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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-SJC-2021-03-102021.03.10 APPROVED SJC Minutes.doc 1 SJC MEETING March 10, 2021 SJC Members Staff Cynthia Brock, Chair CJ Kilgore Ray Burger; Town of Dryden Scott Gibson Rich DePaolo Steve Thayer Scott Reynolds Donna Fleming Guest Tee-Ann Hunter Joe Slater: Town of Ithaca Bill Goodman Chris Kianca; Lectre David Warden Susan Brock: SJC Attorney Absent Supervisor, Jason Leifer Cynthia called the Zoom meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. Scott Reynolds MOVED to accept the February 10th minutes. Seconded by Bill. Approved 7 - 0. Financial Report – Steve Thayer. Activity through December 31, 2020 – NOT FINAL – there are no changes from last month - receivables and payables are still being entered for 2020. Activity through February 28, 2021 Revenue – We have collected $810,000.00 to date 2021. We have received $20,000.00 in septage payments (attributed to 2020 invoicing). We have received the first quarterly payment from the City and from the Town of Ithaca. Steve expects to receive payment from the Town of Dryden shortly. Expenses – We have spent $ 1,168,000.00 to date. There are no surprises at this point in time. Insurance Activity comes in a lump sum expense. Utilities budget should be in line this year. The Parts and Supplies budgeted amount was increased by $35,000.00 for 2021. Our first debt payment of $626,000.00 has been made. We currently have a net deficit of $359,000.00. Keep in mind that all expenses do not follow the calendar. Capital Projects – no expenses were posted for February 2021. 2021.03.10 APPROVED SJC Minutes.doc 2 Operations and Engineering Report – CJ Kilgore 1. Plant Maintenance & Operations – 2. Facilities Maintenance & Operations a. Grit Removal and Misc. Improvements – continuing – grit removal coming on line soon. b. Flow Monitoring – continuing. 3. Staff Management – Operator trainees: New Hire - Adam Bennett is to begin March 22, 2021. CJ hopes to fill the remaining WWTP Operator/Trainee soon. 4. Reporting – 5. Business, Long Term development – 6. Energy Production Statistics – provided by CJ. Voting Items – Discussion Items – Flow Monitoring Update – Chris Kianca Over 90% of the stations are installed. The last three solar powered sites at Floral, Hector and Hudson are installed. Floral needs to be reconnected (later next week) – there was an issue with one of the connections. Thurston Avenue experienced a power damage spike and is presently out of service. Taughannock Boulevard is plugged with grit and solids due to sediment. Chris sent the data portal information out to some of the members just prior to the meeting. He asked that downloaded data be limited to three-month intervals at a time. Chris offered to export and email data if necessary. Varna is down – the mag meter has failed - TG Miller is working with the Town. Jose’s site of Cayuga Waters will be used for the flow data. Chris will add a note or a chat box. Calibration, dates and scaling factors will be available. Chris will forward a copy of his write-up to Cynthia. Cynthia asked if the rain gauge data can be coordinated in real time with the flow data for I/I. Chris recommended using the Cornell rain gauge data. He will ask Tim Carpenter to forward a write up to the members explaining the use of real time rain gauge data. Cynthia inquired about the security of the data. Chris replied that the data only flows in one direction and is pretty much immune to any outside intrusion - nothing external touches the process or the data. The newer digital units should be checked yearly. The older units should be checked and calibrated approximately every 6 months. Cynthia will put together an email list for Chris. 2021.03.10 APPROVED SJC Minutes.doc 3 Facility Maintenance/Replacement Items – Scott Gibson ESG – Environmental Services Group is an energy performance consulting company that secures grants related to energy conservation and sustainable energy/renewable energy. They reach out to potential partners to have them work together. Scott Gibson presented a list that CJ and he put together of critical items that will require replacement in the future – many are related. Scott offered that entering into an energy performance contract may be a good way to determine which projects would yield the most useful benefits (to curb and save energy). CJ added that the consultant could come up with an approach that could encompass the next ten to twenty years. There are environmental decisions that will have to be made regarding green initiatives. Scott Gibson offered that our sludge has a moisture content of 80% - an investment in sludge drying could reduce the moisture content to 20%. He brought up that we need to consider how to take in and manage future food waste. CJ said that our solids disposal contract will expire in the fall of 2022 (costs will increase) landfill diversion is slated to begin in 2022. CJ advises to begin this engineering evaluation sooner than later – he expects it will take six months to a year – loose cost $50,000.00 to $100,000.00. CJ will be retiring but offered to come in as a consultant. Cynthia understood that MRB Group was working on the boiler evaluation piece. CJ offered that Tim Carpenter could be hired on as our project plant engineer. Scott Reynolds brought up that this is a good time to borrow money. Rich asked if it might benefit us to get something together immediately. Steve said that interest rates will be going up and that bundling large projects does save money. He recommended getting more solid figures on the costs - depending on which way we want to go – we need more information. CJ likes the idea of combining the bigger items. CJ will invite ESG to present remotely for the April SJC meeting. CJ mentioned that Natural Upcycling inquired about having us accept food waste. Emergency Access Road – City Harbor – Susan Brock According to the City – based on the New York State building code - once more than 100 units are built - there are certain fire access requirements to be met – one being a second fire apparatus access road (to 75,000 pounds). Two potential vehicular access routes were submitted – one crosses the plant property – the other follows the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Scott Gibson said that a full vehicle bridge is required. He reached out to Lisa Nicolas she to him that there are build grant requirements – the adherence to proper fire code and proper access. Tom Parsons requested a blacktopped area of ten to twenty feet wide for the access road. Both the Planning and Development board resolution and the NYS building code requires this access road design and approval - prior to the issuance of a building permit. Rich stated for the record that he is concerned about the lack of attention this board has been given during this process. Nothing official has been requested of this board and we have not yet been invited to participate in a conversation. Dave Warden offered that he would bring up this topic at the next Board of Public Works meeting. 2021.03.10 APPROVED SJC Minutes.doc 4 Cynthia understands the position of the SJC to be the long-term protection of the plant and its ability to expand and evolve over time. We will be exceptionally concerned and cautious when it comes to any type of encumbrance that may inhibit future expansion and we want to be involved in any decision that may impact this facility. Cayuga Heights’ request for Kline Road emergency use and pricing – Bill Goodman They have met but have not yet come up with a figure. He expects it might take a couple more months to work our something. Bill will include Steve on the next meeting time and place by email. Announcements / Other Business – Cynthia Adjourned the meeting at 2:34 p.m. The Next Meeting will be April 14th, 2021, 1:00 pm.