by Neil Richard
The Service Authority Board of Directors began their meeting at 6:30pm on February 19, 2019.
There were no amendments to the Agenda.
There was no Public Comment.
Chris Werle began his report by stating he attended the budget meeting on February 11th. On the 13th, he met with Mike Bennett, Jonathon Weakley, Dr. Neiman Young, Travis Quesenberry, Dean Hoagland, and Draper Aden to discuss and review their comments on the draft feasibility study to decommission the Purkins Corner and Oakland Park Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs). Werle said their comments were resolved and would be incorporated into the final report.
Richard Granger said he also attended the budget work session on the 11th and noted that budget work session for the 20th was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Cathy Binder noted that she attended the budget work session on the 11th as well as her first Agenda meeting on the 15th.
Ruby Brabo reported that she attended the budget work session on the 11th and appreciated the citizens that volunteered their time.
Mike Bennett also attended the budget session on the 11th and echoed Brabo's comments thanking the citizens for their hard work. He also clarified that the budget deficit noted during the work session, roughly $200,000, was a little too preliminary. He said the shortfall was relevant to the repairs and maintenance side of the budget, not the overall operation of the Service Authority. Bennett said there may be some other accounts that could make up for the shortfall. He also said that the Board of Supervisors had agreed to waive the cost allocation for the next fiscal year and that it would help the Service Authority a great deal. He thanked all of the Supervisors for their assistance. Bennett also attended the the Draper Aden meeting on the 13th as well as the Agenda meeting on the 15th. He noted that Binder would be joining them at future meetings.
The Consent Agenda was approved.
The County Attorney, Eric Gregory, had no report.
Mike Bennett then gave an update of Phase I of the Utility Master Plan. He said he thought it would be a good idea to get a presentation from Wiley Wilson and that previous discussions were around having it be part of the budget work session cycle. Bennett said that maybe it would be better instead to have them present in a regular work session, along with Draper Aden, to allow more time for questions and answers.
Jonathon Weakley, General Manager, gave his report next. Highlights of his report include discussion about the Hopyard Farm water system. As Weakley was describing the issues, Brabo asked if it was something to be concerned about because it was the newest system in the County. Weakley said yes but they feel they have narrowed it down to an electrical issue, they just haven't pinpointed the exact cause. He said he thought it might be an issue of "dirty power" from being at the end of the line but he wanted to be careful and not blame the power company without knowing all the details. He said he was going to look into getting a power recorder to chart data and then, if it was the power supply, work with the power company to find a solution.
Also of note was the Fairview Beach water system. Weakley said that the upcoming flow testing was because of an ISO survey that was due soon. Bennett said they've had really good water in Fairview Beach for awhile now and "I don't think anyone in Fairview Beach has said that."
Weakley then noted, sadly, that the Ninde water system storage tank was in danger of failing. He said the 6,000 gallon storage tank is leaking and that a previous survey noted it may not pass the next inspection in November. There was some discussion over rehabilitating the well house and storage tanks versus replacing them. Brabo said that even with a band aid fix, it may not give much more life. Werle said that Draper Aden said it may not be salvageable.
On the sewer side of the Service Authority, Weakley's report highlighted a new hire at the Dahlgren WWTP and their early initiative to become trained and licensed. Weakley said other open positions will be interviewing soon. Weakley did share some positive news, saying that Tim Maciejewski, Oakland Park WWTP Operator, reached out to a chemical supplier directly and ended up saving the Service Authority about $3,000 per month. Bennett said that he wasn't an engineer but getting chemicals from an engineering firm didn't seem like the best deal and thanked him for finding the savings. Brabo said it was amazing what a fresh set of eyes can do.
Weakley added a little more positive news, saying that future Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF) grants could be used for the bulk storage of chemicals which would in turn save more money in the future. He said he had to do more research to see if it was an option in the future.
Next was an update on where each WWTP stood regarding the Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP) limits. Weakley noted that he researched a previous question about better aligning the Dahlgren WWTP permit, with a TN limit of 4.0mg/L, and the WQIF grant, with a TN limit of 3.0mg/L. He said they wouldn't be able to change either but warned that new permits typically use the grant limit as a starting point. There was then some discussion as to previous work done in 2017 where samples showed much lower numbers but suddenly they rose in 2018. Brabo said she remembered there being something done by the previous General Manager and staff that was supervised and reviewed by Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and even the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Brabo asked if Weakley could look into that to see what happened. Werle agreed, saying he saw the lab reports and the lower numbers. Weakley said he would be happy to do so.
Regarding the nutrient tracking, Weakley shared that all WWTPs were operating within limits except for Dahlgren, which had TN of 0.7mg/L over the grant limit but 0.3mg/L under the permit limit, and Oakland Park which was right at the TN limit of 15.0mg/L. Bennett noted that the Total Nitrogen limits at Purkins Corner, 10.0mg/L, and Oakland Park, 15.0mg/L, were larger than the other WWTPs and that was likely the reason DEQ asked for a feasibility study on closing them down.
Speaking of the feasibility study, Weakley said the final report from Draper Aden would be coming soon along with first phase of the utility master plan from Wiley Wilson. Weakley also brought back an answer to Brabo's earlier question about projected connections and actual connections. Weakley said that the projection last year for connections was 62, with 53 being residential water and sewer, six for residential water only, and three commercial connections. He said to date, there have been 42 connections, with 37 being residential water and sewer, three for residential water only, and two commercial connections. Werle said that was roughly one third left to go to meet the projection with one third of the year left.
The Board then went into Closed Session at 7:22pm and invited Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, Eric Gregory, County Attorney, and Jonathon Weakley, General Manager.
The Board returned from Closed Session at 7:40pm.
The meeting adjourned at 7:40pm.
Meeting Attendees:
Christopher Werle (Board of Directors)
Jonathon Weakley (General Manager of Service Authority)
Richard Granger (Board of Supervisors)
Michael Bennett (Chairman, Citizen)
Ruby Brabo (Board of Supervisors)
Cathy Binder (Board of Supervisors)
Neiman Young (County Administrator)
Eric Gregory (County Attorney)
Meeting Agenda
Next Meeting:
The Service Authority will next meet on February 25, 2019 at 6:30 pm at Company 1.
Previous Meeting:
Read about the previous Service Authority Meeting.
The Service Authority Board of Directors began their meeting at 6:30pm on February 19, 2019.
There were no amendments to the Agenda.
There was no Public Comment.
Chris Werle began his report by stating he attended the budget meeting on February 11th. On the 13th, he met with Mike Bennett, Jonathon Weakley, Dr. Neiman Young, Travis Quesenberry, Dean Hoagland, and Draper Aden to discuss and review their comments on the draft feasibility study to decommission the Purkins Corner and Oakland Park Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs). Werle said their comments were resolved and would be incorporated into the final report.
Richard Granger said he also attended the budget work session on the 11th and noted that budget work session for the 20th was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Cathy Binder noted that she attended the budget work session on the 11th as well as her first Agenda meeting on the 15th.
Ruby Brabo reported that she attended the budget work session on the 11th and appreciated the citizens that volunteered their time.
Mike Bennett also attended the budget session on the 11th and echoed Brabo's comments thanking the citizens for their hard work. He also clarified that the budget deficit noted during the work session, roughly $200,000, was a little too preliminary. He said the shortfall was relevant to the repairs and maintenance side of the budget, not the overall operation of the Service Authority. Bennett said there may be some other accounts that could make up for the shortfall. He also said that the Board of Supervisors had agreed to waive the cost allocation for the next fiscal year and that it would help the Service Authority a great deal. He thanked all of the Supervisors for their assistance. Bennett also attended the the Draper Aden meeting on the 13th as well as the Agenda meeting on the 15th. He noted that Binder would be joining them at future meetings.
The Consent Agenda was approved.
The County Attorney, Eric Gregory, had no report.
Mike Bennett then gave an update of Phase I of the Utility Master Plan. He said he thought it would be a good idea to get a presentation from Wiley Wilson and that previous discussions were around having it be part of the budget work session cycle. Bennett said that maybe it would be better instead to have them present in a regular work session, along with Draper Aden, to allow more time for questions and answers.
Jonathon Weakley, General Manager, gave his report next. Highlights of his report include discussion about the Hopyard Farm water system. As Weakley was describing the issues, Brabo asked if it was something to be concerned about because it was the newest system in the County. Weakley said yes but they feel they have narrowed it down to an electrical issue, they just haven't pinpointed the exact cause. He said he thought it might be an issue of "dirty power" from being at the end of the line but he wanted to be careful and not blame the power company without knowing all the details. He said he was going to look into getting a power recorder to chart data and then, if it was the power supply, work with the power company to find a solution.
Also of note was the Fairview Beach water system. Weakley said that the upcoming flow testing was because of an ISO survey that was due soon. Bennett said they've had really good water in Fairview Beach for awhile now and "I don't think anyone in Fairview Beach has said that."
Weakley then noted, sadly, that the Ninde water system storage tank was in danger of failing. He said the 6,000 gallon storage tank is leaking and that a previous survey noted it may not pass the next inspection in November. There was some discussion over rehabilitating the well house and storage tanks versus replacing them. Brabo said that even with a band aid fix, it may not give much more life. Werle said that Draper Aden said it may not be salvageable.
On the sewer side of the Service Authority, Weakley's report highlighted a new hire at the Dahlgren WWTP and their early initiative to become trained and licensed. Weakley said other open positions will be interviewing soon. Weakley did share some positive news, saying that Tim Maciejewski, Oakland Park WWTP Operator, reached out to a chemical supplier directly and ended up saving the Service Authority about $3,000 per month. Bennett said that he wasn't an engineer but getting chemicals from an engineering firm didn't seem like the best deal and thanked him for finding the savings. Brabo said it was amazing what a fresh set of eyes can do.
Weakley added a little more positive news, saying that future Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF) grants could be used for the bulk storage of chemicals which would in turn save more money in the future. He said he had to do more research to see if it was an option in the future.
Next was an update on where each WWTP stood regarding the Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP) limits. Weakley noted that he researched a previous question about better aligning the Dahlgren WWTP permit, with a TN limit of 4.0mg/L, and the WQIF grant, with a TN limit of 3.0mg/L. He said they wouldn't be able to change either but warned that new permits typically use the grant limit as a starting point. There was then some discussion as to previous work done in 2017 where samples showed much lower numbers but suddenly they rose in 2018. Brabo said she remembered there being something done by the previous General Manager and staff that was supervised and reviewed by Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and even the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Brabo asked if Weakley could look into that to see what happened. Werle agreed, saying he saw the lab reports and the lower numbers. Weakley said he would be happy to do so.
Regarding the nutrient tracking, Weakley shared that all WWTPs were operating within limits except for Dahlgren, which had TN of 0.7mg/L over the grant limit but 0.3mg/L under the permit limit, and Oakland Park which was right at the TN limit of 15.0mg/L. Bennett noted that the Total Nitrogen limits at Purkins Corner, 10.0mg/L, and Oakland Park, 15.0mg/L, were larger than the other WWTPs and that was likely the reason DEQ asked for a feasibility study on closing them down.
Speaking of the feasibility study, Weakley said the final report from Draper Aden would be coming soon along with first phase of the utility master plan from Wiley Wilson. Weakley also brought back an answer to Brabo's earlier question about projected connections and actual connections. Weakley said that the projection last year for connections was 62, with 53 being residential water and sewer, six for residential water only, and three commercial connections. He said to date, there have been 42 connections, with 37 being residential water and sewer, three for residential water only, and two commercial connections. Werle said that was roughly one third left to go to meet the projection with one third of the year left.
The Board then went into Closed Session at 7:22pm and invited Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, Eric Gregory, County Attorney, and Jonathon Weakley, General Manager.
The Board returned from Closed Session at 7:40pm.
The meeting adjourned at 7:40pm.
Meeting Attendees:
Christopher Werle (Board of Directors)
Jonathon Weakley (General Manager of Service Authority)
Richard Granger (Board of Supervisors)
Michael Bennett (Chairman, Citizen)
Ruby Brabo (Board of Supervisors)
Cathy Binder (Board of Supervisors)
Neiman Young (County Administrator)
Eric Gregory (County Attorney)
Meeting Agenda
Next Meeting:
The Service Authority will next meet on February 25, 2019 at 6:30 pm at Company 1.
Previous Meeting:
Read about the previous Service Authority Meeting.
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