Utility Commission

MINUTES OF THE WATER COMMISSION MEETING – APRIL 16, 2013 Call to Order The Water Commission meeting was called to order at 6:00 P.M. by Kevin Coffey, Chair Roll Call PRESENT: Kevin Coffey, Chair Mark Gloudemans Jason Wegand Tim Wegand EXCUSED: Tim Bevers ALSO PRESENT: President Vanden Berg, MCO Rep. Jerry Verstegen, Village Administrator Charles Kell, Public Works Director Roy Van Gheem, Finance Director Teri Matheny, Village Clerk Vicki Schneider Public Appearance for Items Not on the Agenda None Approval of Minutes Water Commission Minutes of February 19, 2013 Moved by Commissioner Gloudemans, seconded by Commissioner J. Wegand to approve the minutes of February 19, 2013 as presented. All Ayes – Motion Carried Update on Private Wells J. Verstegen reported that some of the well owners he has talked to do not put their wells online until June so June is going to be the annual anniversary date for permit renewal. J. Verstegen stated that he has not had any conflicts with the well owners he has contacted but he hasn’t yet talked to some of the larger commercial well owners. Letters will be sent to well owners about the annual permitting and a second notice letter will be sent if there is no response. Decisions on particular unique situations with wells will have to be made by the Commission and he will bring that information forward at the June meeting. The Building Inspector is willing to assist with the private well inspections and permitting. C. Kell reported that the Locks Authority may be coming forward to ask for approval to install wells for the Lock Tender houses at Heesakker Park and the Cedar Locks as they do not want to connect to the water service because it is a long way for them to run water main connections. They are planning to use these facilities as overnight hostiles. C. Kell stated that staff has informed them that new wells are not allowed but the Locks Authority has asked about an appeals process. Discussion took place. Commissioner’s stated their position is that they will not allow new wells to be constructed and C. Kell stated he will report the Commissions’ position to the Locks Authority. J. Verstegen pointed out that wells are also not allowed for potable water. The Commission will be kept updated on this issue. Progress Reports MCO Operations Update J. Verstegen provided a handout of an updated report for March. Items reported: The main breaker at Well #1 is failing and the breaker is 20+ years old and it keeps tripping. It is likely that it will need to be replaced and the replacement cost is estimated to be between $9,000 and $18,000. A replacement power source has been ordered for Booster #1 and it will be installed tomorrow. The crew is spending the bulk of their time on the Main St. project therefore no meters were changed in March. Valve repairs were done as well as a hydrant replacement on Randolph Drive.  Water Commission Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2013 – Page 2 The apartment units on Elm Dr. are going with individual meters for each apartment so there will be 70 new installs of lead meters and there has been a large meter install for the Green Stone Credit Services building. Hydrant flushing is taking place between April 15 and April 25th. J. Verstegen reported on water quality issues on Riverside Dr. and Wabush Ave. A contractor hit an unmarked water main which caused bad water conditions in this area. Customers were contacted and their meters were read so a credit could be applied to their bills as the customers flushed during the night. The high volume flushing in this area is going to be postponed until the Main St. project is completed and the property owners in this area will be notified of this. Private well permitting will take place as time allows as the crew is working on the Main St. project daily. Director of Public Works R. Van Gheem reported on the status of the Main Street project noting that the sanitary main is basically completed and crews are working on both ends of the street performing the water main replacements. Sanitary laterals are also being replaced. This is a valuable project that will help with I & I issues as cross connections are being discovered and corrected with this project. The response for replacement of copper laterals has been good. Also reported: Bids were opened for the 2013 asphalt paving project and this includes work for some water main replacement on Elm Drive between Buchanan Street and Ceil Street, Harding Street between Hoover Avenue and Coolidge Avenue, Sheridan Court, Wisconsin Court, Woodland Court. R. Van Gheem provided a handout of the bid tab and noted the Village Board would be awarding the bid at their meeting tomorrow night. Stony Ridge Apartments utility projects taking place next week. The project for Pine Street remains on the agenda for this year as well as the possibility of the Buchanan interceptor project and he will keep the Commission updated on the status of these projects. Finance Director T. Matheny provided Commissioners with a copy of the PSC annual report that was recently submitted to the PSC and she noted that the utility had a very good year with almost $500,000 in earnings. Also reported: Currently working on the audit and in May or June she wants to look at the debt commitment taken out for the Main St. project because the debt payments will kick in next year. Look at a simplified rate case study this year after the audit is complete. She will report back on this issue. The Budget and CIP status were reviewed. Meter inventory will be conducted with assistance from J. Verstegen. PSC reports available on the PSC website. Water loss is at 12% and that is nothing to worry about from a PSC standpoint. PSC closed their PILOT investigation for now. T. Matheny will include the PSC document that shows the testimony given regarding PILOT in next month’s packet. Approval of Vouchers Moved by Commissioner Coffey, seconded by Commissioner T. Wegand to approve and authorize payment of the vouchers in the amount of $121,740.86 and draw from their respective funds. All Ayes – Motion Carried  Water Commission Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2013 – Page 3 Unfinished Business None Items for Future Agenda PSC Rate Case Study Update Water loss report in 2014 Adjournment Moved by Commissioner T. Wegand, seconded by Commissioner Gloudemans adjourn the meeting at 7:22 p.m. All Ayes - Motion Carried VILLAGE OF LITTLE CHUTE By: Kevin Coffey, Chair Attest: Vicki Schneider, Village Clerk