The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMN-SJC-031225 SJCSJC MEETING March 12, 2025 SJC Board members A Robert Cantelmo, City of Ithaca P Rod Howe, Town of Ithaca A Clyde Lederman, City of Ithaca A Rob Rosen, Town of Ithaca P Scott Reynolds, City of Ithaca P Ray Burger, Town of Dryden A Dave Warden, City of Ithaca P Jason Leifer, Town of Dryden P Rich DePaolo, Town of Ithaca P = Present, PZ = Present via zoom, E = Excused Staff P Wendy Cole, City of Ithaca P Peter Wernsdorfer, Camden Group P Scott Gibson, City of Ithaca P Joe Slater, Town of Ithaca A Mike Thorne, City of Ithaca P David O’Shea, Town of Ithaca P Ken Scherrieble, Camden Group PZ Kelly VanRiper, City of Ithaca P Chris Kianka , Lectre P = Present, PZ = Present via zoom, PP = Present via phone, A= Absent Meeting called to order at 1:00 PM. • Agenda Review and Approval of Minutes • Agenda review – No updates • Approval of January 8, 2025, February 12, 2025, minutes, unable to approve the minutes, because we didn’t have a quorum. • Financial Report - Wendy Cole • See attached for the Financial Report as of 01/08/2025. - I found the mistake from last month’s report and correction was made. - Receivables are low because we haven’t received payments from all our partners, which makes the cash flow tight. We have already addressed the payments. - I want to make the committee aware that the Sludge charge in January was $62,000.00. - Peter stated that the normal charge is around $40,000.00 monthly and that they were aware that January was going to be higher than normal. - Do we have a date as to when the 2024 books will be closed, and Wendy doesn’t have a date at this time. - Wendy also let the committee know that the debt services are billed once a year at the end of the year, and that it could be investigated billed at a different time during the year. • Operations and Engineering Report - Peter Wernsdorfer • Operations o Regulatory Compliance – Effluent quality is very good. No discussion o Personnel – The interviewee declined for a better offer. Additionally, another Operator Trainee has given notice for the same reason. Peter that the interviewee, declined the position. We lost another Operator Trainee to a better offer in Binghamton. o Blowers – This remains unresolved, but we are in contact with Howden’s technician and trying to arrange a site visit. Peter has been working with Howden. They want to charge an additional $55,000 on top of what we have already spent. Peter sent a notice about pursuing legal action that Scott Gibson agreed to. We need to speak with a lawyer the is qualified to handle warranties litigation. Peter doesn’t want to go back and speak with Howden until we have been advised to take the best action. Rich asked if they needed to go to the executive session to discuss. It was decided not to go into executive session at that time. We did not renew the maintenance contract with Howden. They have not honored the warranties. All information and numbers are collected for the SJC to see and review. o Digesters – Operating normally. Gas quality is very good No discussion o Micro Turbines – Operating normally. No Discussion o ActiFlo (Tertiary Treatment) – This system removes Phosphorus from our effluent. It will likely be replaced in the upcoming capital improvements/upgrades. We are making some electrical repairs and will restore it to operational status. o Are likely to be replaced with the next Capital Project. Currently there are some electrical repairs being made. o It has been cleaned and will be back online through the summer. o Clarifiers – As soon as the weather breaks, repair will be made. No discussion o Boiler Replacement – This project is complete. Once the contractor is demobilized, this will drop off. No discussion o Facility Improvements – Installation of the laboratory HVAC continues. There were some issues found and the repairs are being completed. o Staff Management – Activities continue. • Reporting o Regulatory reports were sent as scheduled. No discussion • Business, Long-Term Development o Capital Planning Semi-monthly meetings continue. Asst Sup’t will report. We are continuing with monthly meetings. o Energy Management – attended monthly coaching call. Workshop 5 rescheduled to May. o Inter-Municipal Agreements - We are entering into an agreement to supply digestate to the City of Auburn WWTP for the start-up of their new anaerobic digesters. Auburn is financially responsible for the project. We anticipate this lasting about 3 weeks. We will supply approximately 36,000 gallons (9,000 dry pounds per day at 3% total solids content) per day of digestate to their facility. We will offset approximately $28,000 in landfill disposal costs during the project. • Operations Data – Under separate cover. Peter and Ken will review and share soon. • Flow meter status / timeline - LECTRE, Chris Kianka • He has got both Elm St and State St meters online and running. • There are some issues busses hitting/running over the manhole cover at Elm St causing damage and other issues. He has made Scott Gibson aware of repairs will be made because this is affecting the sensors. • The highest flow contributors are Thurston, University, and Crescent during rain flows. • The status of the 14 meters is that they are functional and online. • Floral is still pending • This will become a standing item on the agenda for updates • There is a monthly report that is published and available for the flow rates. • MRB I&I Contract • MRB all scopes have been combined into one. o Quote to Extend Contract & Preliminary Engineering Review o I & I study based on accumulated data o Pass until we hear from Chris K about Flow Meters for accurate data. Then Hone an agreement with recommended course of action with existing data. o Work with the Town of Ithaca’s report currently, because the City of Ithaca doesn’t currently have a report. o Are we going to embark on a study soon? o Is it better to do it in stages or wait until data is all in? o It would be nice to have answers by this fall. o There will be a lot to discuss before going to MBR for a study o Going forward preventative maintenance needs to be discussed. o Can we get a copy of the original plan? o What do we want to do by the next meeting? • Misc. Updates: • Staffing - Scott Gibson • Cecil Malone Drive emergency interceptor repair - Scott Gibson o Piping is from the 1930s and developed a leak under the railroad tracks o The damage was done while digging and the City of Ithaca received a bill for $40,00 to fix the damage. o The city will not pay this bill because of price gouging. • B&L CIP response memo re Town PIO process – Scott Gibson o Susan agrees with general agreement. • Dryden Extension o Is looking to the future and wants to be proactive about extending their agreement. o They are looking to run sewer services to a Trailer Park on Hanshaw Rd (northside of Route 13). • Adjournment 2:04 PM • Upcoming Meeting Date: April 9, 2025