City Council

Water and Sewer Committee Meeting Minutes - March 9, 2015 - 6 pm City Hall, 1840 Second Street, Columbia City of Columbia City Members Present- Josh Fromm, Chair Gordon Thistle John Burdett Robert Campbell Chuck Garman Finos Lunsford Attendees- Leahnette Rivers, City Administrator/Recorder Micah Rogers, Public Works Superintendent Meeting called to order at 6 pm. 1. Water Improvements Project Update: Staff updated Committee Members about the status of the Water Improvements Project, which involved the installation of a fully automated meter reading system, the purchase of new automated meter reading equipment, several pressure reducing valve (PRV) projects, a system-wide leak detection survey, and the abandonment of redundant 4-inch piping. The automated meter reading system is complete with the exception of a handful of meters remaining to be replaced. Meter reading now takes one Public Works employee just a few hours to complete, which is significantly more effective than the manual reads, which previously took several workers several days to perform. The contractor, NW Kodiak Construction, was hired to do the PRV and line abandonment work, and went out of business before the project was substantially complete. They abandoned the water line and completed the PRV work to the point that it was functional, but a punch list and some electrical work at a new pump station remain to be completed. The City has negotiated a takeover agreement with the Surety Company, which includes $10,455.93 in liquidated damages to cover the extra expense that the City has incurred as a result of the contractor’s failure to perform. The Surety Company will enter into a new construction contract with another contractor to finish the work. The project manager from NW Kodiak that previously worked on our project will resume work again on the project as an employee for the new construction company. The Surety Company is also handling several claims from companies that provided supplies for the project under the Payment Bond. The leak detection survey is complete, and a list of potential leaks will be investigated by the Public Works crew. The City is experiencing an 18% leak loss, and a loss of 10% or less is our target. This project is funded under a Safe Drinking Water Loan, with 40% debt forgiveness. 2. Sewer Improvements Project Update: This project, which consists of pump and electrical upgrades to the RCE pump station, the replacement or abandonment of 17 steel septic tanks, the installation of a wastewater telemetry, monitoring and alarm system, and lining 25 manholes, is in the design phase. 50% design drawings are currently under review. This project is funded under a DEQ Clean Water Loan. 3. 2015-16 Five Year Capital Improvement Plan: Members reviewed the 20-year capital improvement plans contained in the Water System Master Plan and Wastewater Collection System Facility Plan, and prioritized the following project list for inclusion in the 2015-16 Five Year Capital Improvement Plan: Water Projects: Upper Reservoir Restoration and Level Monitoring 2015-16 Fire Hydrant Replacement 2015-16 “I” Street and The Strand Waterline Replacement/Hydrant 2016-17 “First Street Water Line Replacement/Hydrant 2017-18 Fourth Street Water Line Replacement/Hydrant 2018-19 Data Storage and Retrieval System 2019-20 Sewer Projects: I & I Reduction 2015-16 Steel Tank Replacement and Abandonment 2015-16 I & I Reduction 2016-17 Steel Tank Replacement and Abandonment 2016-17 Steel Tank Replacement and Abandonment 2017-18 Tank Abandonment 2018-19 Tank Abandonment 2019-20 Micah will conduct further research about the Ranney Collector to see if it has been designated as being under the influence of surface water before it is added to the Five Year Capital Plan. 4. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m.