Good evening and welcome to the uh June 16th meeting of the Wata Water Board. Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or v video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.
Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible. First item on the agenda would be
attendance. Mr. Clerk >> member Ferrer >> present. Member Tera is not here and present Terry >> uh present. Um, next item on the agenda is citizen input. I see no citizens. We have no
citizen input. We move rapidly along to the minutes of the previous meeting. If there are any questions, concerns, adjustments, or omissions, the chair would entertain a motion to that effect.
If not, the chair would entertain a motion to accept the minutes as presented. >> Motion to accept. >> Seconded. All in favor? >> I >> I. All right. This brings us to item number three, proposed debatements.
And again in the effort I don't think we need to review each and every single one but I would like to point out once again ladies and
gentlemen at home if you're watching toilet leaks are the predominant causes of high use water bills.
Almost 80% of this listing are caused by toilet leaks, either flapper valves or flushometers. So, please take care because it can add up to some rather large money that you
may be responsible for. So, we have um the proposed resolution of abatements in the amount of 17,81421, bringing the total year to date to
$54,8863. Um that's right in keeping with where we have been in the past and keeps us on the straight and narrow here. Uh the chair would entertain a motion to accept the uh abatements as presented by the
clerk. >> Motion to approve as as listed. >> Second. All in favor? I >> I that completes our updatements and changes. And that moves us to the next item on
our agenda, which is Woodward and Curran change order number two, lead service line replacement program. We are still replacing lead, Mr. Clerk. >> Yes, we are. >> Yes, we are. So, what's in front of you
is a change order uh for Woodward and current. It's primarily the uh it's it's all resident inspection time. So yeah, you know, we have uh we currently have two resident inspectors out there. The uh contractors running
anywhere three to four crews. Um and our inspectors are are staying with them. Um so that's what's uh proposed in the amount of $139,000 would current. Uh this is coming underneath the wind grant. Uh so there
is uh there is no cost to us uh to our rate payers. Um so with that I'll entertain any questions. So just on the lead service program too kind of an update. We uh we are moving forward. So currently we're under
contract to replace 200 lead services. Uh contractor has a little over half of those completed so far. I expect within the next uh month, month and a half to have by the end of July to have the balance of them completed on this contract. I expect at that point we'll
be putting together we have close to uh another 200 uh ready uh in uh verified uh to go out to bid. So, I expect uh you know uh late summer, early fall, we'll have another contract going out to bid for an additional 200 lead services uh
uh to be replaced. Uh one thing that I am working on gaining access to. So, we did get a federal earmark. The wind grant is almost closed out. We probably have about $600,000 left in the $10 million wind grant. Uh we did receive a federal earmark uh through the
congressional uh congressional uh spending discretionary spending uh and uh that was in the amount of $1.092 million. Uh so that's >> very nice. >> Yeah. Uh that was supported by our
federal delegation uh uh Claus Marque and Warren's office. >> That's outstanding. >> Yeah. You know they they've they've been very good to us. This was this was something that we submitted and uh we got uh we got approval on. So that funding along with the balance for the
wind grant I expect will be uh what's used. So we still have roughly about 2,000 uh unknowns out there. Uh we're still working with our staff door knocking door hangers uh moving forward uh to try to identify those unknownled
services. uh we are looking at different different options of uh of what to do to try to uh propel people to contact us. Uh you know I would through this media I would definitely recommend that people if you're unsure whether we've
identified your lead service uh we have an interactive website on the water department's web page you can go look it up. If you see a gray dot give us a call we'll schedule uh an inspection. Uh even if you're not sure, give us a call. We'll look it up for you. Uh because we
need to get these inspections done. So um >> but many of these people have been notified. They've received notifications by mail. There was phone call messaging done, door knocking, door
hangers. Is it time to start taking a curb key with us and gently turn the curb key half closed? We are looking at alternate options. You know, that is one I I have set up a full program where uh
service discontinuous is an option. I expect I'll be back to this board with with some different options. uh you know service discontinuence. So you know put a big orange notice on the door and say contact us within three days or else your water service will be discont
continued. We go out we turn the water service off put another note contact us when you get home. We will have to have staff on after hours to deal with people when they get home at night uh to go out there uh do an inspection and turn the water back on. That's one option. Uh,
another option that that that we're that we're looking at and weighing right now is uh possibly a fee on the bill. Um, you know, that's something that an independent fee on the bill. Uh, so a non-responsive fee um, you know, which would go through ordinance would need to go through city council through the
ordinance commission. >> We would we need ordinance on that or is that a miscellaneous charge that the board could add to it because it's not an ordinance? >> Yep. We're looking at we're looking to see, you know, where the legality of it is in and how it falls, but that may be
another option. Uh again, you know, I know through the electric company, I had uh a property where they wanted to come and change the electric meter. They didn't have regular access to it. Uh they needed to enter the property uh needed to provide access and right in one of their first letters, they said
that you need to contact us by this date or you're going to get a $39 a month charge on your bill. >> Yeah. Uh so um you know that's another option that we are looking at and see whether that's something that we want to move forward with. >> So we have the addresses
flagged in the system you're saying >> we have all the billing accounts. Yes. >> So you could glean them out. the department many many moons ago, many years ago did a project called the big
key program and we um there was a picture in the newspaper of then superintendent turning a curb key and um that uh got a lot of public attention.
>> Yeah. No, without a doubt. you know, whichever route we we end up going, a uh we've been in consultation with Du about these programs, uh you know, so we are working with them. It's not us independently doing this. This is
requirements from D and EPA that this needs to be done. >> That's a federal mandate, >> you know, that's that's what it >> it's free. >> It's free. I don't know what a water service would cost today roughly. Couple of grand. Oh,
we're we're paying we're paying about $12,000 a service. >> Okay. >> And this is going to be provided at no cost to people with lead services. Please comply with this program. >> Desperate. All right, sir.
>> Sorry to go off on a rant on that. No, >> get back to the matter of business. Yeah. >> No, no. I you know, I feel the same way. I mean the board is empowered uh to u terminate supply um for conditions um
it's a condition of ret receiving water service that you comply with this federal mandate and we all we're looking to do is inspect. >> Correct. >> That's it. We're not looking to dig up your house here. >> Correct. They can they still they have the right to deny us. Sign our denial
form. it goes on our denial list that they're denying us to replace the lead service uh and it counts towards you know we don't get credited as an unknown at that point which they automatically consider a lead service if we have a
confirmed denial from a customer uh that is treated very differently that's taken off of our you know non-responsive list >> yeah as it should be as it should be thank you very much Mr. Furlin. Um that takes us to well first of all we need a
motion to accept the um contract to Woodward in Curran. >> Excuse me. Contract administration. >> Change order number two. >> Say change order. >> Say again. Yeah. Change order number two
in the amount of $139,000. >> Seconded. All in favor? I. That brings us to item number five, phase 20 of the water main replacement program. Santac engineering change order number six. >> Yep. So,
>> wow. >> If you remember, we went we uh worked through uh and we did the uh on phase 20. Uh we did some additional work um within this scope uh will be
additional >> sorry >> project management services resident inspection and the fees for services. >> Yep. This is for additional inspectional services uh in relation to some of the
ongoing projects that we have. it's being taken from the >> therefore the total increase 54,729 as a result uh to the total contract and the total agreement then would be $855,649.99.
So the motion to approve will be on the change order water main replacement change order number six in the amount of 54,729.99 motion seconded. All in favor? >> I
All right. We are Santac Jefferson Street. Wow. This is going to be a big project. Yeah. So, if you remember Jefferson Street, uh you guys approved the contract for the design of Jefferson
Street. So, this is from Warren Street to Brighton A. Uh it's it's not a huge section of roadway, but it is pretty in intricate. Uh a it's a very busy roadway section. Um it's a major thoroughare, especially with Walmart and the other
facilities right off the roadway. Uh so, we're going to be going through there. Uh and for us utility wise, it's a major it's a major uh you know thorough fair. So we have we have a 12 uh that runs through there as well as a 20 in that
runs >> feeding Chicago. >> Correct. Yep. So that's the main feed to Chicago kind of south end of the city. So um we've went through we did the design. Uh we're out to bid right now. Uh bidding actually opens on Thursday.
Uh this week it was supposed to be last Thursday. We extended the project out. Uh we extended the bid out for an additional week. Uh so Thursday bid should be open. Uh and based on um evaluation, we'll be able to move
forward with uh with the work. Uh so the change order uh is in the amount of $445,000. Uh and this is for resident inspection and uh contract management for the uh construction. Uh this also does include
and I mentioned about the uh about the water manes but this also includes full roadway rec reconstruction as well as curbing and sidewalk through that corridor and in prere increased pedestrian uh safety through the corridor.
Yeah, I was reading in here just one note on the complexity because the 12 and the 20 can't you you've got to maintain one of them at the so one is live and one is workable and you're going to be flipping back and forth.
It's quite intricate. >> Yes, it is. It is. And the other So the other thing too on this on this on this project, the way that we bid it out, we we looked at a newer technology. Uh so there's uh there's now epoxy linings out there
>> um that will uh the class 4 epoxy linings. They'll take the full strength uh of a pipe which um you know as you guys know cement lining or other types of lining doesn't take the it still uses the pipe the exterior pipe for the
strength. Um and but it's the lining is put on more to pre prevent buildup or tuberculation or anything like that u and create a pH barrier between the pipe so to prevent corrosion of the pipe. Um
class 4 epoxy liner uh pretty much could stay there without the pipe around it and take the full strength of the pipe. Uh so the way that we structured the bin, we structured it to be able to uh on the 20-in to uh do an epoxy line
through that pipe. A lot of our old cast iron in the city is very thick, very very good condition until it's not. Uh but uh that's why I think the epoxy liner will will almost have double the strength there. We'll have the existing carrier pipe plus also an epoxy liner.
Um, you know, it's the first time that we bid a project like this. So, we also did an alternate uh to delete that whole entire epoxy liner out and fully replace the 20-in line. So, we when the bids come in, we'll be able to weigh the options and see which way we want to go. You know what a lot of people don't
realize is the uh the cement relining work that was done on a lot of the major um pipe sections those date back to the 19th century in many cases.
We you're you know the cement lining was the technological how you want to call it the the best tech available uh in the 70s in the 80s >> without a doubt >> you know hogging them out and then
pulling the cement lining through when now will you will you pressurize the line and fill it with the liner or is this a liner that is pulled through or >> uh so it's a so it's an epoxy liner and it's installed just like uh and you might not be familiar with a sewer sewer
epoxy liner. Um and that's the one other benefit of of doing a liner is you're just doing test pits, you know. So we we made it where there would be three test pits. >> So you don't have to go in and >> it's not full excavation all the all the
way down of the whole entire street. So a there's time savings, there's traffic and impact savings uh on that side as well. Uh so you would take and you do the test pit 1,00 to,500 ft apart. Uh the sleeve would come in a refrigerated
box truck. Uh really inverted inside the box truck already impregnated with the epoxy lining. Uh the refrigerated box truck prevents the uh setting of the epoxy. So you have 2 to three days of it's the it's impregnated within a
factory. Uh the the line is impregnated. Uh so they take it's inverted. They take and they'll send it in and blow it into that line. Um then they either use either a steam or a hot water running through that line to be able to cure it.
Uh once cured, then they'll CCTV inspect it, make sure there's no defects, uh and then uh seal it on either end to the host pipe. Uh and then reconnect um you know where where the test pit was. Now, how does that work with taps and um and
unions? >> So, that's the other thing. So, this is a 20-in transmission line. >> Okay. So, it's straight. >> No taps. >> No taps. Beautiful. >> Beautiful. >> And that and at the test pits, we're going to drop in valves so that we have >> Yeah, that makes that makes all the
sense in the world, Paul. >> You know, it's a technology that we want to look at. You know, you look at a lot of uh uh larger pipes. Again, they were cement lined, but you're talking the 70s and 80s. >> So, we're talking 50 years ago, but
those pipes are still 150 years old. >> Well, that that was Yeah. to my point. I mean, when they were done, I'm trying to Bay was one of the first that was cement lined and that was by
Aqua American, Aqua Air and that would be 1981 or two. >> Y >> and that was at that time. So yeah, it's
on almost it's it's yeah almost 175 years. >> Correct. So >> this this might be an option with some of our logic >> rather than rather than pulling pulling them up, you know, and having to fully
excavate the roadway in, you know, some roadways that are that are really, you know, high utility areas. Um, this might be an option to be able to line those, get the additional full strength pipe, uh, leave the leave the existing pipe in
place so you almost a double barrier >> and and so what you created is a brand new water man >> without having to fully excavate it. >> Wow, that's tremendous. That is tremendous.
Well, that's good news. So, we have um Santac change order number uh excuse me, no number, just a change order. Oh, it's number >> two. >> Number two, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. Change order number two in the amount of $445,000. >> Motion to approve. >> Seconded. All in favor? I. >> Motion is approved. interesting chemical awards. I read your
letter from Uni uh to Uniar Solutions. I concur 100% with your comment to them. Um therefore, I think the easiest thing is to just go down and um
read each one off. So, the first one is for Costic Soda. The low bid is Bordon and Remington at a price of $296,240 or 9878 cents per gallon.
Uh do you want to take them individually or is one group? >> No, I think as a group would be fine. >> We'll take them as a group. The next is for poly aluminum chloride goes to Holland and company. 800,000 pounds
requested. Total bid price of $188,000 or a unit price of.235 cents per pound. I believe that is >> that's correct. $249 per gallon >> per per Y. They got to give both pound
and gallon price on the >> chloride >> per gallon and per. >> So it's two35 or $249 >> per gallon. >> Per gallon. Okay. The next uh Lindian
company for carbon dioxide 345 tons. Total price is 120,750 with a unit cost of $350 per ton. um at that point. Um and last is sodium
hypocchloride and univar's low bid with 100,000 gallons. Uh uh you total price of 136,960 or 1.3696 per gallon. Um
before we make a motion to to I the prices came in lower this year than they did last year which is astounding in light of inflation and everything else we've been hearing about.
>> Yeah. No. Uh the only one that was a little bit higher was sodium hydroxide. Again, you're talking $12,000 uh higher. Uh so you know less than 1% of the total so it's it's nothing crazy. Uh yeah you know again inflation and um
but you got to think of the high increases that we had in the 2021 22 years. We had substantial increases in those years. Uh so last year we saw a reduction uh and it's great to see that the prices even reduced a bit more this
year. With that said, the chair would entertain a motion to accept the bids for chemicals uh as motion approve as listed. >> Seconded. All in favor? >> I I Okay. Item number eight, returned
retained earnings spending. Mr. work. >> Uh so within your packet you have a plan for uh spending of our retained earnings. So retained earnings uh I always explain it that our enterprise
funds are like separate bank accounts. Yeah. >> You have revenue that comes in. Uh we can spend that money uh out in our expenses. We can't spend more than we take in in revenue uh unless it's backed
by the general fund. Um or so um every year at the end of the year when they kind of close out the books uh we may have additional funds left over because our revenues were higher than our expenses you know um so that gets
translated into retained earnings. So the retained earnings uh in FY26 uh is actually from the close out of FY25 >> 25. Um so um we had a retained earnings of 2,218,051
uh was what was uh certified within FY26. Um so if you remember back a while ago when we revamped our budgets and we you know did some substantial rate increases, we
didn't have any retained earnings. uh prior to that retained earnings a lot of times were plugged back into the budget as a one-time uh cost to uh reduce rates and we haven't been we've been staying with uh the advice that we got from the consultants and you know um our own
advice uh to not use retained earnings within our budget. So that means we have retained earnings that come out. Um, so what I'd like to do is uh do the following spending. Some of these projects very well uh we would go out to bond for go down for a loan
authorization for in front of city council. >> Yeah. >> And ask them say, "Hey, we got to go. We got to borrow this money and pay back a loan over the next 10 or 20 years." Um, so it's nice to be able to have this funding where we don't have to uh add
onto our rateayers alone for the next 20 years and we're able to just take it and be able to uh move forward with these projects rather than doing a loan authorization. >> Absolutely. >> You know, the other thing is the transfer to stabilization. So, you know, stabilization account, I believe we have
about $700,000 in our stabilization account for water, a little bit over $700,000. Um, stabilization is recommended to be 10% of a minimum of 10% of your operating budget. Uh, so that's kind of like a savings account for any type of
emergency or anything like that. So like in your house, if your refrigerator goes out or you have a leak in your roof, you want to have a savings fund to be able to pay for that emergency uh the un unexpected emergency. Uh, so that's stabilization. We got into a good habit
for a while of transferring $100,000 a year, budgeting that. Uh when budgets got tight, uh revenues got tight in 20 uh 2019, 2020, uh we stopped doing that. Uh and we haven't done that for some time. So, I'm recommending that we take
$600,000 uh transfer that to stabilization. Uh that'll make up for the past uh number of years that we haven't done any type of transfer. Uh and that'll bring our stabilization up um to to about 1 point
1.3 a little bit under uh 10% mark uh for a stabilization fund. Um then next I would recommend that uh under plant operations uh the roar and finished water pump rehab projects $850,000.
Um, so we've had, uh, you know, I think you remember back when we had a number of, uh, finished water pumps that went out down at the treatment plant. We actually had, uh, two out at the same exact time. And, uh, we had to put a, uh, emergency water use restrictions in
place as well as bring in emergency diesel pumps and operate them to supply to our uh, our um, users. Um, so at that point, we replace those pumps. Uh but we still have the rest of the raw water pumps uh and the finished water pumps to
redo. Uh we had one of our raw water pumps go out last year. Uh we use capital funding to be able to rehab that pump. Uh this will take care of fully uh doing the rest of the rehab on all those pumps as well as some additional
electrical upgrades that are needed and stuff like that in the uh to supply those pumps. Um the next thing is Copa pump station improvements. Uh so Copa Cup pump station uh two pumps out there have been out of service. Uh we bid out a project
for uh we bid out replacement pumps. Uh we awarded that contract recently. We had some money within the loan authorization that was issued uh a while ago uh for those. So we are getting those pumps in. Um and we are going to
get those installed. Uh we need those this year. Ponds pond's a little bit low right now. Uh but uh that's because we haven't been able to pump from Copa Cup for the past, you know, for the past probably three or four months. >> Yeah. >> Um excuse me. So,
>> you know, the pond is a little low, but um you know, I don't think we're doing anything unreasonable whatsoever. U I've seen it twice as low in my lifetime. Um, not that we want to go to 78 in, but um,
the pond looks in actually in in very good shape. Shoreline's in nice shape. I believe uh, they're going to be doing um, some fish studies and uh, some video studies along the shoreline. >> Yeah.
>> Which is uh, really nice to be able to um, you know, check everything out via drone. That's >> Yeah. No, again the pond isn't I said low, but you know, I would like it to be a little bit higher at this
point. We would have had Copa Cut running. Um once we get those pumps on within a couple of weeks, we'll be able to uh get those running. Uh but the cop so this funding $200,000 for Copa Cut pump station improvements is a number of other things. You know, that that
station is original to when the dam was built. Yeah. >> Um I think the roof was replaced once before, but it's needs replacement additional um you know, another replacement. So, we're working with Diamond actually. They're they're prepared in the new school year next
year uh to come out, do the roof, do some facial work, do some uh repointing of of the facility and stuff like that. >> It's great. I see the kids out there constantly working either at the headquarters or over at Aderondack Farm
and they're getting as much out of this as we are. >> Yeah, without a doubt. So, electrical shops going to be in there uh doing all new lights inside, outside and stuff. >> That's terrific. They did a great job on the headquarters building rewiring and
and terrific savings to to the department, but you know, it allowed them to deal with 19th century construction materials to get their wiring through and whatnot. >> Yeah. No, it's a great it's a great learning experience for the kids and
it's uh yeah, you know, >> we pay for materials, you know, so there's no other cost to us, so it's it's great. Um but uh so get get all that work done. Uh we want some additional telemetry to get back to the
plant. So that's what this $200,000 for the cop pump station improvements is. >> Yeah. Excellent. And then and then out in the reservation, we have $120,000 for reservation equipment. What's slated for for that would be uh replacement of our
flail mower. Uh so we have a Bombfit flail on a New Holland tractor. Uh I believe that is coming up on 15 plus years old um if not older. Uh so >> um want to replace that. Uh there are
some other pieces of equipment uh a vent track which we just uh which we just uh demoed to uh cut some of our steep slopes, the dams and stuff like that. So that's something that we're looking at uh as well as a um some other equipment
needed out there in the reservation for for normal maintenance. So that's $120,000. >> What's that? That's going to leave us with a uh retained earnings balance of $448,00051 $448,51. Uh and we'll be able to take uh that'll
stay within the uh retained earnings uh and we'll use that as cash flow for uh our operational in the next uh fiscal year FY27. Um why don't we just have a motion to approve the retained earnings spending
plan and um leave it at that um and u then just toss it right back to the clerk in that way. >> Mhm. >> So we could have a motion to approve >> the plan. >> The plan. Yep.
>> Seconded. All in favor? I >> I All right. Other business. Um, Westport billing review. This is excellent.
I um wondering if you're going to hear from them regarding May uh of this year. with the large amount of uh use. Um >> yeah, you can see within their billing there with
>> the fire. >> Yeah, their billing was substantially up again because of the fire. They uh did use a lot of water during that period. Um they did pay they have paid that bill so far. >> Really? >> Yep. So it's been paid uh within uh
within our intermunicipal agreement. uh they're responsible for any fire flows whether it be for actual fires or >> I wasn't aware if if the uh they might have made an appeal based on that but >> no have not seen anything and I don't know whether we would even entertain
anything. >> Excellent. We don't really need to do anything with that other than it's here for review. >> Correct. um Ferrera Construction Company schedule
extension. Um obviously with the slowness of the response Ferrera is going to need a little more time. >> Yep. >> All right. So that >> Yeah. No, no, no cost contract extension.
>> Yeah. >> All right. Same thing with Santech. It's just a schedule extension. >> Correct. Do you need a vote or to approve either one of those? >> Nope. >> No, they're included with the change order.
>> Okay. And uh lastly, we have a letter of award to Fall River Electrical Services in the amount of $35,000. Um there were no other biders.
So we will um have a motion. Chair would then entertain a motion to accept the bid of 35,000 from Fall River Electric. This is for the electric work to the pumps. I believe >> uh this is for a annual uh electrical
contract. >> Oh, it's the annual and and this is for the emergency services. and whatnot. Sorry. Sorry about that. >> Okay. So, renewal of the annual contract. >> Motion award. >> Seconded. All in favor?
>> I. All right. Last but not least is an award to Rhode Island Analytical. This is for water testing um laboratory sampling. There is
two bids. One is Rhode Island Analytical at $26,868 and the other is Microback at $27,271. The third was no bid. Um the chair would entertain a motion to accept the low bid
of Rhode Island Analytical at 26,868. Motion >> second it. All in favor? I any further business to come before the board hearing? None, the chair to entertain a motion to adjourn.
Motion made >> seconded. All in favor? I I