12-4-09 Minutes
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NVC UTILITIES MEETING

MINUTES

December 4, 2009

 

Present: Chairman David Crofoot; Committee Members: Denis Wang via telephone, Judy Metcalf via telephone, Jane Strauss; Treasurer Bill Cressey; Office Manager Paul Bartels; Consultant Dick Brockway.

 

Absent: Ned Lightner.

 

Chairman Crofoot called the meeting to order at 2:30 PM.

 

Financials

 

Bill Cressey reviewed and answered questions about the November financial reports.

 

2010 Budgets

 

Bill Cressey explained some of the line item moved from one location to another in the 2010 Budgets that was made to satisfy the auditors.  He said the budgets themselves have not substantially changed from the last draft and he recommended that they be approved by the Committee.  Judy Metcalf moved that the 2010 Budgets, Draft 3, proposed by Dick McElhaney be recommended to the Board of Overseers for approval at their next meeting, seconded by David Crofoot, Voted - all in favor.

 

Bill Cressey asked for an explanation of new service charges and credits.  He was given a detailed outline of how application fees are charged and reconciled so that the new service charges are revenue neutral.  He said that he will get together with Dick McElhaney to discuss how this will be accounted for in our bookkeeping process.

 

Minutes

 

Judy Metcalf moved to approve the minutes from the last meeting as revised by Dick McElhaney, seconded by Jane Strauss, Voted – All in Favor.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 

Chairman Crofoot reviewed McElhaney’s report in his absence.

 

December 4, 2009

 

Sewer Department

 

October 2009 Effluent Monitoring Data

 

The NVC was in full compliance of its wastewater discharge license in October. There were no license exceptions.                                                                                                                                                                                            April.

Flow averaged 11,100 gpd compared to 14,100 gpd in October of 2008. Flow ranged from a low of 4,200 on the 3rd to a high of 50,500 on the 24th. 

 

Precipitation this September totaled 5.95 inches compared to 3.14 inches in October of 2008.

 

TSS and BOD averaged 1.9 lbs/day (29 mg/l) and 4.8 lbs/day (79 mg/l), respectively.

 

See performance table below for this month’s comparisons, averages, year-to-date highs and lows, permit limits, and year-to-date violations.

 

Performance Table

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Parameters

October

September 

YTD Lo

YTD Hi

YTD Ave

2008 Ave

DEP Monthly Limit

Violations

Flow GPD

11100

8200

7719

41300

22620

22642

63000

0

Precip Inches

5.95

1.94

1.94

8.02

5.0

5.10

n/a

0

TSS lbs/d

1.9

2.26

.8

6.6

2.50

2.9

76

0

TSS mg/l

29

36

6.0

46.5

21.22

18.5

145

0

BOD lbs/d

4.8

4.7

1.8

13.7

6.31

8.2

107

0

BOD mg/l

79

95

15

95.3

52.83

56.5

203

0

TSS % Rem

90

88

84

98

92.6

94.2

50

0

BOD % Rem

73

68

67.2

95

83.7

80.3

30

0

pH lo

6.8

6.7

6.5

6.8

6.69

6.7

6.0

0

pH Hi

7.0

6.9

6.9

7.0

6.94

6.9

9.0

0

S.S. ml/l

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

<0.1

Report

0

F Col/100 ml

n/a

0

0

0

0

<2

15-ave

0

F Col/100 ml

n/a

0

0

0

0

2.0

50-max

0

 

Note: The last NVC Sewer Dept. violation was in February of 2006 which was for flow. No violation for TSS and/or BOD has occurred since August of 2005.

 

November 2009 Snapshot

 

The NVC Sewer Department will again be in full compliance with its discharge license in November. Flow will average around 20,000 gpd. 

 

2003 DEP Consent Agreement Interim Funding Report

 

The next semi-annual interim funding report to the DEP is due at the end of December. The report updates the DEP on the NVC’s efforts to find a funding package to pay for required improvements to the sewer collection system and treatment plant. These improvements are conditions of the 2003 DEP Consent Agreement. A draft letter will be presented to committee members for their input prior to its submission. Presently the Department has no knowledge of any affordable funding available to it. The Department will again highlight the NVC’s excellent compliance record over the last 4 years, its continuing efforts to fund and combat I&I – including this year’s replacement of nearly 400 ft of old sewer line - and the Department’s submittal to engineering students at UMO and MMA (Castine) to cost and design a new outfall pipe.

 

Inter-company Transfer Funds

 

The $10,000 inter-company transfer from the general fund to the sewer department for Phase III sewer work that has been done this year needs to be completed.

 

Water Department

 

October 2009 Usage and Water Quality

 

Water consumption during October averaged 15,300 gpd compared to 23,400 gpd in September and 17,800 gpd in October of 2008. The average weekly chlorine residual in the drinking water was .07 ppm compared to the recommended level of less than .2 ppm. The monthly coliform test result was negative.

 

35 Cobe Road

 

The Department received an inquiry on the availability of water and sewer service for 35 Cobe Road (George Campbell). The structure at this location became vacant last spring as a result of a fire. The individual proposes to build a new 3 bedroom structure on the existing foundation although as of yet the transfer of ownership has not occurred. It is likely that the Department would incur little to no cost to bring the water service back on line, but if so this would be recovered from the owner.

 

 However, the sewer line will likely require replacement in accordance with current sewer ordinances governing significant alterations to existing properties unless the owner can prove to the Department and the Board that the existing sewer line is in good condition, does not leak and meets current codes. Given its age of between 50 to 100 years, it is highly unlikely that this line could be certified. Replacement cost of the line and/or the engineering work needed to certify this line as tight and sustainable would be borne by the owner.

 

Water and Sewer Operating Fund Reserve Accounts

 

Per the committee’s recommendation last month, certificates of deposit for water and sewer were purchased on November 19, 2009 through Bangor Savings Bank. The annual interest yield for the CDs is .90% and both have been placed through CDARS using FDIC insured depository institutions. $60,000 was transferred from the Sewer checking account into a CDAR titled “Wastewater Operating Fund Reserve” and $30,000 was transferred from the Water checking account into a CDAR titled “Water Operating Fund Reserve”. Both CDARS mature in 52 weeks.

 

New Business

 

Chairman Crofoot would like to have a meeting in the near future with everyone physically present to review maps of the existing Sewer Infrastructure to see if we can possibly get away from the current consent agreement imposed by the state.

 

Adjourn

 

Judy Metcalf moved to adjourn, Jane Strauss seconded at 3:05 PM, Voted - all in favor.

 

After Adjournment

 

Chairman Crofoot scheduled the next meeting to be January 8, 2010.

 

Submitted by Paul Bartels