Water, Sewer & Streets Committee Meeting

Regular Meeting

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

1pm

Council Chambers

Present wereCommittee MembersRheault, Lotvedt andWentz. Also present were Mayor Cichos, City Auditor Hauck and Public Works SupervisorLarson.

Chairman Wentz called the meeting to order at 1:00pm.

Motion by Lotvedtto approve the minutes of August 21, 2013. Second by Rheault, all voting yes, motion carried.

The city won the bid to purchase a motor grader from the county. The bid was $153,100. It was picked up yesterday. Insurance is needed on the grader. A gate must be purchased and the wing that is on it can be sold. The Fiat Allis motor grader can be put out for bids. The expectation is to receive between $12,000 and $20,000 for it.

City Auditor Hauck presented an example of a policy that the city could have in place for people when signing up for water and sewer service. It would explain the responsibilities of the city and the individual. A signed copy could be retained at city hall. Wentz requested that the committee review the policy and discuss it at the next meeting.

Wayne Gerszewski and Roger Grimsley were present representing Advanced Engineering (AE2S). An inspection of the water treatment plant was conducted by AE2S and the results and proposed updates were presented. Inspection and proposed update categories included Filter Improvements, Softening Basin Improvements, Chemical Feed System Improvements, Electrical Improvements, and Miscellaneous Improvements. Total improvement estimated costs totaled $2,251,800.

Mayor Cichos exited the meeting at 1:26pm.

The committee discussed the prioritization of the improvement list and the items that could be removed. Discussion was held on the possibility of attaining money from NAWS to help with improvements. The committee decided it would be better to submit the entire list to NAWS and allow them to decide what they would be willing to pay for. Gerszewski agreed to write a memo to the city explaining the reasons for the improvements and provide a prioritized list. The committee would present this to the council for their review and then send it to NAWS with a letter requesting funds.

Chuck Longie requested that the committee call him regarding the storm water issues on 15th Street SW. The plan is to start digging a catch basin as soon as the ground is crisp. The surface water would drain from behind the Hub into the catch basin and from there would be bored to a new lift station behind Wes Millers to the storm sewer on 14th Street.

The fall projects are almost completed. Half of the sewers have been jetted. Fourth Street still needs to be jetted. After the sewers are jetted on a street, the city guys empty the fire hydrants. Tree trimming still needs to be done. Sweeping is being done around town also.

Discussion was held on the purchase of a new jet machine. The State Bid for a new jet machine is approximately $60,000. Leeds has agreed to buy our jet machine and we would like to sell them our root saw too. We would get a new root saw with the new jet machine.

The committee agreed that for new water service, the first meter will be free. Any replacement cost of meters caused by the owner’s negligence, i.e. freezing up or chewed up meter, would be the owner’s responsibility. If a meter has faulty programming or does not work, the city would be responsible for a new meter. This information could be included in the policy for signing up for new water service.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:47pm.

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Dawn Hauck, City AuditorDate Submitted

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Terry Wentz, ChairmanDate Approved