COMMISSIONERS Meeting Minutes July 29, 2015 The Commissioner s meeting convened at 10:00 a.m. in the training room at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, 104 Sawmill Lane North Conway, NH. The following were present: Commissioner James Umberger, Commission John Santuccio, Superintendent David Bernier, and Recording Secretary Kristine Cluff. Commissioner Nelson and Chief Preece were not able to attend this meeting. Call to Order Commissioner Umberger called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. There were no public hearing at this meeting. Public Hearings Minutes Motion of Commissioner Santuccio seconded by Commissioner Umberger on to accept the public minutes of July 1, 2015. Motion carried by voice vote 2-0-0. Minutes of July 15, 2015 were passed over as Commissioner Umberger was not present for the July 15, 2015 meeting. They will be carried to the meeting of August 12, 2015. Fire Department Fire Department business will be moved to the next meeting. Old Business There was no old business discussed at this meeting. Page 1 of 5
Commissioners Report/Superintendent s Report Superintendent s Report (Copied from the Superintendent s Report) NEW OFFICE ADDITION: Office addition has footings and walls poured, radon abatement piping completed, foundation water proofing and insulation installed. Contractor is still way behind schedule but plans on getting walls prefabricated in order to save time and get back on track. Precinct has started backfilling on Tuesday. Discussion: Superintendent Bernier noted the contractor feels he will be able to get back on schedule. He has contracted with a private building company to have the wall panels fabricated.. Superintendent Bernier explained that sometimes it is better to have the pre-fab because they are built in a controlled environment. Commissioner Umberger stated we still have to pour the floor. Superintendent Bernier explained we have to do the lolli columns. They need to be cut to the proper height. Once the main carrion beam is installed they will pour the floor. Superintendent Bernier stated he does not want to hold up the contractor and noted the work has been top notch. Superintendent Bernier explained with new construction it has become standard practice to pour concrete stairs. CONTRACT 8B: Contractor has completed all main line work on Hurricane and Mt Surprise Road, Paving and cleanup in this area is soon to be completed. Skyline drive main line sewer is 70% complete. Work is scheduled to be completed in this area in another 7 weeks. We expect that water line replacement will begin first week of September. Discussion: Superintendent Bernier stated the contractor has approximately 400 of main sewer line to finish and then they will be working on service laterals and drainage to get ready for pavement. Superintendent Bernier explained this crew is going to be moving to Lower Bartlett Water Precinct. There had been previous talk about moving this crew to Skyline Drive but there isn t enough room for a third crew. Superintendent Bernier explained the contractor has run into huge boulders in the middle of the road on this project. Superintendent Bernier thanked the local residents for their patience throughout this project. SLUDGE DEWATERING TOURS: Peter and I traveled to Biddeford Maine to tour new screw presses at the Biddeford WWTF. They have the same type of solids production as us so this was a good testament as to ability of similar equipment working for us. We are now looking at the possibility of piloting this equipment at our plant for further evaluation. Reasons we are looking into this endeavor are: 1) existing dewatering system is a bottle neck and the equipment is reaching its useful life ( 30 years). 2) We have already had problems finding parts for repairs. 3) The entire SCADA system had to be built by hand as the existing system is not compatible with current software. 4) Our system requires a lot of operator attention and cannot be run without manual operator attention. 5) The addition of CVFD coming to our system will eventually produce more solids and dewatering operations will increase Page 2 of 5
resulting in overtime or 10 hour per day schedule. 6) Our system requires more chemicals for dewatering some which are very hazardous and expensive. 7) Our existing system cannot dewater septage directly and requires treating septage within the plant system, this results in higher cost and limited ability to treat more septage resulting in turning away haulers during certain times. Discussion: Superintendent Bernier stated he and Chief Operator LaBonte first visited Allenstown Treatment Facility and were very impressed with this new technology. It is a much simplified design and treat with a chemical that is a polymer. When Conway Village comes on board it will in all likelihood increase our solids. Our dewatering is run in batches and treated chemically with ferric then lime is added. We are looking at a screw press that runs on SCADA. They take in 100,000 gallons per day and treat 20% of septage in the state. Our system is antiquated and we will be looking at longer days and overtime. This would be a new type of dewatering and odor control. We would be looking at 30% State Aid Grant (SAG) and additional 2% with every town that has a signed contract with NCWP up to 50%. This would be a great means for consideration to do a septage system upgrade. USRD MEETING: Bill Hounsell and I attended a meeting in Concord Yesterday with RD officials: Gregg McPherson, Mark Kowposki and Anne Getchell regarding possible funding for future Fire Station, Solar project and possible WWTF upgrade. Discussion: Superintendent Bernier explained through the Community Facilities Program we could look at loans for the fire station, additional solar project and possibly the WWTF upgrade. The population threshold for these projects is 20,000 and Rural Development s poverty rate is 4.5% where the state s market rate is 3 5/8 s. The North Conway Water Precinct can qualify for both. The state s market rate is almost the state s market rate is almost 1% lower. Greg McPherson stated Rural Development s grant would be smaller at $150,000.00 and we can go out 30 years. Superintendent Bernier explained the additional solar panel project qualifies under the community program and the good thing about Rural Development programs we don t have Davis Bacon wages. Superintendent Bernier explained we could purchase the panels overseas as we are not bound by the Buy American language. Superintendent Bernier stated the good news is there is a pilot program the Precinct may qualify for. There are some communities like Conway that have independent governing boards all within one town. The separate sub governments might be able to go to Rural Development because the entity does not have 10,000 census. CVFD could as well. The only thing available through the state is SAG Grants and they are not being funded. Mr. Hounsell and Superintendent Bernier are both excited about the possibility of being able to be eligible for Rural Development Loans and Grants. We do not want to see the funds turned back to Rural Development in Washington. Superintendent Bernier and Mr. Hounsell will be getting touch with our Congressional Delegation. Our local Rural Development is all for NH communities to be eligible for these funds. Mr. McPherson is sending an email to the administrator of Rural Development to contact Congress and reach out to all the local communities. Commissioner Umberger stated this is a real change from the town census of 10,000. Commissioner Umberger asked what the dewatering project would cost. Superintendent Bernier explained the total estimated cost 3.5 million dollars for dewatering upgrade, odor control and septage hauler upgrade. Allenstown has an automated scale system Page 3 of 5
where the invoice is printed right then and they take it with them. Allenstown can dump 4 haulers at a time. Septage goes in a roll off container through sand and stone and filtrates out the far end of the container. The second stage it is aerated similar to our sludge holding. They charge $.065 and generate ½ million dollars of net profit a year. We need to keep in mind this lowers costs per gallon of labor, chemicals and maintenance. Superintendent Bernier stated they toured the Biddeford, Maine plant last week. This plant has had this dewatering system for 2 years. We are interested in their pilot program and they will bring their mobile trailer and run some tests at NCWP. This will give us a basis for design. This typically costs approximately $15,000.00 and they are doing this a no cost to the Precinct. The competition s systems are called FKC utilizing a Fornier Press designed for the paper industry and primary sludge. Chief Operator LaBonte has done a lot of investigation on this matter and if this all works we could lower our septage fee of $.12 to an estimated seven or eight cents. Public Comment Tim Anderson questioned if the state is going to pave half of Hurricane Mountain Road. Superintendent Bernier explained the Precinct is repaving what we disturb and the state is not going to pave the remaining road. At this time, according to the state, they have no money. Mr. Anderson stated this is a wasted effort. Superintendent Bernier stated he would like to get on the Bartlett Selectmen s meeting schedule and bring them up to date on the Precinct s Bartlett projects. Tim Anderson questioned how much do we make in septage. Superintendent Bernier stated approximately $100,000.00. Superintendent Bernier explained there is still a significant amount of land spreading and we also had a hauler with a tractor trailer that is no longer coming to us. Mr. Anderson noted the Precinct is only bringing in about a 130,000 gallons per year. Mr. Anderson noted we would have to bring in four times that amount to do what Allenstown is doing. Typically it costs about $.03 to land spread and we are at $.12. Commissioner Umberger would like to see us solicit the input of the haulers. Signature Documents Sign Checks Motion of Commissioner Santuccio and seconded by Commissioner Umberger to ratify the Accounts Payable and Payroll checks dated July 30 signed of session. Motion carried by voice vote 3-0-0. There were no nonpublic session at this meeting. Non Public Session Page 4 of 5
Adjourn Having nothing further to come before this public meeting, Motioned by Commissioner Santuccio seconded by Commissioner Nelson to adjourn this public meeting at 10:47 a.m. Motion carried by voice vote 3-0-0. Respectfully, Kristine M. Cluff Recording Secretary Page 5 of 5