07-12-18 meetingCity of Scandia
Wastewater Advisory Committee
Wednesday, July 12, 2018 - 5:30 P.M.
A meeting of the Scandia Wastewater Advisory Committee was held on the above date. The meeting was called to order by Peter Nora at 5:35 p.m. In attendance were: Council member Chris
Ness and Committee members Peter Nora, Dan Cartier, Doran O’Brien, Patrick Kelley, and Craig Pittman. Staff present were Administrator Neil Soltis, Public Works Director Adam Hawkinson
and Treasurer Colleen Firkus. Council member Jim Schneider was absent.
Approval of Agenda – A motion to approve the agenda made by Cartier and seconded by Kelley. Vote: 5-0 motion carried.
Approval of Minutes – A motion to approve the minutes of the October 19, 2017 meeting was made by Pittman and seconded by O’Brien. Vote: 5-0 motion carried.
Sewer System Operations and Maintenance Update
New sewer covers and castings were installed to the Uptown system as part of the repaving of Oakhill by the County. Repairs were made to the blower under warranty and an aerator pump
was replaced at a lower cost than budgeted.
Public Works Director Hawkinson reported on significant increase in flow at both the AE and Bliss systems after the April snowstorm. Graphs provided that show a spike April 25 in AE
from a 3500 average to 7140, and for Bliss from a 7000 average to 14,853. The committee discussed the causes of Inflow and infiltration (I&I), previous steps taken, and what steps
could be taken to minimize it.
Hawkinson presented information on flow rates for 2015, 2017 and 1st half of 2018 were presented (2016 data was sporadic so not included). Even with increased I&I from the June 2017
storms, the systems are being used below design capacity. If I&I were able to be eliminated, the AE system could add 10 more homes and Bliss 15 more homes. Hawkinson noted that Bolton
& Menk has provided a quote of approximately $9,800 to coordinate contacting homeowners and inspections to look for downspouts and sump pumps illegally connected to the system. The
city attempted to do this a few years ago, but there was not have enough staff for such an investigation was an issue. Hawkinson also pointed out any inspections would need to be done
by someone qualified to identify these kinds of plumbing issues.
Hawkinson also reported that a quote was received to upgrade Lift Stations 1 & 2 to a SCADA system to allow remote meter readings was $75,000 for both stations. The Capital Improvement
Plan has earmarked $62,000 for each station. The remote meter readings will reduce time spent by employees to read the pumps 2 times per week will allow allocation of their time to
other tasks.
Hawkinson reported that with the new homes being added to AE, the system is getting close to the targeted capacity with I&I occurring. Soltis commented that the Carnelian Marine Watershed
has recommended that the City look at connecting houses on the south end of the
lake (182nd Street) to the AE system. There is a $200,000 placeholder in the Capital Improvement Plan for AE drain field expansion in 2022, but nothing is currently planned. When the
CIP is revisited next, year this expanding AE can be looked at but finding funding to address the nitrate issue in the Bliss system will be a bigger issue.
Uptown Sewer System - 2019 budget
Soltis reported that the end of year cash balance for the Uptown fund is projected to be $11,000 due to this savings on the blower replacement and the 2018 rate increase which greater
than the budgeted projection of $3,700. In the CIP replacement of all of the pumps is provided for in 2022 based on an expected 10 year life and there would be a shortage of money in
that year. The Committee discussed providing funding to purchase a pump for inventory in case of premature failure. The cost of a pump will be added to the 2019 budget request so the
City can keep a pump on hand in case of a pump failure.
201 Sewer System – 2019 Budget
The CIP has $62,000 allocated for the replacement of two panel in the Bliss which is less than a recent quote for the panel replacement of $75,000. The 2019 budget also provide funding
for Bolton & Menk to assist with the developing a plan to deal with the nitrate issue which must be submitted to the MPCA six months prior to the city’s permit renewal in March 2020.
The committee asked if funding could be found to assist with these expenditures. Soltis indicated not with control panels, but possibly with the nitrate issue. The budget also includes
funding for Bolton & Menk to assist with the I&I issue. Hawkinson noted that adding remote reading to the panels will save $6,000 to $7,000 in the sewer budget on employee time reading
meters 2 to 3 days per week. This savings reduces the budget, will help build up reserves in the sewer fund and employee time can then be allocated to other public works tasks.
Pittman asked if the MPCA will be reviewing the whole system and checking for sump pumps. Soltis will check back to the previous renewal to see what MPCA required.
Other Discussion
Soltis noted that the Economic Development Authority is in the process of applying for a grant to fund a study on the feasibility and cost to serving the industrial and village mixed
use areas east of Olinda with a community septic system and that the information could provide useful in looking at options to address the 201 System’s nitrate problem.
Future Meeting Dates: Possible next meeting date October 10th with budget updates. Ness requested a later time of 6:30.
A motion to adjourn was made by Cartier and seconded by Ness. Vote: 6-0. Motion Carried.
Respectfully submitted,