Meeting Information

Date:
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Time:
1:05 pm
Called to Order By:
Lowell Town Council member John Yelkich

The Pledge of Allegiance was observed.

Attendance

Members Present

Also Present

Approval of Agenda

Richard Sharpe made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Mike Gruszka and carried with four ayes.

Approval of Minutes

Mike Gruszka made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 18, 2022, meeting, seconded by Richard Sharpe and carried with four ayes.

Superintendent's Report

Superintendent Dan Myers provided an update on projects. Bowen is working on the return line and a pinch valve. There is a four-to-six-week lead on valves needed. Grating has been completed over the well, replaced valve in digester, working on plumbing for the non-potable water, motor replaced and installed a thickener pump. PWS Tech performed a press test and they are awaiting test results.

Craig Hendrix reported that they are looking to make the belt press more effective with new technologies; dewatering more effectively will be more efficient. The new UV system is installed and will begin running April 1st.

Lowell Town Council Update

Town Manager Craig Hendrix noted that there will be a change order from Bowen. The pipe to the structure valve is currently 12" to 8" and they are making it 12" all the way through. Also, air release valves will be installed on the gravity drain.

Cedar Lake Council Update

Town Manager Chris Salatas reported that NIES Engineering will begin designing phase 3 of the interceptor project. This is a 36" pipe to the westside of town to service developments and potential growth on US-41.

The Town Council will be introducing an annexation ordinance for the flume property of approximately sixty acres of noncontiguous property for the sewer utility. This will allow the property to be within the jurisdiction of the town and not need to go to Lake County for building and permitting.

Mr. Salatas requested a needs assessment at the flume parcel in conjunction with the plants review for growth. The town has been repairing lift stations and will be identifying lengths of sewer main to slip line to help reduce infiltration and ideally help with capacity.

Old Business

Long Term Control Plan

Craig Hendrix reported that IDEM is satisfied with the updates. Once the project with Bowen is complete there will be a one-year reporting period after that we will be out of the Long-Term Control Plan. This is one year early. We must contain our flows; a return line has been added as part of the Long-Term Control Plan. There is an Agreed Order on the excess flow basin.

Capital Improvements Construction Projects Update

Generator Installation: Awaiting delivery of generator; we are ready on our end.

UV Disinfection: Update provided in Superintendent's report. There could be a change order for fuel and labor as there was a one year delay in receiving equipment and the work needs to be done from October to April.

EQ Drain Line Repair: Previously reported.

New Business

WWTP Improvements and Expansion Discussion

Craig Hendrix provided spreadsheets with revised costs of projects necessary to go from 4M to 6M with a peak of 10M. The basin is part of the Agreed Order. The liner is bad making it difficult to maintain and clean out the sludge. The project is to replace the liner, build in redundancy and add a lift station to drain the basin to the Actiflow with a cost of $4,800,000.

Lowell is looking at this as a stormwater project as water is diverted to this basin when it rains. This is an immediate project and we need to get design going on it.

The $150,000 headworks improvements and $107,000 phosphorus removal projects could be done within the current operating budget. The sludge thickener and dewatering process can be done before expansion, but not within current cash flow.

Craig Hendrix will provide a spreadsheet of the projects with projected dates. The whole expansion project will need to look at SRF/Federal funding as this project can't necessarily be funded through rates alone.

WWTP EQ Basin Design Discussion and Agreement – Wessler Task Order 13

Wessler Task Order 13 – WWTP Basin Improvements was discussed. The proposal is for $457,000 not including geotech. Chris Salatas will bring the proposal to Cedar Lake's Utility Board for consideration and provide an update to Craig Hendrix.

Discussions on basin improvements and the larger project occurred.

Financial Report

The expenses and budget were distributed and reviewed. The 2022 expenses were $1,863,345.04 and the proposed budget for 2023 is $1,979,000.00.

Public Comments

No Comments.

Adjournment

No further business Ralph Miller moved to adjourn, seconded by Mike Gruszka, and carried by four ayes at 1:50 pm.