Northport Village Corporation

Utilities Department

April 8, 2005

Minutes

Attending:  David Crofoot, Chairman, Bill Cressey and Peter Spollett; by telephone, Judy Metcalf, Jim Coughlin, Dick Brockway; also attending were Bill Paige, Gina Cressey, Beverly Crofoot and Karen Hoedtke.

The minutes of the last meeting were unanimously accepted.

Superintendent’s Report:

Sewer Department

Monitoring Data: No license violations occurred during February. Average flow was 52,000 gpd compared to 7,000 gpd last year. Precipitation was 3.21” compared to 1.59” last year. TSS averaged 6 lbs/day and BOD averaged 16 lbs/day; both well under the limits of 76 lbs/day (average 96%) and 106 lbs/day (average 90%) respectively.

Discussion: Crofoot commented that even though there was twice as much rain, there was more than twice the amount of flow and perhaps indicated a new source of I & I.   McElhaney will research comparative data; Spollett suggested that a graph with a time line at the bottom would be most helpful.

Shore Road Pump Station: Contracted work to install check valves and expansion joints was completed on April 5^th. This will alleviate much of the cycling and correct the misalignment in piping. Next year, monies will need to be budgeted for new flanges and pump rail guides to complete the work.

Granston Infiltration of Clean Water: Paige and McElhaney were able to measure the infiltration rate of clean water into the sewer system and around the South Shore Pump Station. The flow from the old main which now serves only the Granston connection was 16.3 gpm which represented 22% of the total flow of 75 gpm; this was consistent with visual estimates of flow observed by McElhaney since October 2004. Expressing it differently, it represents 23,472 gpd or 37% of the 63,000 gpd our permit allows us to discharge.

This main is the last remnant of an old main, which ran to the seaward of these Shore Road cottages.  Others on the line were switched to a new main along the road with three pump stations.  Granston is the only remaining cottage discharging into this main which is plugged upstream.  The line has been videoed and is in poor condition. Paige said that although the main above Granston’s was plugged, the old pipe runs by two old wells and water from the wells could be running down along the pipe and entering through the numerous breaks. The amount of ground water should improve during the summer.

There are three options to resolve this.  Relining the pipe from Granston’s across Norton’s to the manhole on Poulin’s property was estimated at $25,000—very expensive.  The Main could be dug up and replaced but it runs on three properties and would likely result in the death of several large established trees.  A third option is to dig straight out to the new main in the road if the new main is deep enough to allow gravity flow.  McElhaney will examine blueprints, discuss with Dirigo, and/or survey the elevations to determine this.  It was recommended that McElhaney then contact Mrs. Granston to indicate the necessity of resolving this major I & I problem. 

Funding will be out of current wastewater funds.

Revised Stage II Facilities Plan: A letter from Karen Hefler at the MDEP agrees with Woodard & Curran’s revised Plan to upgrade the existing primary plant, construct a new outfall and continue with I & I removal. Money is not currently available. MDEP requests the NVC to respond regarding the accuracy of the $71,000 annual operations and maintenance cost assumed in the Plan. If NVC wants to proceed with the next step of the Consent Agreement and bid out the final design, McElhaney will write a Request for Qualifications and Proposal. A copy of the DEP letter is attached.

Crofoot said that we cannot bid out final design until we have the money available.  Metcalf will ask Atty. Billy Ferdinand whether the language of the Consent Agreement needs to be modified to reflect the DEP acceptance of a plant upgrade instead of a new secondary plant and to adjust timelines.  Bill Ferdinand will communicate with the DEP.

Annual Outfall Inspection: The due date for the annual inspection of the outfall is May 15. McElhaney will contact scuba divers from Aqua Tech in Warren , Maine and Waterworks Diving Service in Portland for cost estimates.

Paige reported that the diver also will place a temporary marker at the end of the outfall to locate the placement of the No Swimming buoy. Crofoot offered the use of a mushroom anchor, chain and buoy until a regular mooring stone can be set.

McElhaney has contacted Moore Septic regarding pumping the tanks.  He would like to pump all dry including the chlorination tank to allow Fernie to repair some leaks.  This may be delayed into May because the roads are posted for heavy truck traffic during the thaw.

Water Department

Monthly Operating Data: Consumption during February averaged 11,628 gpd compared with 10,417 gpd last year. Chlorine residuals in the distribution system averaged .10 mg/l compared to a recommended range of trace to .10 mg/l. The one monthly test for total coliform was negative.

Meter Installation Scheduling: Some progress is being made in scheduling meter installation; more letters or other action advised by the Utility Committee may be necessary.

Discussion: Hoedtke reported that there are seven inside meters to be installed; six are scheduled or in the process of being scheduled, the last one has called and has instructed us to go ahead. Paige said that of the seven, two were completed today. There are three meter pits to be installed (possibly a fourth which Bill will determine when he can check the property). We have received checks from two people and have been in e-mail correspondence with the third.

Class II Treatment and Class I Distribution Exam: McElhaney sat for the Water Operator exams on April 5^th and expects to have the results from DHS before the end of May. He is optimistic that he has passed both exams and will be appropriately licensed to become NVC’s licensed water operator.

Water Rate Proposals: Three bid proposals to prepare the requisite documents for a rate increase and present them to the PUC have been received to date. The original from Aqua Maine quoted $2,200 - $2,600; one received from Maine Rural Water quoted $2,000; Malcolm Horton quoted no more than $1,950. Both Aqua Maine and Maine Rural Water spelled out exactly what the costs would cover. Metcalf moved and Cressey seconded that we accept Maine Rural Water’s $2,000 bid to assist with the preparation and presentation of the documents to the PUC for a water rate increase. All in favor. McElhaney will make sure that MRW is aware of our time constraints for a summer hearing.

Office Report:

Meters will be read May 3^rd, bills tentatively scheduled to be sent out on May 10^th.

On water accounts, $5,723 is past due of which $3,260 is owed by 4 customers; we expect to receive $1,160 within the week from the sale of a property.

On sewer accounts $10,267 is past due of which $5,723 is owed by 5 customers; we expect to receive $1,070 within the week from the sale of property.

The check from the Town of Northport for their portion of the Phase II Bluff Road work has been received.

Review of Finances, Budget to date:  Metcalf noted that electricity costs in the water budget are high.  The space heater in the Bluff Road building and the one in the water vault at Little River may account for a good portion of the expense. We may need to find an option to electric heaters. Hoedtke to compare figures with prior years.

Cressey asked about the status of Bayview Park . Crofoot said that tests in the fall indicated that the standing water was not sewerage.  This is a Village problem rather than a Utilities Department problem. A french drain has been approved but not yet dug. This will be discussed at the Overseers’ meeting.

Metcalf moved that the meeting be adjourned at 3:30. All in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen L. Hoedtke