UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2014
Mayor Cerino called the meeting to order at 7:37 p.m. In attendance were Council members Liz Gross, Linda Kuiper, Samuel T. Shoge and Mauritz Stetson, Robert Sipes, Utilities Manager, Jennifer Mulligan, Town Clerk, and guests.
Mayor Cerino asked if there were any additions or corrections to the Utilities Commission meeting minutes of July 21, 2014. Mr. Stetson moved to approve the minutes as submitted, was seconded by Ms. Gross and carried unanimously.
Mayor Cerino stated that cash on hand and in banks was $989,926.11 and capital funds in the amount of $151,400.00.
Mayor Cerino asked for a motion to pay the bills. Mr. Stetson moved to pay the bills as submitted, was seconded by Ms. Gross and carried unanimously.
Mr. Sipes stated that the Ivey-Sol injections took place at the Hospital, but not as planned. He said that there was an injection on Tuesday, July 5th with a withdrawal on Wednesday. There was an additional injection on Thursday with a withdrawal on Friday, with a repeating pattern until Tuesday, July 12th. He said that lab reports were not back yet, but there was not a significant amount of oil retrieved in the process. He said that a report would be available by the end of October, but he was hoping for raw results soon. Mr. Sipes stated that MDE was on site during the tests.
Mr. Sipes stated that total nitrogen numbers were high at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, although the Town was not in violation with MDE. Mr. Stetson asked if the numbers had anything to do with all of the rain and the runoff. Mr. Sipes stated that the weather did play a role in the figures, noting that the plant was doing well overall.
Mr. Sipes stated that the Utilities Department ordered ethanol and aluminum chloride that would show as a large expenditure in the bills next month.
Mr. Sipes stated that there were repairs made on Cedar Street due to the heavy rain. He said that it was a record rainfall with 6” of rain in a 3 to 4 hour timeframe. He said that over 2-million gallons of water was taken into the plant the night of the storm.
Ms. Kuiper asked if the bill for Roto-Rooter was due to the storm. Mr. Sipes stated that the Roto-Rooter bill was for work on Water Street where a camera was run to insure that there was not a collapsed sewer pipe. He said the Town did not have the right size jet or camera to view the line.
Mr. Shoge asked how the step-pools worked during the heavy rain. Ms. Kuiper stated that the step-pools have been full since they were built. Mr. Sipes stated that the entire LaMotte area would flood when a heavy rain came which would continue for 3 to 4 days. He said that he thought the project was working, but the only way to test the effectiveness is to sample during an event. He said that he would establish a baseline before the next weather event.
Mr. Shoge asked if there were any other identifiable places where there could be another step pool. Mr. Sipes stated that the upper section of Radcliffe would be a nice place before it turned into a full-blown stream. He added that Mr. Ingersoll and Mr. de Mooy would know more about the step pools than he did.
Ms. Gross stated that she had a phone call from a resident inquiring as to who was responsible for flushing fire hydrants and if hydrants were being flushed Town. Mr. Sipes stated that fire hydrants are flushed as needed. He said that if a resident reports discolored water he will flush the nearby hydrant(s) and if the fire company was going to use a hydrant the Utilities Department would flush it first. Mr. Sipes stated that the fire hydrants were on the domestic water distribution system.
There being no further business, Mr. Stetson moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m., was seconded by Ms. Kuiper and carried unanimously.
Submitted by: Approved by:
Jennifer Mulligan Chris Cerino
Town Clerk Mayor