We're going to manage the demolition and installation of the new one ourselves. We feel confident we will be able to do it. The influent pumps that Tanner had chosen, Cote has a big question about: The brand is Flight based in Sweden. We have waited up to 10 weeks for parts and pieces or replacements from them, because they come from Sweden. I have a big issue having to wait 10 weeks for parts and pieces for a pump that is as important as an influent pump, even the electric motors are proprietary to Flight. Hill said it seems strange that they don't have an office or rep in the country that has an inventory of parts. Cote answered that they do have a rep in the country, he is out of Massachusetts, but they do not keep parts and pieces in-house. Hill continued that the next hurdle may be tariffs under the next administration. Cote agreed and has asked Tanner for three other options.

The clarifier is not done. Cote was hoping to have it put back together last week. We have to epoxy in some bolts; we’ve got the right design, epoxy, and stuff for the project but we need time to go down in there and complete it.

The aeration tank is all clean, and it's getting ready to get filled back up for winter. Before we fill it up fully for winter, we're going to fill it up over the aerators, and we're going to see how many of the aerators are not working. We'll get some parts over the winter, so when we drain it down next spring, before we switch, we will replace all the aerators and any other parts that need replacing.

Cote continued, we're still monitoring our TKN, which is ammonia, the nitrogen that we discharge into the Winooski has been a little high. There is no set limit by the State for this, but we are high. We're only required to monitor it every quarter, so we've now gone to twice a month monitoring, and we're checking to see what problems might have occurred with the alkalinity in the aeration tank.

Discuss Items for Next Agenda:

Nitrogen levels

Adjournment

Hill moved to adjourn. Furr seconded.

Roll Call Vote:  Wolaver, Hill, Farr, Furr, Miller in favor. Motion approved.

Meeting adjourned at: 6:56 pm

Chat file from Zoom:  None