Water and Sewer 3/17/25

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Water and Sewer Minutes 03-17-25 137 KB

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Town of Richmond

Special Meeting of Water and Sewer Commission

Minutes of March 17, 2025

Members Present: Bard Hill, Jay Furr, Morgan Wolaver

Members Absent: Erin Farr

Staff Present: Town Manager Josh Arneson, Assistant to Town Manager Duncan Wardwell, Town Clerk Linda Parent, Superintendent Steve Cote.

Others Present: The meeting was recorded for MMCTV Erin Wagg
https://youtu.be/ah8D1Y-MCbU?si=Ez5wiNBBpXIQrdd8

MMCTV Video: MMCTV Erin Wagg

Call to Order: 6:00 pm

Welcome: Wolaver

Public Comment: Hill thanked staff and contractors for fixing the recent water main break on Tilden Ave. in a timely manner.

Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: None

Approval of Minutes, Warrants and Purchase Orders

Timestamp: 0:01

Minutes:

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver

Hill moved to approve the Minutes as written on 03/03/2024. Furr seconded.

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

Hill moved to approve the Minutes as written on 03/10/2024. Furr seconded.

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

Purchase Orders:

Furr moved to approve Purchase Order number 5232 to Hoyle Tanner and Associates Inc. for the flood mitigation study of the pump station and force main in the amount of $78,508.00. Hill seconded.

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

Hill moved to approve Purchase Order number 4919 to M and T Bank / Wilmington Trust for the Wastewater Planning Loan in the amount of $12,021.12. Furr seconded.

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

Warrants:

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

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

Review of water data for February 2025

Timestamp: 0:05

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2025/03/4a_Monthly_Water_Report_for_February_2025.pdf

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Cote, Arneson

Cote explained that the fluoride has been a bit high, but he was notified by the State that they no longer have to test the fluoride every week and can switch to twice a month. He added that this saves $40 per month and two trips to Williston. The State acknowledged that the plant is doing a good job. Arneson concurred that this was good news coming from the State. The chlorine numbers have still been high, but after the water main break they adjusted the chlorine and it’s been measuring correctly. Cote continued that the pump they currently have is an older LMI diaphragm pump, which they are having trouble with. There are newer pumps that perform better and he has been considering a peristaltic pump. The engineers are encouraging the switch to a peristaltic pump, so Cote is looking into what such a pump would cost and what size he would need. Peristaltic pumps send out specified, measured amounts of chlorine into the system. Cote lamented over the amount of flushable wipes that make it to the grit screen.
 

Consideration of signing the pledge to support USDA - Rural Development's Water and Environmental Programs
Timestamp: 0:22

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2025/03/4b_USDA_-_Rural_Development_s_Water_and_Environmental_Programs.pdf

People who participated in discussion: Arneson, Wolaver

Arneson described that this is a USDA program with DWSRF funding that the Town has gotten in the past, he feels this is a good thing to sign and support. Wolaver said he signed it this morning.

Hill moved to approve signing the pledge to support USDA - Rural Development's Water and Environmental Programs. Furr seconded.

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

Update on installation of water meters
Timestamp: 0:26

People who participated in discussion: Cote, Hill

Cote stated that 309 meters are installed out of 327, by the end of March all residential meters should be done. He now knows everyone’s service line and he is getting better at knowing how much water people use. He really loves the new system and thinks it will be better for the residents of Richmond. Hill wanted to know if the closing of Big Spruce and Hatchet would be noticeable on water usage. Cote has never seen those two locations as being high users so he isn’t worried.

Superintendents Report

Timestamp: 0:36

People who participated in discussion: Cote, Hill, Furr

Cote feels that in the future the two water pumps, the well pump and the clear well, need to be evaluated. He cannot find any evidence that those two pumps have been evaluated since 1997. The control panel in the well house is a mess, so he has asked Dan Pratt to give an estimate for a new wire panel. Hill feels this ballpark estimate needs to be added to the new budget. Furr said make sure to document everything.

The distribution screw will cost $4,500. The old one lasted for 20 years. He is draining the clarifier this week to change the chain and put grease on the bearings. Cote continued, as soon as that is done, he wants to drain the big aeration tank down to the top of the diffusers to fix the ones that need to be fixed. Then they will switch tanks. He thinks using two tanks helps with the bacteria and sludge. Cote and Snow are looking at microorganisms through a microscope and are excited about new sludge growth.

Cote ended with explaining why there was a boil water notice issued, which was a water main break on Tilden Ave, which was a loss of pressure when they were trying to shut the water off.

Discuss Items for Next Agenda:

Budget rates for future projects

Total price for the upgrade

Arneson thinks the next meeting should start at 5:30p to allow time for a budget discussion

Adjournment

Hill moved to adjourn. Furr seconded.

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

Meeting adjourned at: 6:56 pm

Chat file from Zoom: None