City of Bloomington, Indiana Utilities Service Board, 28 Sep 2020

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From YouTube: Bloomington Utilities Service Board, September 28, 2020

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meeting agenda: https://bloomington.in.gov/onboard/meetingFiles/download?meetingFile_id=7662

A

And call this uh september 28th meeting of the utility service board.

A

To order uh before we uh go on with the agenda, we need to take a.

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Moment to consider amending the agenda.

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We there's been a request to remove item number six, which is the.

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Memorandum of understanding that we were going to consider.

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With planning and transportation to remove that.

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Because it's not quite ready to go yet and.

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Instead, add, as item number six, the new item number six.

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um A bid opening for the residual basin improvement project at.

A

The monroe treatment plant, so is there a motion to approve this.

A

Amended agenda.

B

Second, all right: um uh latrina, can you please call the roll.

C

Roberts, yes tapler. Yes, spanish, yes,.

C

Yes, german, yes fermenter! Yes, okay,.

A

uh Our agenda is amended, so uh next item is approval of the minutes.

A

From our september 14th meeting, are there any uh changes or.

A

Discussion about the minutes, okay, saying none.

A

Is there a motion to approve still move, that's good, all right and latrina. Please.

A

Call the roll chairman, yes burnham,.

C

Yes, roberts, yes, kepler yeah. Yes, our mentor.

C

Yes, yes, okay, minister, approved next up.

A

Is approval of the claims? uh First item is the standard.

A

Invoices in the amount of one million one hundred and three thousand five.

A

Hundred and thirteen dollars and nine cents are there any questions.

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Or comments about uh invoices.

A

Okay, seeing none, I is there, a motion to approve the invoices.

B

Second, all right, uh laquina, janet yes,.

C

Sherman? Yes, roberts, yes parameter! Yes,.

C

Burnham, yes, kepler. Yes, all right invoices are approved next.

A

Up utility bills in the amount of seventeen thousand four.

A

Hundred and fourteen dollars and uh one cent and are there any questions.

A

About utility bills, see none. Is there a motion to approve.

A

No move second uh latrina parmenter.

C

Yes, vernon, yes, kepler, yes,.

C

Yes, roberts, yes sherman! Yes,.

A

All right, thank you. Next up, warrior transfers in the amount of 365 thousand.

A

Eight hundred and eighty three dollars and eighteen cents.

A

Any questions on wire transfers comments see none. Is there a motion to approve.

A

I'll move, second, all right and latrina.

A

Kepler, yes,.

D

Yes, commenter, yes, sherman, yes, burnham.

C

Yes, roberts, yes, okay, thank you. uh Wire transfers are.

A

Approved uh last item under claims is the customer refunds in.

A

The amount of 783.73 cents, any questions or comments, seeing none is.

A

There a motion to approve refunds. Second,.

A

And my trainer have, please call the roll.

E

Yes, our mentor, yes, kepler, yes, burnham.

C

Yes, roberts, yes sherman! Yes,.

A

All right, thank you. Customer refunds are approved.

A

Next up is the approval of the consent agenda.

A

And I'll turn this over to rick telson.

A

Oh and bake your muted, I know it's set there, hello, everyone, I'm happy to be.

F

Here tonight, with the consent agenda, which totals eleven thousand nine.

F

Hundred fifty three dollars and twenty five cents.

F

uh The first item is to precision quality contracting.

F

Which is eighteen hundred and fifteen dollars and twenty five cents to install.

F

Cat six cable uh from the exterior to interior of the.

F

Service center for security, camera uh cr construction, four thousand six.

F

Hundred eighty five dollars to repair the roof at monroe.

F

uh And replace a roof door also and see our construction night. Four thousand.

F

Nine hundred fifty three dollars for replacement of two metal doors at.

F

Monroe plant and finally, brown soil, consulting llc.

F

That's 500 for inspection and sampling of soil and.

F

Preparation of a new septic field, also at monroe.

F

uh Are there any of these items that board members would like to consider.

F

Separately, hearing none if there's no opposition.

F

These will be approved, as recommended by staff here in opposition.

F

So these items are approved. Thank you.

A

Thanks dick all right uh item number five request for approval.

A

Of proposed language for title 10, section 17,.

A

Of the bloomington municipal code and I'll turn this over to james paul, please.

G

Thank you, uh james hall, cbu, environmental. I'm not sure how chris.

G

Usually, does it with the code changes, but I think we sent you the redline.

G

Version and everything, so you guys have all that so I'm not going to read it all.

G

um What I will tell you, the big changes are, is we're adding something called a.

G

Hydro mechanical grease interceptor, it uses um diverters and different things in the flow in the way that it separates oil.

G

And a lot of these tanks are plastic and so they're, cheaper and smaller.

G

We did a year-long study at the domino's east location.

G

And it turned out very favorable and so we're kind of we're revamping the.

G

Language to include these type of separators in there and we're also including a preferred proper program.

G

Permit, I think uh we call it a permit in there.

G

um To uh so that we can get all the the haulers that haul grease on the same.

G

Page and make sure they're doing and providing the same type of service.

G

For the fscs, so they know that their the fscs are.

G

Getting uh what they need from from the haulers.

G

Is there any questions about anything that you saw in there.

A

uh First, from the word jim, you had a question.

E

um Sort of um just a clarification, um what was just said was as far as the.

E

Haulers being on the same page, I'm not so sure what that means.

E

Can you expound on that or is there like or.

E

Writing somewhere that I could just verify that.

G

Yeah, no I'll explain kind of what we mean there right now.

G

When they have a a haul or come out to the food service to to clean their.

G

Grease interceptor, um they know they don't all do the same.

G

Type of service, um some of them will try to.

G

Maybe put what they call the supernate the water from when they sucked it out.

G

In the solids back into the separator, which isn't good because a lot of times you put grease back into it, some of them aren't knocking the grease off the side of the walls of the.

G

Interceptor we're going to kind of tell them what has to be done at a minimum. We're also going to part of that program.

G

We're going to require that they submit the grease hauling receipt to the.

G

Utility for that right now, that's on the food service industry.

G

We have 500 and sorry, let me get the number here. um 561.

G

Active food service industries, we only have 25 haulers so.

G

It'd be much easier for us to kind of regulate and.

G

Ask the haulers to do this instead of trying to keep track of 561 people.

G

Our businesses that may be doing this, so we think it'd, be.

G

Advantageous and it'll also be good for the fscs, because.

G

um They're, the ones that kind of are responsible for it. So if they don't do.

G

It they're the ones that get a violation a lot of time there. They.

G

Expect the hauler to do that and they're just not doing it um a lot of the.

G

Haulers now know that we asked for this and so they're, providing that as a service and now we're just going to require them to do that. Thank you. Thank you, james all right, mr.

E

Hall, okay, oh um chris, did you.

A

Have something to add? uh Yes, I uh also uh hi chris wheeler city legal, also.

H

uh In a response to.

H

Jim's question um part of the permitting program's.

H

Requirements will be uh prior to receiving a permit.

H

um The grease hauling company that wishes to do this type of work is going.

H

To need to take a a um some sort of a class, that's being.

H

Put together by james and his uh crew.

H

It's going to be some sort of a mandatory operator, training class.

H

That will help all of the folks that are seeking permits.

H

In order to continue to do this, work to be trained in how to properly.

H

Remove uh the waste from the receptacles uh proper maintenance of those.

H

Receptacles proper hauling of those of the waste materials and proper.

H

Disposal they're finding they being cbu staff.

H

Members are finding that um there are lots of different methods.

H

Being employed that aren't necessarily best methods and.

H

Best practices so there's an educational component and.

H

We're hoping to bring everybody up to a better standard of.

H

Service for the food service industries uh and and lastly, I'll note uh that sort.

H

Of higher standard will create a.

H

More effective, grease, interceptor um or grease retention, receptacle.

H

It'll make it more effective in the field for the.

H

Food service industry, in keeping these greases out of our system in the first.

H

Place um those those are my comments well.

E

Thank you, mr wheeler, and I really appreciate that, and I agree with that. um What has been your reaction.

E

With the haulers, um has there been any pushback or support.

G

uh No, we we've already been speaking to them in a lot of them.

G

That do a lot of business in the city already uh do a lot of the things that.

G

We've asked them to um just now: we want to make sure we get.

G

It in place, so it's fair for all of them that we're requiring and.

G

Some aren't doing it and some aren't.

E

Okay, thank you. I appreciate standardization.

E

And just so that we're all clear um my role is liaison. I just I might ask a few.

E

Questions but I want to be clear so that in my position I can support um the the the utility service board and.

E

The utilities department, um as best as I can so.

E

Thank you for explaining that I appreciate it and and I'll explain a.

G

Tiny bit on what mr willer said, um the training will it'll be very short, so.

G

It's not going to take a lot of the haulers time, we're looking at a 30 to 60.

G

Minute, training and it'll be once every two years so.

G

We're not going to take a lot of their time; it doesn't cost any money for them.

G

We're going to you know they just they're just going to be required to do it to be able to haul grease to dillman road.

E

Okay, thank you very much. I appreciate it. uh Chris wheeler did you have another.

A

Comment and then okay and I I saw megan parmenter- had.

A

Indicated and then julie, megan, um thank you. So I see in the.

I

Information that food service establishments have different.

I

Requirements to do say, 30 days for cleaning something or.

I

Different days for that, how often do the fscs have to.

I

Have the grease traps pumped or cleaned by these service providers.

G

um Well, if you have an outside interceptor, you're required.

G

Every three months to do that and then, if we find that um when we go.

G

Out and we inspect them that they're not up to you're discharging.

G

Grease and there's a there's, a number 25 percent of the capacity and the grease.

G

These heightened new ones, hydro mechanical. They work a little different.

G

But anyway, if they're over that, then we ask to be.

G

Clean more often, the 30-day are smaller units that sit inside the fse.

G

That um that require more frequent cleaning, just because they're much.

G

Smaller in size, and they they can't hold the volume of grease that these larger outside units hold. So that's where you get the 30 the 30 days on those those are called the grease traps. That's.

G

The languages you see in the in the code. Thank you. Yes,.

C

And julie roberts just curious james will the trainings be.

B

Only for one person from each of the hauling companies or will each employee who actually runs one of the.

B

Trucks, and does the cleaning be required to do the training.

G

um I jason winning, who is our pre-tripping corner, I'm going to defer.

G

That question to him, because I know we've talked about this and talked about a few different things, so I want to make sure that it stayed at.

G

Correctly, so jason, could you please help me on this yeah, um so the plan.

J

Right now is to have each uh each hauler each.

J

Person actually running a truck will come in and be able to get this.

J

Training, a lot of these are smaller haulers, so.

J

They only have maybe three four employees who come in and sit down.

J

And the big part is trying to catch these large national companies who come.

J

Down from indianapolis they'll have a driver that'll run that.

J

Route, um those drivers change over fairly often, and so it gets really.

J

Difficult to try and get in contact with them and get them on the same page. So this will kind of.

J

Require them to come in see how we do things.

J

And know how to properly report to us. I appreciate that because if you only.

B

Teach one person in the organization and then they're responsible for teaching.

B

Everybody else it can be like a game of telephone, so the more standardized the training is, the more effective it'll be.

A

uh Any other questions comments. I have just one point to.

A

I wanted to clarify in my head, I remember when we were talking about.

A

Doing the study to see how these smaller hydro mechanical.

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Interceptors might work and would they be sufficient.

A

uh Do a good enough job and- and I think I remember that one of the.

A

Benefits, maybe of using these systems is that they're a little less.

A

Expensive for um the restaurants for the business is.

A

That the case- okay, okay, yeah yeah.

A

Okay, so so this is this change thing. You know we're going to allow the.

A

These smaller systems um to operate is actually going to be a benefit for.

A

Business owners so good correct uh and if I could.

H

Chime in real quick on that ms kepler, it's.

H

In the summary, at the very end of the proposed.

H

Resolution, it's actually at the end of the exhibit a.

H

There's a summary, and in that we discuss the intent with these.

H

Amendments is to hopefully have an economic.

H

Impact that's beneficial to the food in this food service.

H

Industry as a whole, by creating more a more varied.

H

Type of grease retention device- that's acceptable to the program at cbu.

H

It should have an economic impact that makes it more.

H

Affordable for the food industry to be compliant with this program.

A

Thank you and mr kelson, you wanted to add yeah. I just wanted to.

F

Reinforce what chris said, I think you may remember several years.

F

Ago, when I first came to cbu one of the one of the issues that uh we were.

F

Constantly dealing with was uh restaurant owners and others that.

F

Were uh upset about the grease interceptors.

F

That it was quite a burden for them to bear. They were expensive to put in.

F

Difficult to locate because they had to be big.

F

And made of concrete, it was a a program that put us in a lot of cases.

F

At odds with our regulated community- and there was a lot of concern about it-.

F

We've been very fortunate to have the opportunity to experiment.

F

With interceptors, the the folks at domino's came.

F

Came to us with an interceptor design that they've been using elsewhere.

F

It's been through peer-reviewed research.

F

Efforts and so forth and it's been a very successful for them so when they.

F

Came to us, we agreed to do the one-year trial.

F

At the at the dominos- and it's been such a, it's been a success for us.

F

uh And also for them- and uh it's put us in a position where.

F

We can expand the options for the regulated community and reduce the cost.

F

Of compliance with the greece program so.

F

You know it's it's important. I just at this point.

F

I want to make sure that everybody understands that a lot of this is.

F

Happening because we do listen to our customers and try to deal.

F

With the concerns that they have and the quest answer, the questions that they ask.

F

The other thing, the other thing I needed to say, is that this needs to go to the.

F

Council, after the board, finishes action on it.

H

Okay and I'm sorry, uh gene, if I could jump in then and just give the.

H

Board some understanding of that timeline.

H

um We are expected to hear back from council council's.

H

Attorney tomorrow, to give us the official timeline, but.

H

We expect that this ordinance, if approved tonight, is very likely to be.

H

In front of council by october 21st for first reading, which.

H

Means we would need to get a this form of ordinance, as recommended.

H

To them to counsel uh no later than the 12th of october, so coming right up.

H

We'd still have another shot at it. If we want to do any changes.

H

Right now, if the board wishes to make any suggested changes, we could have.

H

Another opportunity to look at it in two weeks.

H

But that would sure be putting us up against a hard deadline.

H

Doesn't mean we can't do it, I just I'm just letting you know that.

A

Thank you and mr sims did they see your hand up.

E

Thank you. No, I just want to say as a and what mr.

E

Wheeler states is exactly right. I am part of the council leadership.

E

Team, obviously, and we meet every tuesday with scheduling.

E

And we have um not a we haven't scheduled anything, but this.

E

Has been part of our scheduling decision, so what mr wheeler says is exactly right.

E

But what I wanted to say was: I think it will be helpful that when it's presented.

E

To the council, I would like to see a graph of some sort or some.

E

The difference on the savings for our business owners.

E

If there's any way that we can kind of have data.

E

And I know it: it's different for every business, probably.

E

But if there's like a.

E

What we think the savings will be, how much will this positively.

E

Impact um our business owners, our fscs, I think, would be helpful.

E

Okay, uh we, we know the cost of the units. um The whole is the big variable that.

G

You know they have to, but we can. We can try to figure out um a cost. A.

G

Size of the hole that has to be dug for concrete and then compared that to the.

G

The size of a hole that has to be dug for the.

G

Smaller units, I appreciate that and I think.

E

On average, if there's such a thing- and I don't doubt anyone's word- but it's.

E

One thing to say that we will be beneficially financially.

E

Beneficial to the business owner, but it's quite another to.

E

Have that somewhat documented.

E

Or or something showing that that to be the case,.

E

And how beneficial that would be- and I know it won't- be an exact science.

E

Because we're just you know, I know that, but I'd like to.

E

Have an idea of the actual savings and how this legislation could.

E

Benefit the fscs. Thank you.

A

Any other comments or thoughts. Okay, then uh scene, none is there a.

A

Motion to approve this proposed language for.

A

Title 10 section 17 of the bloomington.

A

Municipal code.

B

Second and latrina, can you please call the roll.

C

Sherman, yes, roberts, yes, burnham.

C

Yes, permitter, yes, kepler, yes,.

C

Yes, all right that language is approved. Thank you.

A

Next up item six: we have a bid opening for the.

A

Residual basin improvement and road treatment plant.

A

And I I think that was going to be brad is brad on.

C

Yes, he's with me jane uh here in the room.

C

Oh there you are.

D

This is, this is brad schrader of the engineer, department.

D

This is the bid opening for the monroe residual pumping.

D

Improvements project we have received two bids tonight and I'm going to open.

D

D

These are lump sum bids for the project we receive bids until five o'clock. This.

D

D

Okay, the first proposal is from.

D

I get their name right: streaml, design and construction.

D

Incorporated and their bid amount is for 559 thousand.

D

376., that's streagle, construct.

D

Design and construction incorporated.

D

The second bid.

D

Is from infrastructure systems incorporated and their bid amount.

D

Is 525 277.

D

Dollars: zero cents. Those are the two bids we received.

D

Tonight we will review both packages and both bids.

D

With our engineer and come forward in two weeks with a recommendation.

D

For which one was selected, thank you all right.

A

Let's see at this point, I just want to remind the public that might be watching.

A

On our facebook live stream that, if you would like to make any public comment.

A

uh Now might be a good time to put those comments.

A

In the comment section on the facebook live.

A

And then holly mclaughlin will read those aloud during.

A

Our petitions and communications section all right.

A

Moving on to is there any old business from the board.

A

All right any old business from staff- oh mr wheeler, no, okay, um any new business.

A

From the board, uh no new business from staff, okay,.

A

And I don't believe there are any subcommittee reports tonight. Is that.

A

Correct all right and also staff reports.

A

uh Mr kelson uh good evening, I just have a couple of things.

F

uh The first one is that uh we've been going through a pandemic, but even so.

F

uh Cbu has continued to be moving ahead with all of our.

F

All of our projects- and I want to take this.

F

Opportunity to celebrate uh the completion.

F

Of the advanced metering infrastructure project.

F

uh And I'd especially, would like to call out contributions of.

F

Some of a group of current and retired employees, who.

F

uh Worked for hundreds and hundreds of hours over the last couple of years on.

F

The project uh these are troy powell and nancy axem.

F

From engineering, paula, dodds, megan danzig.

F

Rance fabish uh robin guyton and triana johnson, oh and kim trotter, all from.

F

From finance and kenny johnson in tnd meter service- and I also.

F

Would like to thank uh the assistant directors, laura pettit, brandon, prince.

F

And brad schrader for their leadership on the project.

F

It's been going on a long time. We have.

F

Right now, 138 meters remaining to be replaced, they'll all be replaced by cbu.

F

Staff, as our contractor has completed their work- uh and I just wanted to say this- this kind of initiative.

F

Was included in the 2016 rate case, which started just after I got here so we've.

F

Been working on it for a good long, while uh this is a.

F

Transformative change for the utility beyond the obvious things of improving.

F

Our billing efficiency and our billing accuracy it's going to bring us a lot of detailed data that will help us make better decisions. We'll also give our customers access to more data about their water.

F

Use that will help them with their conservation efforts in the.

F

Future, so I want to thank everyone. Who's been working on this project for the.

F

Last couple years and if I forgot anybody's name, I.

F

Apologize, and I also would like to thank the board for all your support.

F

Of the whole initiative, it's been a long time coming.

F

And I'm happy to be able to finally found a stake in the ground and say this.

F

One's over um another thing, we got to found a stake.

F

In the ground about yes, jim um yeah, vic.

K

Any expected date, when uh rate when users will be able to.

K

Access their data, yes, we're we're.

F

Getting ready to roll that out we're working on a plan for that.

F

uh Holly's going to be working with the mayor's office on some public.

F

Information things about that and I know laura's.

F

Folks have already been have been working on it and laura. Do we.

F

Have a final schedule for when we're going to really start the big rollout.

C

I don't have one uh for this meeting, but I should have one shortly.

D

We've been working on it with our our vendor. On that.

K

A

Well and vic, I would just like to say again.

A

On behalf of the board, thank you to all of the staff that.

A

That made this happen and as as a cbu customer myself, I'm really looking.

A

Forward to having that customer portal- and um you know so- I'm I'm glad that.

A

It's gone as smoothly and, as I know, it's been a long time, but there's.

A

A lot of work, so thank you all.

F

Thank you. uh I do have one other thing and that's also.

F

Kind of pounding a stake in the ground, the uh pcb incinerator building at.

F

Winston thomas is gone now and uh that project.

F

Was completed in about a week uh so right now it just looks like dirt. So.

F

That that project is is done as well. um I'm glad we've gotten.

F

That done and appreciate the uh these financial.

F

Assistance from the bloomington police department, uh they.

F

Paid the lion's share of the cost of doing that, and I know it's going to.

F

Help them help them at the site since they're right next door to it, and it's also become a real target for.

F

People out spray painting and putting graffiti on it, it's been, it's become a real nuisance. So uh thanks.

F

Again to to chief decoff and vpd for funding the.

F

Effort and I'm happy to say that that's been taken down and that's all I have tonight. Thank you.

A

All right, thank you very much. um Then uh we come to uh petitions and.

A

Communications uh holly are there? Is there any public.

A

A

I didn't quite catch that I got some feedback on on your response.

A

I'm going to assume that there is no public comment.

A

um If there is, can you put a note in the chat box.

A

If I got that wrong all right and uh not seeing any comments, oh.

A

None okay, very good. Well, then, uh is there a motion to adjourn.

A

Okay, we are adjourned. Thank you. Everybody.

L