Sewer and Water Utilities

Minutes for the February 10, 2026 meeting of the Utilities- SWUC Committee- Approved Version 1 Sewer and Water Utilities Committee Meeting Minutes 2 Tuesday, February 10, 2025 at 1:00P.M. 3 Via Video Conference 4 (Approved) 5 6 1. Call Meeting to Order 7 The Sewer and Water Utilities Committee meeting was called to order by Chairperson Denise Bhirdo 8 on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 1:02 PM. 9 10 2. Roll Call 11 A roll call was conducted, with the following members present: Chairperson Denise Bhirdo and 12 members Nate Bell, and Kurt Harff. 13 14 Staff present: Utilities Director Megan Barnes, Village Administrator Benjamin Andrews and 15 Administrative Assistant Sarah Bertges 16 17 Others: Harlan Davis, Scott Davis, Chad Olsen 18 19 3. Approval of Agenda 20 Motion by Bell, second by Harff, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried - all ayes. 21 22 4. Approval of Minutes of the December 9, 2025 Meeting, as Published 23 Motion by Bell, second by Harff, to approve the meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried - all 24 ayes. 25 26 5. Comments, Correspondence and Concerns from the Public 27 There were no public comments. 28 29 6. Discussion/Action Items 30 a. Reed Bed Presentation 31 Harlan Davis and Scott Davis from Constructed Wetland Groups (formerly Reed Bed Systems) 32 presented information on reed bed systems for biosolids management. Chad Olsen from McMahon 33 was also present for the discussion. 34 Harlan Davis provided historical background on the company, noting it has been in operation for 40 35 years with 500+ projects across approximately 40 states, installing over 10 million square feet of 36 constructed wetlands. He explained that the technology originated from research at the Max Planck 37 Institute in Germany in the 1950s and 1960s, was patented in 1972, and has been continually refined 38 since. 39 Scott Davis explained the operational benefits of reed beds: 40 ● The systems reduce biosolid volume by 90-95% over a 10-year period through dewatering and 41 mineralization of organic components 42 ● Multiple beds (typically 6-9) are used to ensure even distribution and allow for rotation during 43 cleanout 44 ● Plants create pathways for drainage and transpire water, enabling more frequent sludge 45 application than conventional drying beds 46 ● Cold climates like Wisconsin actually benefit from the freeze-thaw action which enhances 47 dewatering 48 ● The systems can handle thicker sludge (2-3.7% solids) but may work better with slightly less 49 polymer usage 50 When asked about specific requirements for Sister Bay, Scott Davis confirmed that McMahon's 51 estimate of approximately one acre (44,000 square feet) for reed beds would be sufficient for Sister  Minutes for the February 10, 2026 meeting of the Utilities- SWUC Committee- Approved Version 1 Bay alone, with additional area (about 63-64,000 square feet total) if including other municipalities. 2 The preliminary plan included 6 beds for Sister Bay and 3 additional beds for other communities. 3 Committee members asked several questions: 4 ● Bhirdo inquired about the configuration of multiple beds versus one large bed, with Scott Davis 5 explaining that multiple beds allow for better management and phased cleanout 6 ● Bell asked about leak prevention, with Scott Davis confirming the systems use 40 mil 7 polypropylene liners with no history of leaks 8 ● Bell also asked about alternatives to burning the reeds during maintenance, with Davis 9 explaining that cutting and composting the reeds on site is a common alternative 10 ● Bhirdo asked about ammonia concerns, with Davis clarifying that Sister Bay's aerobic treatment 11 process already addresses ammonia issues before the biosolids reach the reed beds 12 The committee discussed potentially visiting Egg Harbor's reed bed installation for a firsthand look at 13 the technology, particularly after the April election when new utility committee members would be 14 in place. 15 16 b. Hwy-57 Trail-Utilities Infrastructure Discussion 17 Barnes presented plans for water and sewer infrastructure along Highway 57. The original plan had 18 scheduled installation in two phases - the northern portion in 2026 and the southern portion with a 19 lift station in 2027. However, with the trail installation potentially happening in fall 2027, there was 20 an opportunity to complete both phases before trail construction. 21 Barnes explained that the total project cost would be approximately $921,633 for the pipe 22 installation plus an estimated $1-3 million for the lift station. The project would service several 23 properties along the highway, including both developed and undeveloped parcels. 24 Barnes noted that property owners would be required to connect to utilities once they abut their 25 property, and that assessments for undeveloped properties could be deferred until development 26 occurs or the property is sold. The assessment would include interest on the unpaid balance. 27 Bhirdo questioned the total project cost, noting she thought it was a $4 million project. Barnes 28 clarified that the lift station represents a significant portion of the total cost. 29 Bell inquired about coordination with trail construction, asking if utilities and trail work could be 30 done simultaneously to save costs. Staff explained that while theoretically possible, different funding 31 requirements, bidding processes, and construction timelines make perfect coordination challenging, 32 though they would attempt to minimize disruption. 33 Committee members generally supported moving forward with the accelerated timeline to complete 34 both phases before trail construction, noting that this would open more opportunities for 35 development and create a water main loop in the future. 36 Motion by Bell, second by Harff, to refer the Highway 57 utilities infrastructure project to the Finance 37 Committee. Motion carried - all ayes. 38 39 c. Revised Land Lease Discussion 40 Barnes presented an updated land lease agreement for the prior land spreading site, incorporating 41 the committee's previous recommendation to reduce the annual payment to $300. The committee 42 discussed additional terms to include in the lease: 43 ● Committee members emphasized that corn should not be allowed to be planted on the property 44 ● The committee discussed whether to add a CPI escalator to the lease amount, ultimately 45 deciding to add the lease fee to the village's fee schedule for annual review 46 ● Barnes suggested specifying the land be used for hay production only, which would address 47 concerns about corn planting and simplify other restrictions 48 The committee directed staff to update the lease agreement to specify hay production only and to 49 add the lease fee to the village's fee schedule for annual review. 50 51 2  Minutes for the February 10, 2026 meeting of the Utilities- SWUC Committee- Approved Version 1 d. Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Report 2 The Utilities Director, Megan Barnes provided a brief operations update: 3 ● Staff had been addressing numerous frozen services during the recent cold snap 4 ● Sludge hauling was reduced from 480,000 gallons the previous year to 400,000 gallons this year 5 ● Changes to the polymer concentration in the sludge concentrator improved solids concentration 6 to 3.7% 7 ● Operational changes in routing influent through the flow equalization basin provided more 8 hydraulic retention time, enabling biological phosphorus removal and reducing chemical usage 9 ● Well rehabilitation has begun on well 1, with an expected two-week timeframe 10 ● There are 16 well permit renewals this year 11 ● The Eagle Mechanical water and sewer extension has been completed, with televising to be 12 done in spring 13 Bell inquired about a property owner's complaint related to the Eagle Mechanical project. Barnes 14 explained that trees had been damaged and soil pushed onto a property during construction, but 15 arrangements have been made with the contractor to replace trees and properly grade the area in 16 spring. 17 18 7. Matters to be placed on a future agenda or referred to a committee, official, or employee 19 The committee agreed to hold a meeting next month to discuss and make a recommendation 20 regarding the sludge management options presented (dryer system and reed beds). 21 22 8. Adjournment 23 Motion by Bell, second by Harff, to adjourn at 2:50 PM. Motion carried - all ayes. 24 25 Respectfully submitted by Sarah Bertges, Administrative Assistant. 3