3. draft minutes of the 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 111 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
July 12, 2018
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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 101h 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,