09.d PW_Staff Report
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: 9/20/2022
For: Honorable Mayor and Council
From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works
Subject: Staff Report
Roads/ROW:
Public works staff have been completing ROW mowing which started at the beginning of
August. The mowing which started in August was only around sign posts and utility boxes and
was completed in all ROW in early September. By mowing around these objects prior to the
tractor flail mowing, which started at the beginning of September, has increased the efficiency
and improved the proximity of how close we are able to mow to these structures. By the time
of the meeting, we should have finished all of the NW corner of the City. This section is the area
North of Hwy 97 and West of Olinda Trail.
Sewers:
Operation of the City’s sewer system has continued this month with minimal issues. Tank
pumping to reduce sludge build up has been completed in the Bliss neighborhood. There were
28 tanks pumped total with two of them pumped prior to the scheduled date for other
purposes. This routine maintenance practice takes place in the tanks within the homeowner’s
property where most to all of the sludge is collected before entering the main sewer line
running to the drain fields. Upon completion of the project multiple tanks have root intrusion
and will be scheduled to be remove prior to the winter season. The root intrusion is coming in
between the tank and tank lid. The original installed gasket material is beginning to fail in these
tanks and patch work will be completed to fix the problem.
Bliss MPCA Permit Update:
Bolton and Menk has completed the Facility Evaluation Report for the Bliss system which was a
requirement in the MPCA permit. This report summarizes the effect of operational changes and
upgrades on the nitrogen treatment capacity of the current system. The data collected from
Ground Water well #4 shows an increase in nitrogen levels form 2013 to Spring 2021, after that
point levels declined but rebounded in the Spring of 2022.
To gauge the ability for the sand filters in the system to remove nitrogen from the wastewater a
study of influent and effluent wastewater was completed over a three-week period prior to this
report. The study showed the filters were able to remove between 21-56% of total nitrogen.
Although removal has been documented further analysis is required over a longer period of
time.
Passing the wastewater through the sand filters twice could potentially be a future treatment
option. Upgrades would need to made to complete this process but only after further study as
mentioned above.
The original Nitrogen Mitigation Plan is still the assumed remedy at this time for future
upgrades which includes a denitrification system or combined nitrification/denitrification
system.
Parks:
Following the Taco Daze event Public Works staff have begun the dismantling process of the
Community Center playground. As of this report the border wall and swing set had been
removed. Construction fence has been installed to control pedestrian traffic through the area.
Access to the tennis/pickleball courts will not be affected by the project. Construction schedule
for this fall includes the dismantle of the structures, haul away sand, strip sod within the
playground curb and sidewalk location. The previous mentioned items will all be completed by
Public Works staff. Concrete installation is scheduled for October which includes the sidewalk,
picnic table pad and playground curbing. In the Spring of 2023 the playground structure,
surfacing and rain garden will be installed. Final grading and plant establishment will follow all
structure and garden installation. The project although earlier is staying well within the current
budget of $225,000. Additional donations are still a viable option for additional amenities but
the intake of donations has been very slow to date. Currently only an additional $1,400 has
been offered for donation.
City Property off Lofton Court: 23250 Lofton Ct.
Last Spring and as of recent weeks potential tree clearing on City property has been witnessed.
The reason this is still a potential issue is that Pu blic Works is waiting for a survey of the parcel
to be completed. Following the survey an inspection of the cleared area will take place and
document the number of trees cleared in the area, if any on City property. The scheduled
survey is estimated to take place in four weeks. Further updates to Council will be reported
when available.