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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-SJC-2019-03-202019.03.20 APPROVED SJC minutes.doc 1 SJC MEETING March 20, 2019 SJC Members Staff Cynthia Brock, Chair Erik Whitney Rich DePaolo CJ Kilgore Tee-Ann Hunter Jose Lozano Ray Burger (Dryden Alternate) Roxanne Roberts-Battey Laura Lewis Gabrielle Hollfelder Supervisor Bill Goodman Ed Gottlieb Absent Dan Lamb (Dryden Alternative) Guest Dave Warden Susan Allen-Gil; Ithaca College Supervisor Jason Liefer Linda Levine (Dryden Board) Brian Davis Cynthia called the meeting to order at 1:04 p.m. Introductions were made. Tee-Ann MOVED to accept the February 20th minutes. Seconded by Laura. Approved 5 - 0. Financial Report – Steve Thayer provided a summary of activity in his absence. 12/31/18 Most payables and receivables have been posted. May still be a couple more payables to post this month. In addition, we are working on encumbrances and any adjustments needed. We expect to close our 2018 activity by the first week in April. Items in bold mean they have changed from last month’s report. Revenues: Booked final receivables and interest for 2018. Our revenues ended up $134,000.00 over our budget, due to the active septage service revenue. Expenses: Booked a few more payables and posted the health insurance contributions. Eight accounts changed from last month, see bold items. Overall, expenses are currently under budget by $190,000.00 plus encumbrances of $157,000.00. The 2018 currently reflects a $74,800.00 surplus. This may lower a bit after any final payables come in during March. Utilities, contracts and salaries helping for better than anticipated results. 2/28/2019 Revenues – Septage revenue is starting to come in. Most of what’s been collected so far relates to paying receivables from 2018. All owners had paid their first quarter payment and we had a small sale of equipment. We have collected $700,000.00 to date. 2019.03.20 APPROVED SJC minutes.doc 2 Expenses – All expenses look fine after two months of activity. Running a current deficit of $278,000.00. To be expected after two months, as we budgeted for a deficit. Remember, not all revenues and expenses follow the calendar, so some percentages may look off the mark after two months. Expenses such as debt service and insurance come in as lump sum payments. Capital Project 414J – Flow Meters – no expenses. Capital Project 422J – Plant Improvements – no expenses. Cynthia asked for input as to posting prior years financial audits to the City website - transparency is important and asked the members to give it some thought. Erik offered that the City GIS folks could get together with Bolton Point to refine (and provide more accurate) data of water consumption and sewer usage in the sewer sheds and sewer sub- sheds. The annual consumption of properties (with both water and sewer service) will be geo- referenced. He will speak to Ben and Steve of Bolton Point as to how this may fit their timeline. Laura is in favor of sharing consumption data and promoting transparency. Ray added that TG Miller will have the records for the Town of Dryden – they have recently completed a consolidation study. Erik said that the boundary meters will be used to gather data (which will be available in real time) and ground water infiltration will be determined by comparing the dry period base line data to the high flow data. CJ said that he plans to complete the Thurston Ave and Kline Road monitoring stations first. He hopes to complete installation of four to five of the fourteen depending on how the hardware works, the weather and the availability of personnel. Cynthia added that by establishing this structure we can be assured that there is consistency of where water is being delivered and where it is being treated. Operations and Engineering Report – CJ Kilgore 1. Plant Maintenance & Operations - 2. Facilities Maintenance & Operations a. Ithaca Beer – work has begun on the pretreatment system. The tanks will be put in the ground tomorrow. They expect to have the system completely installed, tested and online by mid-June. CJ will share updates as provided. b. Monitoring Stations – hopes to begin installation soon. 3. Staff Management - a. Interviews – WWTP Operator/Trainee interviews held March 15th. He expects to be able to make an offer after completion of the back ground check. b. Assistant Chief Position – to be posted next month - interviews late April – early May. 4. Reporting - 2019.03.20 APPROVED SJC minutes.doc 3 5. Business, Long Term development – a. GHD Grit Removal and Misc. Improvements – Awaiting signatures from the Town of Dryden in order to go out to bid. b. Presentation Request - Casella is interested in discussing the potential for land application of biosolids. Cynthia asked about the timing of the Collins Aerospace pilot study. Jose said the unit that will dry our biosolids produces biochar which does not have the same concerns with emerging contaminants as land application. He said that Collins Aerospace plans to bring their pilot study project to the plant whether or not they are awarded a grant. CJ is open to consider any options or feasible technologies for handling biosolids as Class A or as Class B and disposal. He will make arrangements for Casella to speak at the April meeting. 6. Energy Production Statistics – provided by CJ. Voting Items – Cynthia presented a political appeal letter for the board to consider. There is an effort throughout New York State for municipal governments to request that there be an increase in the 2019 NYS budget for clean water infrastructure. The current budget is inadequate – the letter asks for a commitment of five billion dollars over the next five years. The signature sheet was circulated. Tee-Ann MOVED to approve sending the letter of support. Seconded by Laura. Approved 6–0. Presentation/Discussion Items - a. Emergent Contaminants/Endocrine Disruptors Presentation – Jose Lozano and Susan Gil – some of the 12,600 data points of the analysis completed by the US Geological Survey of the samples gathered in 2014 – 2015 were high-lighted. Susan said that the compounds are divided into types - hormones, personal care products, pharmaceuticals and pesticides. The concentrations were graphed against the median value of published studies of contaminants. Our influent is comparable to that of other wastewater plants but our effluent appears to have higher concentrations of contaminants than other wastewater plants. Our plant is below average at removing Emerging Contaminants – our plant % of removal is lower than that of the average treatment plant - there is room for improvement. Of particular concern is Metformin – we are less effective in removing this anti-diabetic drug. Hormones and emerging contaminants are present in the biosolids at high levels but at much lower levels than anticipated - they may transforming or degrading. Performance Improvement Options – upstream decreased use, longer solids retention time, attached growth (bio-films), UV-ozone/filtration/fenton treatment. Many emerging contaminants are present in all locations. Emerging Contaminants are low – the significance is not yet known. Biosolids are a significant but not the only sink of emerging contaminants. 2019.03.20 APPROVED SJC minutes.doc 4 There is room for improvement in IAWWTF performance. Micro-plastic loading is significant - more research is underway (types, distribution, ecological effects). Outreach is extremely important. Microplastics – will be discussed further on the floating classroom June 2019. b. Cornell’s biochar testing facility - Tour will be Monday, April 1st 4:00 p.m. c. Joint Sewer/Plant to Plant/Intermunicipal Agreement – the next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Monday April 8th 2:00 p.m. The Larson Design Group engineering consulting firm completed the Town of Ithaca sewer study - much information has been complied. Bill will share the website address for this tool with the members. He added that there will be a presentation Monday @ 4:30 at the Town Board Study session for anyone interested. Cynthia presented the book “Toilet How It Works” by David Macaulay as a gift to the plant. Announcement / Other Business - Laura MOVED to adjourn. Seconded by Bill. All were in favor. Approved 6-0. Meeting was adjourned @ 2:47 p.m. The Next Meeting will be April 17th, 2019, 1:00 pm.