UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
SEPTEMBER 6, 2016
Mayor Cerino called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Council members Linda Kuiper, Samuel T. Shoge and Mauritz Stetson, Bob Sipes, Utilities Director, Jennifer Mulligan, Town Clerk, and guests.
Mayor Cerino asked if there were any additions or corrections to the Utilities Commission meeting minutes of August 1, 2016. Mr. Stetson moved to approve the minutes as presented, was seconded by Ms. Kuiper and carried unanimously.
Mayor Cerino stated that operating funds on hand is $1,092,158.70 and an additional $521,000.00 was set aside in capital funds for a total of $1,613,158.70.
Mayor Cerino asked for a motion to pay the bills. Mr. Stetson moved to pay the bills as submitted, was seconded by Mr. Shoge and carried unanimously.
Mr. Sipes stated that one of the larger items in the bills was for the annual supply of phosphate for $5,000.00. He said that UV bulbs for disinfection at the Wastewater Plant cost about $9,000.00, only part of which was included the current invoices.
Mr. Sipes stated that both soda ash pumps at the Wastewater Treatment Plant were going bad at the same time and each pump cost $4,500.00. He said that he placed orders for replacements and will use the existing pumps for spare parts.
Mr. Sipes stated that the line at the new Sultana building was finished and the building is fully occupied.
Mr. Sipes stated that there had been a sanitary sewer overflow at Washington Park the week before. He said that the day before a pump had been replaced at that location and it appears as though a 2” galvanized steel pipe (where the pump rests) was bent and stopped the impeller while in motion causing a torque. He said that this was a small leak with no run off to waters of the State and contained in a localized area. A hauler was called in to collect the standing water and the area was lyme stabilized. MDE was notified as well as the Kent County Health Department, neither of which called for further action.
Mr. Sipes stated that PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) keep portions of the Wastewater Treatment Plan operating and there have been malfunctions. He said that he ordered an analog input card costing $2,500.00 to fix one of the PLCs. A second PLC needed work on the filters and the analog card. Mr. Sipes stated that he thought by restarting and reloading the programs there would be no recurrence of any malfunction.
There being no further business, Mr. Stetson moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:38 p.m. was seconded by Mr. Shoge and carried unanimously.
Submitted by: Approved by:
Jennifer Mulligan Chris Cerino
Town Clerk Mayor