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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-SJC-2018-04-18MN-SJC-2018-04-18.doc 1 SJC MEETING April 18, 2018 SJC Members Staff Cynthia Brock, Chair Steve Thayer Supervisor Bill Goodman Erik Whitney Laura Lewis Scott Gibson Tee-Ann Hunter Jose Lozano Rich DePaolo CJ Kilgore Brian Davis Ed Gottlieb Absent Guest Dave Warden Joe Slater; Town of Ithaca MaryAnn Sumner (Dryden Alternative) Timothy Winderl: NYSEG Supervisor Jason Liefer Iker Urrutia Galdos; NYSEG Zach Caruso; NYSEG Cynthia called the meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. Introductions were made. Quorum was established at 1:05 p.m. Tee-Ann MOVED to accept the March 21st minutes with corrections. Seconded by Laura. Approved 5-0. Financial Report – Steve Thayer 2017 Activity through December – activity is complete - he plans to close next week. Revenues – we received $4,054,629.00 – which is better than budgeted. Expenses – we spent $3,974,579.00 a few accounts were adjusted since the last meeting - overall we have done better than anticipated. The 2018 budget has been adjusted for the expenses that were over budget in 2017. Steve thanked staff for increasingly becoming more efficient. 2018 Activity through March – Revenues- we have collected $739,410. Septage receiving is coming in. All looks fine. Expenses- we budgeted for a deficit – we have expended $1,178,263.00 to date. Overall everything looks good - anything over at this point in time is related to timing. Keep in mind that all revenues and expenses do not necessarily follow the calendar year. Capital Project 414J – Flow Meters – there was one engineering services expense of $1,748.00 Operations and Engineering Report – CJ Kilgore 1. Plant Maintenance & Operations MN-SJC-2018-04-18.doc 2 a. Out of County Grease will be suspended beginning June 1 due in part to level control problems, clogging, build up in the tanks and build up in the equipment. CJ hopes that with infrastructure improvements we will be better able to handle and process grease in the future. b. NYSEG – Presentation (highlights below) c. OVIVO Gas Dome Storage – Chris of Lectre Solutions is in the process of downloading the software. This will allow us to implement controls to better maintain our gas pressure which should reduce the amount of gas that is flared off (wasted). d. Chemical Storage Tank Replacement – CJ is working with Scott to put together a bid package for new storage tanks. He estimates the cost to be somewhere between $150,000.00 and $200,000.00. e. Permit Violation – DEC was notified of our minor violation – we exceeded our settleable solids limits. All is back in control. 2. Facilities Maintenance & Operations a. Monitoring Stations – CJ, Scott and Chris are working with MRB Group. We are trying to get as much done up front as possible. We will most likely have to put the installation out to bid. Joe wondered if and/or how the flow meter data might be used for billing purposes. He added that monitoring stations require regular routine maintenance to be sure the readings are accurate. CJ hopes to look at the flow data to assist with I/I, wet weather analysis, peak flows, total flows and blockage determination. Cynthia thought it might help with plant ownership, plant usage and I/I determination. Erik said that we are under an EPA mandate to bring I/I to a reasonable level. b. Ithaca Beer – Ed Gottlieb is working with the concerned parties. We will be sending out a permit and a notice of compliance. We are moving forward. Joe has been dealing with this maintenance issue for two years – he suggested meeting with the owner. Bill is attempting to set up a meeting with Dan of Ithaca Beer and Heather McDaniel of Tompkins County Area Development to discuss financing options. Cynthia asked if new policies should be established and offered that the sewer use law might need to be modified. She added that the time frame should be codified. Laura questioned how implementation works. CJ understands that once the notice of compliance is issued – they must comply. Tee-Ann suggested that maybe this board should take a look at the sewer use laws, review them and make recommendations to amend them. Cynthia added that these concerns could be mentioned/discussed at the next Meeting of Six. Tee-Ann MOVED to have Susan Brock conduct an investigation to review the sewer laws that are in place in the member municipalities and to provide recommendations with regard to sewer use law and possible charges or penalties for non-compliance. Seconded by Laura. Approved 5-0. Bill suggested including something in code review before the issuance of a building permit. MN-SJC-2018-04-18.doc 3 Erik thought that adding a unit of sewer onto the quarterly sewer billing might be a simple and practical way to administer a punitive fee. CJ will ask Ed Gottlieb to speak with Joe Slater. It is up to the Town of Ithaca to decide if there will be charges or penalties. CJ added that in retrospect we should have issued a permit but we are presently focused on getting them in compliance. c. DEC – Erik said that two applications have been submitted – one for a permanent installation and one for the pumps and hose method that water and sewer has been using. If there are expenses related to an additional discharge point they will be absorbed by the City of Ithaca. 3. Staff Management – a. Operator/Trainee – There is a meeting scheduled with HR to explore our options. The exam is scheduled for June 9tth and is open to all applicants – it may be best to wait until the exam results are in rather than offering the position provisionally. b. Senior Operator positions (2 approved) – Two applications have been received. CJ intends to promote one individual in the near future and to hire an Operator/Trainee to fill the created vacancy. He then plans to re-advertise and repeat the process with the second senior operator position in the next few months. c. Maintenance Worker position is posted and closes out April 18th. CJ plans to conduct interviews and to fill this position as soon as possible. 4. Energy Production Statistics – provided by CJ. Presentation/Discussion Items – a. Battery Meter Storage - NYSEG – Behind the Meter Battery Storage 2 year Pilot Program The Public Service Commission (PSC) has mandated that the utilities in New York State conduct demo projects on behind the meter storage. Eight customers within the energy smart community (footprint) are being approached - our plant meets the initial profile. The idea is to reduce the demand as well as to reduce the load on the distribution system. Tim explained that the demand (electricity pressure required to run the system) is the highest charge on our bill - he equated it to the water system in a home – the water is available – it is a matter of the amount of pressure required to retrieve it. The battery will be called upon remotely – reducing our demand charge and increasing the power available to other customers on the power grid. This is a two year pilot program - a demo project – a learning process - no losses and a possibility for savings. There is a monthly subscription fee – but a savings is guaranteed. There is no charge for the installation of the 300 kW battery - it will be located on slabs close to our substation. The battery is sized for us and our load - it will have a 1 megawatt per hour capacity per charge and will charge off-peak. Our facility runs on average 400 kW billing demand based on conditions. The battery will monitor and predict usage and will adjust demand based on market conditions, pricing conditions and distribution conditions on their system. It will take load off of the grid (it is similar to a curtailment) - we will not be pulling power from the grid during peak times – we will be using our stored battery power – this will lower our demand charge (peak shaving) at the same time. MN-SJC-2018-04-18.doc 4 At the close of the two year pilot we will be provided the opportunity to purchase the battery for somewhere between $300,000.00 and $700,000.00. It has a 10 – 15 year warranty (life). NYSEG will conduct an assessment to be sure that our plant is a good fit for this pilot. They will forward to Cynthia a preliminary agreement/contract (which will indicate intent) within the next couple of weeks. The official contract with the technical requirements indicating savings and an early termination fee will follow. A discussion followed about us pushing our excess power to the grid in the future. It is possible but it is not profitable – NYSEG would only pay us wholesale rate. Tim spoke of a program that would allow us to “designate” another City facility to hypothetically use our power which would result in greater savings. b. Projects and Research Update - Jose Lozano Effluent Thermal Energy Recovery and Clean Heating/Cooling including biosolids drying. There is currently a New York State initiative to reduce fossil energy usage. The funding agencies are surprised that we are attempting something other than geo-thermal or air based closed loop heat pumps. There is a company in Arizona that manufactures the biosolids drying equipment – it may or may not come with a heat pump. Viking (one of the company’s that replied to the RFQ to perform an analysis of effluent energy recapture) and EthosGen are interested in working on this project. Jose’s power point presentation detailed the costs of three staffing options: 24 hour operation with staff Return of Investment (ROI) 6 years, 24 hour operation with staff on call ROI 3 years and 8 hour operation (this options requires a larger dryer and construction) ROI 7 years. CJ prefers the 8 hour operation because it corresponds to our current shift. Only essential equipment is in operation to keep the process going outside of our standard 8 hour shift - he is concerned that staffing coverage might be a consideration. Cynthia wants to see the biosolids drying program taken farther – Class A biosolid mixed with peat is in very high demand. She is concerned with the lack of response and wondered if we should reissue or restructure the RFQ. Jose would like to continue with the two companies at this time – he did request Erik’s option that GHD review the project. CJ will speak with GHD (for a reality check) for inclusion of this project in the next phase of improvements. c. Meeting of six - April 30th, 3:00 PM Cayuga Heights Marcham Hall. Tee-Ann MOVED to adjourn. Seconded by Rich. All were in favor. Approved 5-0. Meeting was adjourned @ 3:03 p.m. The Next Meeting is May 16th, 2018, 1:00 pm.