Town of Clover Sanitary District– Meeting Notice

 

Wednesday, February 10, 2021 to follow immediately the Town Board Meeting, likely around 8:00 PM in the Meeting Room of the Town Hall (Historic Gym).  

NOTE:  This meeting is in the main area—Gymnasium proper.  Masks are required.  The chairs are arranged to that social distancing (at least 6’ apart) is maintained.  Please do not rearrange the chairs.  The surfaces have been sanitized and will be again after the meeting(s).  Cleaning your hands by using the sanitizer provided at the entrances  (or better yet washing your hands for 20 seconds in one of the 4 bathrooms) is encouraged, if you cough do so in the crook of your elbow—not into your hands, feel free to wear masks to protect others, and project your voice so that all can hear.

NOTE:  The public is invited to attend, you may walk at any time, you will need to sign for the record, but there is no requirement to sign in separately if you wish to speak.   A speaker will not be limited to a three (3) minute time if responding to a particular agenda item during the discussion regarding that item.  Should it seem the point of your speaking to an agenda item is not evident, you may be asked to clarify what your purpose is.  When speaking to any agenda item, should it seem to the Chair that the same points are being repeated without additional information; the Chair will interrupt and list the points that have been heard to check that our hearing is accurate and asked if there are further points to be made.

NOTE:  The packets will be available to the public 1/2 hour prior to the meeting (that is 6:30pm).

Agenda:

Call to Order:

Roll Call:

Minutes of: (see packets)

    January

Treasurer’s Reports:

• January

Expenditures:  Motion to approve batch S-0210

Announcements:

Reports:

• Operations:  See reports below

• Dump Station Reports:

• Lakeshore:

• January=66,500 gal

• #2 Septic Pumping & Excavating:

• • • January=0

Business:

• Financial:  Discussion/Likely Action related to:

• reducing time from billing to imposition of penalty—Morelli

• transferring up to $20,000 from checking to Contingency (Savings)—Morelli (see Note #1 below)

• Review/Discussion (homework prior to meeting), possible amendments of Sections I, Definitions thru V, Permit Required of the Ordinance

• Review (homework prior to March meeting) Sections VI, thru XII for discussion and possible actions at the March Meeting (see packets for material)

• Any Agenda Items for next month or later

• Motion to adjourn

Agenda Items for Next Month or Later:

• Conjoined commercial properties at #04-014-2-50-07-09-2 00-152-30000 that if sold separate will require unhooking from one and hooking up separately to the District Main

Agenda prepared by the Town Chair.  Notice and agenda posted by the Clerk on or before 7:00 PM Tuesday, February 10.  Posting is at the Town Hall, Post Office, the Town Web site herbsterwisconsin.com and email group.

The Town Hall is accessible to those persons with physical disabilities.  For assistance please contact the Town Office at 715-774-3780.

APPENDIX

Announcements, nothing further

 

Reports

• Follow Up of I/I Discovered with Collection System Video:

• Property #04-014-2-50-07-09-2 00-152-30000 demonstrated a large leak around the junction of lateral into the main.  No remote-controlled camera is available at a reasonable cost.  A letter was sent October 12, 2017 (following approval of the Amendment to the SD Ordinance 10/11/17) to the business owner notifying them that the District will excavate the site to inspect the situation, if the problem is with the main, the District will foot the costs of repair, if the problem is found to be the either the connection of further up on the lateral the Business will pay for the costs of excavation and repairs.  We will be in further communication with them as to when the excavation will be done.  The Certified Operator-in-Chief will be working with the Birch Street Excavating and a Licensed Plumber on this project.

• Training in Progress:  The Certified Operator-in-Training is now working with the Certified Operator-in-Chief on most Tuesdays and Thursdays.  The goal is to have the Operator-in-Training familiar with in a hands-on way all 128 items on the Robust Preventive Maintenance list.  When a task calls for two (2) persons to do a task, the Operator-in-Training will provide the second person.

• Valves:  At the ponds, the valve between the two (2) ponds cannot be opened.  There are two (2) other valves that open with great resistance.  These three (3) valves will need to be replaced this year (2021).  The fall transfer of influent between the ponds was diverted thru the use of another valve and by gravity emptying into Cell 2 pond.   All the valves are 34 years old, so all will likely need to be replaced over the next few years.  It is now known what the function of the valve that cannot be found is.  With use of a  metal detector this valve could not be found, but probing will be done in the Spring in an effort to locate this missing valve.  The missing valve has not yet been removed from the list of valves needing exercise.

• Discharge pipe from Cell #2 (the pond that holds the influent for the 2nd part of the year and from which the discharge from the ponds occurs):  with the opening of the ponds for discharge from Cell #2 this fall, the discharge flow rate was significantly less than expected and could not be increased.  There was a blockage in the pipe where there is a 45o angle Y.  One leg of this Y is the “new” discharge, gravity fed discharge and the side currently used.  The other leg of the Y goes to a stub off at the old manhole from which cell #2 used to be discharged with a pump that lifted the discharge up to a point west of the ponds on near Old Hwy 13 and then out by gravity from there.  This is the second time that there has been a blockage in this portion of the drainage system since the discharge was switched to all gravity discharge.  October 13, 2020 a commercial pumper/roto rooter unblocked this discharge pipe.  With each blockage the problem seemed to be turtles.  It is theorized by the experts that turtles gain access to the stubbed portion of the Y, lay their eggs in this secluded spot, the eggs hatch and the babies live there because all that the need is present there to thrive.  The grow and eventually grow so large they try to escape, but get stuck in the Y and thus cause blockage.  The Commission, at its September meeting approved that the “new” discharge pipe be replumbed to permit straight discharge from Cell #2 and thus eliminate the Y that is so conducive to eventual turtle blockage.

• The DNR inspection occurred November 16, 2017 with both Balog and Steele present.  An e-mail of the report was received with the following recommendations:

• Remove weeds from the rep rap surrounding the ponds.  These weeds are now being controlled at least twice/year.

• Modify emergency pumps so that they will be able to perform with the new configuration at Lift Station #1.  Also, modify to improve method of controlling leakage during pumping.  The pumps were tested earlier 2018 and worked for a brief time pumping effluent to the pond.  The pump itself failed, and was repaired in August.  The emergency pumps were tested in situ in October 2018 and were exercised for 15 minutes.  Some packing to the main pump needed to be replaced, the packing has been replaced and the new hoses have been installed.  The emergency pumps are now being tested both in the Spring and Fall and this testing began June and again in the Fall of 2019 and passed on all counts.  The with the test was in the spring of 2020.  With that test there were some pump issues that have been addresses, thus the testing was successful.  This is a good example of why the emergency pumps need to be tested at least twice per year.  Next will June of 2021.  

• Improvement to hauled waste system:

• Screen waste.  The screen is now present (January 2020) in the drainage channel for the haulers to empty their waste into Cell #1

• The area of the bank where the hauled waste is being dumped is eroding.  In the Spring of 2021 this area was shored up with 4” minus rock.  The erosion is now controlled.  The area will continue to be monitored to see if the 4” minus rock continues to be effective.  If not, perhaps a concrete pad similar to that in Cell #1 at Cornucopia will be needed to protect the bank.

• Obtain GPS coordinates for each manhole.  GPS coordinates are now (Summer 2019) obtained for the 40% of manholes inspected utilizing two (2) operators, the tripod and harness.  One of the Operators GPS finder on a cell phone.  In 2020 the 20% of manhole inspections for that year was not done secondary to problems with the Multi-gas meter.  It was sent in to the company for repair and not returned until late fall.  Thus in 2021 the plan is to inspect 40% of the manholes (those planned for 2020 and those planned for 2021).  Thus, the 1st rotation of manhole inspections will be completed in 2022.  With each of the 20% manhole checks the GPS coordinates are or will be located and recorded.  Thus, all the GPS coordinates for all the manholes will be present by 2022.  (40% of the Manholes as of November 2020 have GPS Coordinates identified).  

• • Safety Lock (ant hill) at Ponds:  No spills since the last Commission Meeting.  The current ring holding the manhole cover is defective.  It will be replaced in the spring of 2021 so that the manhole cover can be placed tightly, thus reducing intrusion from rain and snow from the loose cover.
  • Emergency alarm phone:  The phone is now installed and operational (2020).  Thus far all alarms have been for benign issues.
  •  Wastewater Ponds:  
    • Expenses for the ponds are now separated from the Collection System Expenses Done

• Duckweed is useful for removing phosphorous from solution, but if allowed to die in the ponds will decompose and release the sequestered phosphorus back into the pond solution.  To reduce the phosphorous discharged from the ponds, duckweed will be removed prior to death in the fall and placed over the south edge of the pond mounds.  It is hoped that this will keep the duck from releasing the phosphorous sequestered in its system back into the ponds and thus further reduce the amount of phosphorous released eventually to Lake Superior.  The duckweed was removed prior to death in the  fall for both 2019 & 2020.  The phosphorus was down with discharge from the ponds fall 2019.  In 2020 the duckweed was in a different location in Cell #2 and removal was not possible due to this location.  The phosphorous value was up into the forbidden area for the Fall 2020 dump, but because the phosphorous was very low with the Spring 2020 dump, the average phosphorous dumped from the system was within the limits set by the DNR Discharge Permit.  We will continue to monitor to see if the variance in phosphorous levels is related to the success of duck weed removal in the fall.  If so, the removal of duckweed is likely effective.  The trick is to find the “sweet spot” so that not so much duck weed is removed that it cannot come back with the following summer as it is needed to remove phosphorus from the ponds.

• • The top 10 to-be-sure-to-do items are as outlined by the person to whom the CMOM will be presented are:
    • Televise 10% of your sewer system each year (this is for large systems).  For small systems this would entail excess transportation costs, thus would most likely be done all at once (completed video of entire system October of 2016).  Televising the system will be done every 5 years and it is included in Step 1 evidence, Goals (next scheduled video of the entire system is 2021).  The video equipment if available for free from the Wisconsin Rural Waters Association of which the Town of Clover Sanitary District is a member.
    • GIS Mapping.  GIS mapping allows for several layers to be in the computer imaging, allows for a zoomed in focus on one small section and likely allows for rotating the image as indicated.  In pursuing the cost and possible GIS mapping Steele received word from Eric DeVenecia, DNR Sanitary Engineer that GIS is not required and in fact our As-builts are sufficient.  They are scanned to electronic file and a second laminated copy of the portions that could be taken to the field is present.  The purpose of this requirement is so that the operators and most easily locate any item in the collection system.  (completed 2017 and lamination of “as builts” for replumbing of Lift Station #1 was completed 2018)
    • Sewer Use Ordinance and Charges.  The Ordinance was revised July 2015 and reviewed and amended February 8, 2017 and with a further amendment 10/11/17.  Further Amendments were created in 2019.  Charges were created for the 2020 year based on Appendix A.  The charges are created annually based on Appendix A and the Ordinance will be reviewed and updated as needed at least every 2 years—with the April Meeting of 2019 the 2019 review was complete (next will be 2021—in process).  The Ordinance Amendment(s) are completed for this 2 year cycle.  Separate Budget for the Collection System and Wastewater Treatment Plant.  (Done February, 2018)

• Fats, Oil, and Grease (FOG) Control Program.  This has not been a problem thus far in our system.  The Operator checks at the main lift station monthly for balls accumulating and also checks the ponds monthly when the top layer of the ponds is liquid.  This is included in the CMOM.  The final clearance of fat from the system with this round will be during the cleaning process on the old Air Release Valve.  The Air Release Valve was changed July 2019 for the 1st time since installation (~30 years) and no fat was present.  The Air Release Valve will be replaced (after cleaning) every other year with the next being 2021.

• • Private Laterals and Building Inflow Sources.  40%-60% of the pipe in the ground in a District is private pipe.  It cannot be ignored if the District is to have a successful CMOM and I/I reduction program.  Private lateral inspection, televising, repair, rehabilitation and especially funding are vital for managing the collection system as a whole.  The Ordinance must be reviewed with an eye toward this.  (the Commission Continues to delayed action on this until at least the 2021 current Ordinance Review).
  • Private Lateral Connection Inspections.  This is included well in the Ordinance and referenced in the CMOM.
  • Emergency Response Plan, Esp. Basement Backups.  There is a template for rural communication assistance partnership.  How many basements are there connected to the system in our District?  There are 82 improved properties with 22, at least partial Basements.  A list of properties with basement status has been created and shared with the Operators.  Are there really any basement backups occurring or at risk of occurring?  (no basement backups reported to the Commission as of February 9, 2021)
  • Information and Education (I&E) Program.  We are currently sending out at least one (1) educational flyer/year with the 3rd Quarter Sewer bills.  This is codified in the CMOM with an exhibit of the annual mailings present.  This education will be switched from a 3rd Quarter insertion into the bills to an annual letter from the prior year to go out with the January bills.  The letter will include system specific education regarding how to maintain a well-functioning system.  Not included in January 2021, thus will be included in April 2021 bills.
  • Annual CMOM Program audit and CMAR.  CMOM was never intended to be another paper exercise.  It isn’t to be a paper weight or to gather dust.  For CMOM success, real committed success, to reducing SSOs and basement backups and breakdowns and crisis management, it needs to be reviewed and revised as needed every year especially the GOALS.  Did we meet them last year?  Yes.  What are our revised or new goals for the coming year?  See Section 1 Evidence in the CMOM for these.  What are our changed or new priorities and budgeted tasks/projects based on that sewer televising?  Next to be figured 2021 after the next scheduled televising.  As part of our CMAR (The Operator-in-Chief makes this report annually) view every one of the collection system section performance indicator graphs.  Print them and put them in the CMOM every rear, right up front in the Annual Audit section of your CMOM.  What are the trends?  Are they decreasing? (Need to do the last two items of this section, discussed with Operator-in-Chief, perhaps Operator-in-Training is the best person to explore implementation of these items)

 

Updates: to the Collection System O & P Manuel Section VII is now complete and further revisions to it plus the Wastewater Treatment System Manuel continue in revision.

 

NOTES

 

Note #1:  There is currently $45,000 in checking earning little interest.