Water and Sewer 3/3/25

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Water and Sewer Minutes 03-03-25 136 KB

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Town of Richmond

Special Meeting of Water and Sewer Commission

Minutes of March 3, 2025

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

Members Absent: None

Staff Present: Superintendent Steve Cote; Town Manager Josh Arneson, Assistant to the Town Manager Duncan Wardwell, Finance Director Connie Bona.

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

MMCTV Video: MMCTV Erin Wagg

https://youtu.be/UjfbWZIINnk?si=coVm7wnUnhsaqOMX

Call to Order: 6:00 pm

Welcome: Wolaver

Public Comment:  Furr wanted to remind people we could have a flooding situation this week with temperatures reaching 50F.

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 02/17/2024. Miller seconded.

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

Purchase Orders: None

Warrants:

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

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

Reminder of Special Water and Sewer Meeting on Monday, March 10, 2025

Timestamp: 0:03

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

Arneson mentioned that the Auditors will be present at this meeting. The meeting will start at 6 p.m. and is expected to last 2 hours. Hill said that if we know how much we’ve spent and what we want, we need a clearer explanation of how much money we have presently. Furr suggested using AI to put together a report for the Town. Farr wants more explanation about taxes and how we do the budget in more specific terms. Arneson agreed that using AI to put together a report could be useful.

Consideration of recommending that the Selectboard approve submitting the Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan application for planning for flood resiliency of the wastewater pump station and force main
Timestamp: 0:13

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2025/02/4b_Draft_CWSRF_Funding_Application_-_Bridge_Street_PS_Step_I__Feb_25__2025_FINAL_DRAFT.pdf

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

Cote said this is a loan for the engineers to get started on a design. He described that a new pump station should be moved closer to the Round Church, up the hill from where it is now. Farr asked how close does it have to be to the current pump station. Cote said the sewer line runs right down the middle of Bridge Street. The engineers want the pump station up from where it currently is located. Hill wants to know what the easements are on the property around or near the Round Church. Furr wants more information about where it would go and what it would look like. Arneson said a decision does not have to be made now, this is only for the loan to get the engineers going.

Furr moved to recommend to the Selectboard that they approve the submittal of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan application for planning for flood resiliency of the Wastewater pump station and force main. Farr seconded.

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

Discussion of Water Resources Department Logo public outreach

Timestamp: 22:00

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

Cote intended to make a sandwich board with both logos and bring it to the Town meeting, but he didn’t get that far. Hill thinks the average voter is not a Water and Sewer customer. Farr wondered if Cote already has a company to print shirts. Cote wants to get hats, so everyone is wearing the same hat. Arneson cautioned about doing this as a rebranding that may cost a lot of money. Furr said there may be people who want to buy shirts. Cote said he has money in his budget for uniforms. He will put together a sandwich board for the annual meeting.

Update on installation of water meters

Timestamp: 0:32

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Cote, Farr

Cote said there are 18 addresses where he cannot get ahold of people at those addresses to schedule installation of new water meters. He says the system is working great, he has the system flag anyone using more than 500 gallons per day. Leaky toilets are the most common culprit for elevated water consumption. Tax day, April 15, is his goal for having close to all meters installed. He said the meters are allowing him to monitor daily water usage. Farr suggested there be a demo at the annual meeting of the software for people to keep track of their own water use.

Superintendents Report

Timestamp: 0:45

People who participated in discussion: Cote, Arneson, Farr

Cote explained that the plant is running great. He mentioned that he was notified by Casella that by 1 July, 2025 the biosolids at the Wastewater plant must be tested for PFAS. If the biosolids test higher than NY, which is where the biosolids go, then he has to find a new alternative. He received the test kit today and will run a test next time he is pressing. Arneson asked whether it would be the grasslands or landfill if the biosolids test too high. Cote replied that PFAS numbers usually go up if he is taking in a lot of septage. PFAS doesn’t go away or dissolve and has to be sent to a place that processes it. Farr said PFAS is this generation’s asbestos.

Discuss Items for Next Agenda:

Water numbers

Budget

Adjournment

Farr moved to adjourn. Miller seconded.

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

Meeting adjourned at: 6:56 pm

Chat file from Zoom:  None