HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-SJC-2018-10-172018.10.17 APPROVED SJC minutes-2.doc 1
SJC MEETING
October 17, 2018
SJC Members Staff
Cynthia Brock, Chair Steve Thayer
Laura Lewis CJ Kilgore
Rich DePaolo Jose Lozano
Tee-Ann Hunter
Ray Burger (Dryden Alternative)
Dave Warden
Supervisor Jason Liefer
Guest
Absent Lou Vogel; Taitem Engineering
Dan Lamb (Dryden Alternative) Lincoln Morse; City Harbor LLC
Brian Davis
Supervisor Bill Goodman
Cynthia called the meeting to order at 1:04 p.m. Introductions were made; quorum @ 1:10 p.m.
Tee-Ann MOVED to accept the September 19th minutes with corrections. Seconded by
Laura. Approved 5-0.
Financial Report – Steve Thayer
2018 Activity through September –
Revenues – we have collected 2,773,295.00 to date. Our septage service should meet or exceed
the budgeted amount by year end. Debt service billing will go out next month.
Expenses - we have spent almost $3,000,000.00. We are currently running just under budget.
Most accounts look fine - Insurance and hourly part-time are over budget. Treatment Supplies
and Sludge Disposal will exceed their budgeted amount by year end.
Keep in mind that all revenues and expenses do not necessarily follow the calendar year.
Capital Project 414J – Flow Meters – approximately $1,600.00 - Engineering design services.
Capital Project 420J – Plant Improvements – no expenses this month.
2019 Budget – proposed budget and revised numbers. Steve is waiting for final consumption
figures from the Town of Ithaca to adjust the allocation of shares of the budget.
Revenues – Steve bumped up Septage Service (trucked waste) to $420,000.00.
Expenses – Steve increased the Vehicles account by $5,000.00 to $30,000.00
Contractual Expenses was increased $30,000.00 to cover the turbine contract originally
estimated at $20,000.00 to the actual at $50,000.00.
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Sludge Disposal was increased $10,000.00 to $320,000.00 to cover increased fees.
Worker’s Compensation was reduced by $5,000.00.
Steve increased the Appropriated Fund Balance by $25,000.00 to $250,000.00 to offset the
changes.
Laura MOVED to recommend acceptance of the budget contingent upon the consumption
numbers to be received from the Town of Ithaca. Seconded by Tee-Ann. Approved
Unanimously 6-0.
Tee-Ann asked the amount of the fund balance and about the capital reserve fund.
Steve replied that our fund balance should be at $1,665,000.00 at the end of 2018 and our current
capital reserve is $252,000.00.
Operations and Engineering Report – CJ Kilgore
1. Plant Maintenance & Operations
a. Sludge/Biosolids and Grit/Screenings Contract – out to bid - due October 23rd.
2. Facilities Maintenance & Operations
a. Ithaca Beer – A Notice of Violation was issued on September 24th. Susan Brock is
working on the wording and is advising the Town on civil penalties procedures.
Ithaca Beer has complied with certain aspects of the violation but is falling short on the
notification portion. They are in compliance with the EPA plant limits/regulations.
Ithaca Beer must comply with the Town sewer use laws and the Town collection system.
Their pH must be between 2 and 12.5 during the interim period and between 5.5 and 11
eventually.
CJ said that Ithaca Beer has been advised that non-compliance can result in civil penalties.
Cynthia stated that she informed Ithaca Beer that this committee does not have any jurisdiction
in relieving any obligation to comply with Town law. She offered that penalties are levied by the
Town of Ithaca.
CJ stated that the most important thing is that they do something – doing nothing is not an
option. He stressed that there will be serious consequences for non-compliance and that he is
working with Susan Brock to determine the next step in this process.
CJ added that this is a long ongoing problem causing damage to the collection system.
Dave Warden said that there are simple methods to adjust pH.
A discussion involving health and safety issues took place.
Laura is concerned with the ongoing absence/delayed communication from Ithaca Beer.
Tee-Ann requested that the annual notice as required/stated in Town of Ithaca law be posted in
the local newspaper and be made public now.
CJ replied that he was planning to issue the notice this December but will issue it sooner.
Cynthia asked that staff inform the members when the notice is to appear in the paper and added
that she approves of working with Susan Brock on enforcement.
3. Staff Management –
a. Lab Tech position – Roxanne Roberts started Monday. (October 15th).
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4. Business, Long Term development – CHD Grit Removal and Misc. Improvements –
awaiting approval. CJ visited three facilities to observe and discuss grit system
equipment/operation. He is looking forward to getting our grit removal system installed.
5. Energy Production Statistics – provided by CJ.
Effluent Heat Capture Proposal Power Point Presentation – Lou Vogel of Taitem Engineers
Lincoln Morse with City Harbor LLC is interested in using the energy potential of the plant
effluent and harnessing it for heating and cooling. City Harbor LLC has hired Taitem
Engineering to explore this opportunity and hope to begin construction within the next two years.
The effluent water leaving the plant is approximately 50 degrees in the winter and 70 degrees in
the summer (in the usage range of a water source heat pump system). They hope to tap into an
existing 48” pipe in very close proximity to one of the proposed new buildings.
Lou is leaning towards having a heat exchanger – for heating and cooling.
Rich asked how incorporating this might impact our ability to extract energy that we might need.
The City Harbor project requires only 10% of that which is available.
CJ interjected that we would extract our energy requirement prior to the exchanger.
The City Harbor project will pull 250 gallons per minute – the temperature of the effluent used
will decrease 6.5 degrees in the winter and will increase 6.5 degrees in the summer prior.
Returning this heated/cooled water to the influent will have little effect on its temperature.
CJ said that we have a high temperature limit of 90 degrees – but no low limit.
Dave pointed out that too much extraction of energy (in the future) may cause the temperature of
the water to rise or cool significantly.
Rich voiced concern about the necessity to limit the number of potential users.
Lou will calculate the total impact if (hypothetically) all of the influent was used.
NYSERDA is a promising funding partner and may be interested in monitoring this system.
Lincoln wants to develop this very innovative process and to expose the science. He will share
the information/technology and the results of the working model/pilot study.
Cynthia questioned how the carbon credits would be allocated – Lou offered to take a look.
Cynthia believes that this project/exploration should continue to proceed at this point.
CJ suggested to start simply and asked that sludge drying be included/considered.
a. Joint Sewer/Plant to Plant/Intermunicipal Agreement – The next meeting of six will be
November 5th. They plan to look at capacity.
Tee-Ann MOVED to adjourn. Seconded by Laura. All were in favor. Approved 5-0.
Meeting was adjourned @ 2:47 p.m.
The Next Meeting will be November 28th, 2018, 1:00 pm.