John, is your mic on? >> Yes. >> Be agreeing. Okay. Can you speak? >> Better. Hello. >> Okay. Try that again. >> Testing one, two. >> There we go. Okay. I will call the roll. >> Tastes good, too.
>> Matt Elliot, John Draper, >> present. >> Kyle Rancor, Pam Brewer, here. Jack Conley >> here. Thank you. >> Okay. Can we get a motion on approving
the agenda? >> I make a motion to approve the agenda. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. Would you call the role, please? >> Jack Conley, >> yes. >> Pam Brewer, >> yes. >> John Draper,
>> yes. >> Let's start out with public comments. Oh, I'm sorry. >> I couldn't see you in the >> It's all good. >> Pam Fentress, 12373 Lost Lake Drive, Lake Placid. As I went back over the
minutes from the last couple months, I saw a couple of items that are repeat. It's not on this agenda, but I'd like to know what the proposed wastewater ordinance for light industrial users is. I've seen that. And it's also stated it's it's in the attorney's office. So,
I I don't remember y'all discussing it or is there a status update. So, behind the scenes, I I can answer a little bit about that. So, it is in with the attorney's office. There is a workshop scheduled for the 16th at two o'clock uh joint workshop between town
council and the regional utility. I believe at that meeting is that workshop they're going to be bringing that ordinance forward to so they can workshop all the various things in that workshop that day. That's as much as I know. >> We'll check that one off as good. Um the
next one under that still that's a repeated thing is the master utilities plan. you went you maybe January February y'all approved town council approved this master utilities when it presented here was like a $35,000 but it
was a clerical error is $18,000 and then all I can see is that it's it's in the attorney's office. So is I think it's critical for this committee in this town to have a master utilities plan. So what is the status of that master utilities
plan? Is it still just sitting in an attorney's office? Is this on? Okay. I have uh sent out inquiries about that $18,000 grant. I have not received emails back from the people doing the grant yet. Um I have
nothing that says that it's with an attorney. I'm just going after all >> I'm aware. I just have nothing nothing in the computer down there or the file says it's with an attorney and I have not received anything back from them. When I get something back, I'll bring it
forward. >> Okay. This it's just a critical item because a lot of times we we repeat from year to year and we're like, man, we need a you know, master utilities plan so we know we need to go here first here. But we talk about it a lot. But um
whether it's in an attorney's office or the last time I I asked about it, there was the professor some a college campus that was doing the master utilities plan and they couldn't start until the school was out or something. But then there's a
big difference whether it's been sent to them and signed off and approved or anyway if you could find that out, I'd appreciate it. Number three. Oh, >> hang on just a second. Would it be reasonable to make that an agenda item for the next meeting and then get
>> some pre-information to whoever's following up on it? >> We can do that >> once for the master plan. >> Yes. >> We'll get it on the next one. >> Can we make sure that gets on the agenda for next meeting?
>> Thank you. I only have seven. Um, number two, the Lake Placid Camping Conference Center waterline. Uh, January 2026, town council approved. Y'all have approved in the past. Town council approved it. Um, it's a state revolving
fund. Um, and I'd like a status update. The the last I heard was that you couldn't have the sewer uh state revolving fund at the same time as the water state revolving fund. And I believe within the last month, month and a half that's been closed out. So what
would be the status on the Lake Plastic Camper Conference Center waterline? It has been a three-year project that we've been discussing it. It's come before this board multiple times, multiple times for the town council. So does anybody have a status update?
A couple weeks ago, we was waiting for the SRF for the water the wastewater part had closed out for that project to start. So, I think there's a contract somewhere that's in the process of being signed or um in the in the state accepting it or the state signing on
their end. >> And I think that's true, too. And and I don't know if you remember like two or two and a half years ago, it it already went through the process. They already were awarded the state revolving fund grant. Then it sat on an attorney's desk for over a year. It was brought up and
brought up and then we had you can't have two at the same time. Now clo it's something like this we have to keep on the radar in my opinion respectfully said every meeting what is the update because that has to do with the master utilities planning. You need a water you
have a sewer line down Lake Drive east. You need a water line. You need I this past week I saw on the D site you've got you've applied you the town have applied for a ERP permit for Lake Serena Lake um Pearl. So I'd like to see do you there
this master utilities plan and I would think central to it is that water line um state appropriations I think I'm not sure $2 million were awarded to the town for expansion of the Lake June West
water line. I don't. Is that correct? >> We talking about the state appropriations. >> Yes. >> Um Mark, did Marty said that that waterline for the state appropriations did not go through. >> It did not go through. It was vetoed by the governor. >> It was vetoed.
>> Okay. It was vetoed. But I guess the point Did y'all know that we y'all were the town was trying to get $2 million state appropriations for Lake June West water line? So somehow there coordination, communication, left hand,
right hand because that's something perhaps we could have been advocating on collectively if we felt that was important or that and if it had gotten awarded is that for new customers is that replacing older lines. I mean I don't know but I would think this is if
you're looking at a master plan you kind of need to know some of these things. What other grants did we apply for that hadn't come before either this committee or the council when it comes to state appropriations? Um, I had already talked about the D ERP
permits. The town has applied for a lot of ERP permits to put in transmission lines. Um, I found several that were open. They're five-year permits. again. Is there a master utilities plan of expansion um to where you going to go to north
side, south, east, west for these lines? Um force mains. Um the last one this is something that happened 20 years ago. SwiftMed gave the town a cost share
uh package for using reuse along Highway 27. It also goes down 621. It was a big deal for our town back then, these reuse irrigation lines. Um, Bal Memorial and Highway 27, all the medians. FDOT has
construction. Um, I don't think that in their plans it it's put in to do the reuse portion of it. And I mean, I'm adamant that reuse needs to go back in there. Um, because it has to do with the town's water permit, and you got about another 100,000 gallons before you're
maxed out. Um, and and you got they took away 400,000 gallons per day the last time you renewed the permit. Your permit's good to 2035. I know this is a lot of details and a lot of information, but these are things that I check on and
look at and as you plan for the town, somebody else official needs and maybe hopefully they are, but this kind of dubtales into high administration turnover. when you don't have consistency, you don't have a utilities
director, you don't have a town engineer, you don't have a permanent town administrator, and I know the current staff is doing the best they can, but you're just there's a lot of loose ends that I think really need to be tied up, but does anybody know if they're putting in back in reuse along
27? >> The plan is to put the reuse back in along 27. Um, right now we're still working with the state on exactly how all that's going to be happening. Um, we do have it planned to come up on council meeting coming up soon. I believe it's
the next meeting next week. >> Okay. I just know from a county commission meeting, the construction was supposed to be done between July and September of this year. if you're working with the state now on reuse and I I know it has to do something with I've went and started asking around
about the reuse system um but whether the wastewater treatment plant was construction constructed that allowed for the reuse irrigation lines to come this way but you got it that they're supposed to be reuse all the way
to the bridge where am I the bridge and then it in inner lake and going down 621 It cuts over kind of around the post office, but that's a part of like when if when new businesses come or new industrial, whatever the light
industrial is, they should be using reused water. And I think it's like some of your key infrastructure for the town. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Eva. Can we incorporate those into the next meeting and make them agenda items?
Yes. >> Yep. >> And then inform the appropriate people that, you know, we need to know exactly what's going on. >> Yes. >> So we get a good look ahead. >> We'll do. >> Okay.
Thank you. Thank you, Pam. Somebody help me. I'm new at this. Are we down at five? You are >> no no no number five. >> You are now on number four. The region utility financial grant update.
>> Um we had originally were supposed to have an engineer from Penoni be here. Roger. He has not made it yet. I'm hoping he's just stuck in traffic but is still on the way um to give his portion of this. But until he arrives, I'm going to turn you over to Miss Osborne, our
financial director. >> Okay. For the f for the financials, I'm going to do a walk through on it. Basically, starting out. >> Talk closer. >> Talk closer. Could you hear me now? >> Can you hear her? >> No. >> Yeah. >> Did you hear me now? >> I'm doing good. I'll turn my bell tone
up. >> I'm going to do a walk through, but I'm going to start out where the grant started out. And that was the grant agreement task list with the end dates on it. So, it is basically going back to the original without the change orders
put on it. Um, and that would bring us to And that'll bring us to this slide here. Um, it basically shows the task and it show the task title, uh, the grant amount for each one of them
and the end dates that it was originally set to be. >> Okay. Thank you. And on the next slide is actually showing the same task list but in this task list is showing what was draw down
by each task. Um so on the project administration 128,000 and we can see on task seven which is the construction which is the the biggest line item where the money went. Um so as of today the town has draw down
34,000 34,700 3,7 um and right now we have over 5 million remaining for the draw down. Um right now we on draw down numbers 17 and 18.
Um and on the next slide it kind of show which all vendors that that money went to. on this right here shows it shows all the vendors. So some of the vendors were they did some containers to to store some
equipment and Aqua Aerobics that was another vendor that they used to buy to do direct purchases which saved the town some sales tax. So it was a savings. um central contractors. Um icon was another direct purchase that the town used. Um
and there was one more Icon Aqua and Oivo. Oivo was another direct purchase that saved the town tax money on it. Um so again um most of the money went to the con the construction which
is a pooling kit 26 million and I put a little chart on the other side to kind of give a visual of that. And so on this next slide I'm going do a walk through basically where we at now and where we hoping to be by the end of the month until the end of the closing
of this grant. So, the grant started out in pretty much in May is when I left off from the last um update. So, in May, we had a bank account of 2 million in the bank account left over from um the $40 million loan. Um and then so subtract
the outstanding um checks that we have outstanding right now. We have some contractor invoices that was outstanding as well. So 17 and 18 is where we at right now for the draw down and we're looking for 4.6 million to come back from the state within the next week or
so. Um and that'll put the bank account at 1 point 5.1. Now everything else is kind of um a projection of where we where we should be going at this point. Um Jul by July the 30th we should be paid
out all of the direct purchases. Well 35,000 is what we got left over from the one direct purchase which going to put the town back at the 4 million and so well over a little 4 million. going to be 5,120 and then so Penoni
that is 363,000 what we have left over to pay penoni and then so that takes us to September so hopefully by the end of July we can be able to pay the loan back and they'll be paid in full and from that point on
we'll just pay what'sever left over I think at what we was last told is 263,000. That'll be paid over out of this balance and whatever left over out of this account, it goes back into the capital
account. And that is how this account kind of started be um funded out of the capital account. Any questions? So, I got one more last slide and this slide I'm going to show you um it's talking about the loan, the line
of credit that the town have for C Coast Bank. Um so, today um it was 390ome,000, but we kind of looking for July for the end of the month. They going to have some pration for one more invoice come
out for the end of the month. So again, we hoping to have this loan paid off by the end of the month, July the 30th. Um hopefully by the if the state come through and they pay the reimbursement back to the town in time for July the 30th, it be paid off and then we move
forward to closing out the loan and closing out the project by the end of August, early September. That's the goal. >> Thank you. Any questions for Rachel? >> Our engineer will be here in about three
minutes. I was just able to get in touch with him. He will be here. Um if we want to go ahead and move forward, we can come back to his update on this project. Good. Thank you. Uh, next we're moving on to the budget amendment.
C, can I make a request on these minutes that we put page numbers on them? So, >> is that possible? >> On the packet. Are you talking about the packet? Yeah. Sorry, we missed those. We usually do. >> It's hard for me.
must have missed those this round. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh the existing chlorine skid has reached its end of useful life um and is considered outdated. Replacement parts are no longer readily available to make
repairs. Um, currently there is nothing more that can be done to to adjust this particular skid. Um, the chlorine is actually leaking from it. And right now, what we're having to do is clean tanks out at
least two to three times a week because of this issue. Um, this needs to be replaced. This isn't a want or it is an emergency situation and it's dire that this get done. Um, we did have two
um, companies we looked at to complete the work. The first told us it would be four to six months before they would be able to get to repairing this project. So, we only included the one that can start immediately because this work needs to to proceed as quickly as
possible. >> Is is that a environmental issue? It is not right now, but if we do not do something soon, it will be. >> Okay. >> This is this is getting to a dire point. I don't want it to get to where it is an
environmental issue. >> Um I am the one who went out and was reviewing the sites and brought the issue up. Apparently, it had been brought up once before to previous utilities directors and they said, "We don't have the money. Don't worry about it." Um I I don't think that we should
take that stance on this. I think we need to move forward and get this project done to protect ourselves. >> We need a motion. >> Thank you. >> And again, it's our recommendation that you approve a budget amendment in the
amount of 31,400 for the replacement of a for the purchase of a replacement chlorine skid for the Serena water treatment plant. And just just to give context, um this actual well um has not changed or had much
upgrades since I worked for the utilities over 28 years ago. So this is something that's definitely needed. >> Did you say we need a motion? >> Yes, we do. We need a motion then to approve that.
>> Yes, the motion's under recommended a motion. Okay. I make a motion to approve the purchase of the uh new chlorine skid for $31,400. >> Can we correct the motion to say
recommend to town council? Sorry. Yes. >> I'll second the motion. >> We have a motion in a second. Would you call the role, please? >> Mr. Conley? >> Yes. Pan Brewer. >> Yes. >> John Draper.
>> Yes. >> I can't help but wonder how many other things are out there that are >> I'm looking um I'm making my way around and trying to visit every site that we have. It's
just taking time. As I find deficiencies and problems, I'm taking the steps to correct them. Anything else? >> Uh, we're just waiting on the engineer. >> He's right there. >> He's right here. >> He came in behind me. Sorry.
>> Yes, sir. >> Good afternoon everyone. I'm Roger Homeman with Penoni. Um Mark wanted me to come and give you an update on the utility projects that we're involved with. Um I'll start with the wastewater
treatment plant, the big upgrade, advanced wastewater treatment plant upgrade. Um the the wastewater plant has been started up and it's currently treating wastewater. Um the town staff has been trained by Ovivo. That's the primary
treatment equipment manufacturer. They they're the ones that have the all the process equipment for the plant. That's the kind of the main treatment portions of the plant. Um the items that remain there are big picture conversion of the
existing package plant is being converted to a digtor and a chlorine contact chamber. Um the contractor is currently working on that. Um they ran into some um problems with part of their scope of work was to seal all the joints
in the existing plant. And when they did that, um part of our scope of work was to test that and put water in the tank and make sure that it's not leaking. And there was still some there were some leaks in some of the joints. And so they're having to go back and and repair those joints to make sure everything is
watertight. That's currently going on now. Um hopefully that'll be done by this week. We won't know till it's again tested again and make sure it's all not leaking. Um, we're not going to start up the the digtor and the chlorine contact
chamber until all those leaks are fixed. So, it's very important that's what you all paid for and that'll be part of what the contractor has to accomplish. um other things that are not yet finished. Um the asbuilts for the project, it's really a big deal because it's a big project and part of the
asbuilts are the are the uh all of the grading for the project including a new road that was put in and there's a kind of the main north south road access road that they installed. We know that it's not been installed correctly. was supposed to have an inverted crown on it
to direct water into a pond and that's not functioning right. We can tell that already just by looking at it. So when we get the asbuilts from then we'll be able to assess exactly how kind of bad it is that they've constructed it and they're going to have to come in and and
fix that road so that it functions properly. We haven't granted substantial completion yet even though the contract contractors requested it because well things aren't all the way they're not substantially complete. There's a lot of items that are it's not for the
definition of the contract. They're not substantially complete. So whenever they start up the it's pretty much whenever the um the digtor and chlorine contact chamber go online they should be able to request substantial completion. We'll go
do an inspection then and do a um final punch list. We already have a preliminary punch list of items that need to be fixed that we're working on. We've we've had that to them for probably three or four months now. Um so that it's not like they're unaware of
whatever work scope that still remains for them. The um we hope that final completion will be finished by the end of July. that's going to be dependent on whenever they get the tank to stop leaking and finishing out the rest of
their items. Um, but that's, you know, their their original final completion date was actually March 11th, 26. I think you all are aware of that that they were they're late and finishing this whole thing. Um there's liquidated damages in the contract of
$1,000 a day that the town intends to take out of their payment for every day past that. Um March well March 10th was that their actual day. So starting at March 11th. That's pretty much for the wastewater
plant. Do y'all have any questions about anything else about the wastewater plant? >> Uh I do. I ask a lot of questions. >> Oh, no problem. >> Who's monitoring the checklist? >> We are as the engineer. >> Yeah.
>> Can you provide a copy of that to how however often you update it within reason? I mean, maybe every month for the next meeting. Can we get a updated checklist so we know what's going on? >> Sure. Punch list. You mean >> the punch list? Yeah. I'm sorry.
>> Sure. Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. >> Thank you. Okay. What about the road? What are you talking about? >> Pardon me. >> The road that you were talking about? >> Yes. >> What's the matter with it?
>> Well, it's supposed to have a an inverted crown, which means it kind of has a it's a V-shape sort of like and it the the idea of the drainage of the site is the water is supposed to run from south to north kind of down that channel in the that's there. It's built more
flat and the water's running off of it into a actually into the drain going into the plant which is not at all acceptable. So at the end of the road there's a pond. That's where all the storm water is supposed to be directed. >> And who's putting the road in?
>> The contractor pool and Kent. >> It It's already in, isn't it? Isn't that what you're saying? >> Pardon me. Isn't you you're just saying it's already in but in done correct incorrectly. >> It's in but done incorrectly. Exactly. So they're going to have to tear out likely going to have to tear out portions of it and re regrade it and
rebuild it. >> I would think that that's pool and Kent's problem. >> Absolutely. Yeah. And we're we're staying on them to make sure they do it right. >> Any other questions? Okay, I'll talk about the south lift station and force main
project. That project is a project to the town has a operational wastewater plant on the south side of town. Um the goal of that project was to take that wastewater plant offline and to direct flow up to the ultimately the new
wastewater plant. Um, so what the the scope of that project is to build a new pumping station, lift station at that location at the waist at the south wastewater plant site. And then there's a force vein that it runs across Lake Mirror Drive and connects to it's Lake
Drive East. So the status of that project, the lift station has been installed, constructed, tested, and it's as of last week in service. So the there's no flows going to the wastewater plant anymore. The flows are now being
directed from that location to the north to the wastewater plant. Um the force man that's part of that is all been pressure tested. It's it's constructed properly. Um the next step on the project will we're going to schedule what's called a substantial completion
inspection. We'll inspect with town staff and then we will develop a punch list for that one. So the items that remain for that are going to be kind of relatively minor site restoration type things soding maybe some things at the
lift station but the town will be there for town staff will be there for that inspection also. So overall we hope that the whole project should be done in the next probably two weeks because it it just doesn't seem like there's too much left that'll be on the punch list.
>> Are you removing the old plant? >> Removing the old plant. It's being taken out of service. Yeah. >> But I mean, now physically, we're going to move the infrastructure. >> Not part of this project. It's not part of the project's scope, but it's Yeah, it's not But it's not going to be used. It's going to be taken offline, but it
wasn't part of this project to abandon that plant. At one point, I believe there was a there was thought that someone may want to use that for septage receiving potentially, and it wasn't included in this project. Okay. >> Thank you.
Any other questions about that project? Questions? >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. The third third project is what we're calling the Marquada Drive and Main Street lift stations project.
Um that project is to construct two new lift stations at Mararta Drive and Main Street. Um, and then to build a a force main that runs kind of from the south part of town, Marcarta Drive, all the way up and connects into a force main
just south of the um wastewater plant. That force the new force man is larger. It's going to handle more capacity whenever there's other septic to sewer customers will be that'll be added to the system ultimately. um status of that. Well, well, the back
back a step, the force man was added on as a was about a $ 1.6 million change order to add that scope to the project. Um the contractor for both of these is KDL construction out of Sebring. Um
status of the project, both lift stations have been installed. Um the um Marquada Drive lift station's been preliminary tested. The pumps have been started, bumped, and they work correctly. Um but there need there
needed to be some minor piping fixes before they do the final testing and start up of it. And the final startup of that lift station is scheduled for actually tomorrow morning at 7:30. So we'll be here there to do that startup.
Um, after the startup's done, there's going to need to be some piping modifications to reroute flows into the new lift station and north northward. Um, those will be done and then that lift station will be placed online. The
main street lift station, which is further north, um, it's been fully tested. It It's ready to start up. Same kind of thing, though. There needs to be some piping modifications before it can be fully placed into service. the the long force man that kind of runs
all the way from south to north through the town that's been fully constructed and pressure tested um to be leak tight that's ready to go in service whenever the two lift stations are are put online.
Uh the for both same kind of thing for this we're going to do a substantial completion inspection within the next week or so. We'll have a punch list. Then there'll be some um final closeout items that are be on that substantial completion punch list.
So with that, do you have any questions about that project? >> I have a question on the uh the south lift station and the couple other uh I'm sorry, the decommissioning of the south
uh treatment plant. Right. and the these additional lift stations that you're you're talking about approximately how many uh gallons per day will that be adding to the new uh storage treatment plant. You know, >> it's about
170 gallons per minute, whatever that works in per day. Know that's the pump capacity. That's actually the peak flow coming out of the station. So it's really only about oh probably about a half of that or less
that actually gets added on an average basis throughout the day. So it's not it's not a real big impact on a big plant. >> And do you do you know what uh how many gallons per day the treatment plant is is uh handling right now approximately?
I think it's about 200,000 or 250,000 and the plant's designed for 1 million. I know that >> you're way under what the treatment capacity of the plant is. >> Now, does the uh operating the the plant at let's say 25%
capacity, 25 or 30% capacity, how does that affect the overall operating cost of the plant? I mean, you still have the same number of employees there basically. Uh maybe you're using a
little less electricity. I don't know. >> Yeah, the the plant is equipped with variable frequency drive motors on the mixers and and blowers mo most of them. So the if the flow to the plant's less, those run >> less lower speeds and you you'll consume
less energy. >> Okay. I >> plus any pumps that they won't be they wouldn't be operating there. There's a um lift station that takes all the flow that enters the plant that has to repump into the plant. That of course won't be using as much energy when the flows are lower because the pumps won't have to
operate as long to keep up. And it's actually equipped with the variable frequency drive motors also, which the way motor the way BFD motors work, if they're run at a lower speed, they run way more efficiently than if they're run at full speed. >> Okay? and operating the plant at 25 or
30% uh capacity. Does that affect the uh final water quality outcome or or or or not? >> There has to be some tweaks in operation that that those are done and it so in
the end really no the water quality is going to be just as good as whenever it's at full. >> Okay. Thank you. So basically running at low capacity is not detrimental. >> Correct. Yeah.
>> Okay. Any other questions? If if I understand the our situation correctly, the uh we don't have in the near future, let's say after these couple things that you were talking about after they come online, we
don't have anything uh major in the works right now that would add additional capacity to the pl to the plant, right? I mean, Tamoga Heights water treatment wastewater treatment plant, we don't have the money for that.
the uh the small treatment plant uh what was it west of 20 of 17 there where the trailer park areas we don't have the money for that is that >> is my thinking correct mark I don't know
>> yeah I don't think they I don't think there's funding available yet for that I know that town staff's pursuing additional funding >> okay thank you And the whole the whole plan of this was for the septic to sewer customers and those those there's been a number of those projects that I understand have
been designed and so they're waiting on construction money. So whenever the construction money is found then those will be able to be connected. Whole idea of making the plant as big as it is so that it can treat additional flows from
those projects. >> Right. My my understanding is that there's a time limit on when those two wastewater treatment plants have to either be shut down or significantly
upgraded to meet new uh new requirements for the >> I'm not familiar exactly with the timeline. I know the south that was taken offline it it needed to be taken off this year which it's going to happen but I'm not sure of the timeline of the the others. Yeah.
>> Okay. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. >> Pam Fentress. Um because a consultant is here, Jack, to your question about you know when Kevin was here he had a lot of questions he or warnings about class B or class C
operators and it takes 2500 hours to get this certain rank and and he had hoped that when it the 1 million gallon a day plant was up and running that you could reduce the staff. So on June 24th,
um Penoni uh sent a letter to DP asking uh for a reduction in staff. I don't know if that's been approved or not. Is there a status update to that? >> No, the request was made. It was a permit modification to reduce staff.
That was made quite some time ago and it's kind of been stuck at FD. We've been trying to get an answer out of them. Um I think what you saw was some more information they'd requested. Um >> this is this is Jeff McKenna who is
Penoni asking Gabby who is D if uh y'all can if you can cut back on the amount of operators at the plant due to the automization of it. It's another thing that and if you don't if they say no then you're going to have the extra
staff time right now. I think you don't have a town engineer who was doing it for a while or utilities director, but then Penoni has been the one to certify certain things. So once that contract gets complete, you're going to need somebody in that place. So that's one
thing. Um the biggest thing probably I see with this whole $40 million in the wastewater treatment plant on June 15th uh the town and DP's talking and it is an email that's talking about this whole
project and the deadline because it was originally even before it was the it was January 1st 2026 then it was the end of January then it was February then it was March and then now we have it was July 7th or whatever Now it's the end of
July. It doesn't matter if they're getting $1,000 a day or fine or not as of March 11th or something. What matters is this part to the town. So that WG017 advanced wastewater treatment plant um
you have to have the final deliveries by September 30th, 2026. And why is that? because this is a federally funded with corona corona virus state and local fiscal recovery funds. If it doesn't get all done by
that date, then it said be prepared that say the $40 million the town may be on the hook for 20 million if you don't hit these deadlines. So you can say, well, we didn't have the railroad easement. That wasn't KDL's fault. That was so and so's fault. This didn't happen because
we couldn't get the welders at the wastewater treatment plant. This didn't happen because it was a faulty whatever. At the end of the day, it is the town council's Oh, do I have to go on the timer? I think it's really important for y'all to understand these things.
Do you give me permission? >> Yes, give me permission to keep going. >> Oh, absolutely. >> Okay. But this is important. This isn't something and so these are the type and I again I'll say it again. You had high admin turnover in the town of Lake Placid. You have people doing three
jobs. And so a lot of things I think are falling through the cracks and you're depending on consultants who may be expertise of this area but not know the other areas. Next thing you need to there's been some sewer um overflow
reporting. There was one in December. Okay. There was one on June 8th. North wastewater spill. 44,000 gallons of the sewer um spilled and they they don't in this report uh they didn't they don't
have a reason why it failed. This is your new wastewater treatment plant. This is a new system. And if y'all know about this because you got an email, that's great. This things like this I think you need to be aware of. I think the council needs to be aware of this
nitpicky. Jack, in the past, I've kind of made fun of you a little bit because you wanted Lake June water quality samples and Bert Warner was here and you asked that question and Bert said, "Yeah, we'll we'll start sampling." Find out did they did are they sampling
before? Are they going to sample during and and when you said that, my point was it's a swift mud permit. It's D. You don't have to worry about it. I am withdrawing that and I'm telling you um
there's been a lot of construction issues. So I would I would that's another thing on the punch list for this committee or the town the water sample um of Lake June and other areas and I and they do water sample the water
coming out of there the way these are things that fall through the cracks but there's a a spill and they don't know why there's a spill y'all should know about it. Um, I don't know how they're going to get it done by the July 30. I know there's like
a July 30th or the end of July for the wastewater treatment plant, but it it talks about the timeline to get paid. I'm worried about your town coffers. I'm not a town resident. I don't have t water and sewer. I'm just out greater
Lake Placid area. But for whatever reasons, I spent a lot of time over the years following this. Um, it's concerning. I could go on and on of the different reports that I've pul pulled over the last couple of months and in the last couple of weeks. Um, but
I think a priority is that master utilities plan having town administration either admin administrator utilities director. It's it's sad to see how many people's name are listed on these different reports as the owner of the system. Sad and being
it was Joey, it was so and so, it was so and so. So the people it's not going to be their fault when Mark's name's on there and al because he didn't know what happened five years ago, four years ago. We we need some consistency, some
stability that's more towards town council, but thank you. I won't overdo. I know I've already overdone it. I apologize, but these are important issues, I think, and we need to get them straightened out now. Um, and decommissioning plants is a big part.
That was a big part of it for years. Decommission Tamoka because it c it cost too much for Tamoka. They were having too many repairs. That was a priority. That's off the table right now. You got to decommission the South Plant. So, and so and things the prices went up. COVID
everything increased. It's the truth. and time delays and getting the parts and equipment. The town has been operated under band-aid approach. They don't do anything about something until it's emergency, until it breaks down. That was to your point. Um, I've seen
the different staff over the years ask for stuff in their capital improvements budget. Well, and the council will say, "Can you push it another year? Can you push it?" You know, and it just keeps the can gets k getting kicked down. You have all these the boil water notices
something else you probably want to talk about at some point but at some point the rubber hits the road. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> I uh I had asked uh sent an email all
week or two ago. Maybe it was a month ago. Maybe it's before you were here and I asked about the status on the testing that Jack asked for. Um, and also trying to help our new administrator. I gave him my personal to-do list that
I've been compiling. And it's really it's really crude, you know, because it was meant only for me. Um, but a lot of those things, Pam, are on that list. >> Uh, just to direct towards the water quality testing that was brought to my attention. It is something that I am
pursuing. I've asked about it already. Um, we are trying to find out if we can test now or if it is too late. Um, it wasn't brought to me until a week ago that we needed to do that testing. I did get information that we do have wells
that are sank on all four points surrounding the wastewater treatment plant that are continuously monitored. Um, but as far as going down to the lake itself, we have not monitored yet. Okay. Well, I mean that's the whole
purpose of this wastewater treatment plant is to ensure the the safe quality of the the water in the lakes. You know, uh >> I'm I'm aware >> even though we we haven't done it, I think we should do it now. We'll have at
least a reference point so that when the plant is handling whatever it is, 200 225,000 gallons a day, this was what the water quality was. And then down the road when it's handling 500,000 gallons a day or a million gallons some someday, you know,
is the water quality still the same as it was originally or is it getting worse? And you know, it may be getting worse but not because of the storage treatment plant too. It could be getting worse because there's more building around the lake or you know runoff from
uh fertilizer from lawns and stuff like that. >> Yeah. And as soon as our compliance coordinator gets back, I'll discuss it more in depth with her to make sure that we can if we can, we will start doing that. Um, she had raised some issues that to get down to the W's edge, we
have to have homeowners permission on their property to sample the lake off of their property. So, we're going to find out if we can find some homeowners that'll let us test from the backyards. >> Yeah. Well, I mean, there's there's public boat ramps. You go out in a you
go out in a boat. town doesn't own a boat. >> I'm sure somebody will. I don't own a boat either. >> I think it would be easier to ask. >> I'm sure somebody will let him use a boat for a day. >> Yeah, I think that it would be easier just to ask them, hey, can we walk down to the bank in your backyard and test as
opposed to trying to get a boat? >> Is the lake watch Are those people still in business? The the volunteer lake watch people? I haven't heard anything in the last three or four years whether Lake Watch is still functioning. I used to know the people that were I used to
know the people that were on it and they've kind of died. >> Okay. If we're if we're done with that topic then uh I have a a question on the uh drinking water for the for the city.
Right. It seems to me like we're having an awful lot of uh waterline breaks for whatever reason. Maybe because the pipes are old, you know. Uh I would like to see somebody here from the utility department so that we could
question them on, you know, what's happening, what are they trying to do to fix it if if anything, uh what are the procedures that they follow that say when there is a break, right? And let's say it's uh a contractor digging and he
he broke a line that either wasn't wasn't located or or he didn't he didn't have the locating company come out and he accidentally broke it. You know what is the procedure as far as fixing the the the brake? uh do they um add
additional chlorine or something at at that point to to help try and uh eliminate any any possible problem you know as far as contamination. Yes, they try to >> contamination contamination and also
>> what is the procedure for notifying the residents both in the town and and outside the town that have uh you still >> we have procedures in place. We ran into issue this last time because the people who actually do it were gone on vacation.
So, we had to come in and figure out how to do it before we could get all that sent out this this during this last break. Okay. >> All the breaks we've had so far, and the reason we've had so many out were due to people breaking our water lines. Our locates were done. They were still
hitting our water lines. That's why we've had so many breaks. >> Okay. Now, I'll say maybe six months ago or so, I had asked the question uh of the uh town administrator about about waterline
breaks. Water waterline breaks. And she said at that time that most of the breaks were because people were running into fire hydrants and breaking them off. >> No. >> Is I didn't believe that either at that time, but I just I just let it go. I can't speak for what was happening at
that time. I wasn't paying that close of attention to it. But the last three breaks that since I have been in this position have all been due to people hitting our water lines when they're digging. This last one, they didn't actually hit it. They dug out from
underneath it, allowed the line to sag under its own weight until it finally um broke at a joint. >> Okay. And were those were those instances uh where they were working near the the main line in the street or
was it their the branch feeding their residence or or building or whatever? >> This last one when they were working near the line at the corner of uh Lake Rashard and Inner Lake and it was part of our um force main projects. So it was part of our projects that the work was
being done for. >> Okay. So, they were 4 inch lines or bigger lines. They weren't uh one and a half inch lines going. >> I don't remember exactly. I don't remember exact sizes of the lines, but yeah, they were larger lines. This last one, it wasn't just that the line broke.
It was where it broke that was the issue. We were not able to get that area isolated. So, it required the entire water system to be shut down to conduct the repair work. While we did that, we also took the initiative to in insert
valves so that if this ever happens again, we can isolate that area quickly. >> Okay, that's that's something that I had brought up in the past too. There was a uh a I'll call it a survey that was done by some outside company that uh examined
your entire uh water waste water and maybe waste water too, I don't know, utility system. And one of the findings that they had at that time was that there were a lot of valves that they couldn't find. They'd been paved over. There was dirt over them. And and there
were also some valves that they did find but weren't operable. >> Yeah. >> You know, so which means, >> you know, if you can't close this valve and this valve, then you got to go down another block that way or another block that way. you then you're affecting more people uh having no water at all until
you get the the break fixed. So I think you know we need to get the utility department to get their act together. >> I I completely agree it unfortunately with the changes that have occurred
it as many utility directors as we have had come and go it is having an effect. We're trying to mitigate that. But there's only so much that can be done when the information is not passed from one to the next. We we can go back and
look, but sometimes these records are difficult to find, >> right? And I'm going to ask one more question and and you may not want to answer it. What was the reason that the last utility director left? >> I couldn't tell you. I have no idea.
>> Okay. >> I was never told, so I can't answer that. ask too many questions. >> I mean, I I felt I told him I felt sorry for him when he came here because he had inherited a real rat's nest, you know,
and and I'm thinking that maybe that's why he left, you know. He he realized it was much worse than he thought it was. >> I really I don't know why he left. He was here one day, he was gone the next. I was told he resigned. >> Okay. I don't think he gave notice.
>> I think he just walked out of a meeting. >> It's quite possible. >> Uh with regard to >> Okay. Yes. Pam Fentress. Historically what has happened is you have a utility director
then it kind of got lines got blurred because they also came uh the town administrator. They were the engineer but the last several have quit. A utility director makes recommendations. They bring recommendations to this committee then to council. And what
happened in the past historically, year after year, utility director after utility director, the then acting town attorney, Bert Harris would overrule it. It would, and I I say this from personal knowledge of things being on the agenda,
recommendations being made about made about sewer capacity, reserves versus subject to sewer on the agenda in the packet having a handout. time and time again, it was pulled the day of the meeting because the town attorney did
this. So, I think what happens um just the the the utilities department gets beat up a lot. It is not just a $40 million. You can say, "Well, they only got one thing to do." Kevin had seven different projects at one time with grants open at the same time. He he
would come and ask for funding from the council and and um they would say, "Well, can you make do? can you do this? Can and push it down the line. And he would he got to where he say I serve at the pleasure of the board. With Bert Warner, he tried. He came here
repeatedly and tried. I think he he sent in a letter of resignation uh six months before and I think the town administrator said, "Please hang in there. Please." And it went like that and it went like that. And then in January that it happened to do with the
Lake Plastic Camping Conference Center, that whole waterline. And Bert Warner was back here. He was trying to defend the town and talk about fire hydrants. And you had Bert Harris and you had Matt from the Camping Coffin Center. Um saying it was about fire hydrants and
and Bert Warner had asked the county county said you're the town will be respond anyway. became a back and forth and I think that's when he said I'm done. I'm out. So, will it happen to the next one? I don't know. But, but you h have these people utility directors making recommendation based on their
knowledge. They're professionals. We need to listen to them. Um and they need to and it's hard though. I can't imagine um the staff being able to stand up to the council. This is my recommend recommendation. A lot of times it's just they get shot down. Shot down. And then
what happens? Staff withdrawals. They qui quit giving suggestions, recommendations. They're not going to get beat up. Fortunately, I'm in the audience and I don't y'all can't really beat me up too much. Um, but I think that it's it's something has to change.
I told somebody today this it things change a lot, but nothing really ever changes here. We somehow you have to act like a I'm not trying to lecture too much. You got to be professional, efficient. You You're not just a town of under 2600 people now. You're a town
that has a million gallons a day wastewater treatment plant. You got a $40 million D grant. You have to be responsible. We got to communicate and work together and and having administration and the directors in
stable positions I think is critically important. But that's that's what happened. >> Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, Chief, you you're probably not aware uh but uh I had talked to uh Bert about uh one of the projects that they
had done recently which was just painting the fire hy painting the fire hydrants, right? And I live in Lake June Point. So I I went out I happened to see the guy the guys there painting the fire hydrants. They were testing them first and then
painting them. And I went out and talked to the to the guy and uh I said to him, "How come I understand you're flow testing the the fire hydrants? That that's great." I said, "And you're painting them, but you're not cleaning them. There was moss
growing on them. There was loose rust, you know, where it needed to be wire brushed off or sand blasted or whatnot." So, I talked to Bird about it, you know, and he said, 'Well, I only had $22,000 to do the project, you know, and it
would have taken double that to do all of them and do it right, you know. Well, why do all of them wrong? Why not do half, maybe half of them right and try and get money the next year or the year after?
Understand what I'm saying? because eventually they're, you know, summers down the road they're going to have to be painted again and it's going to be sooner than what it would have been if they had done them right the first time. And I mean, that wasn't his his fault as
far as he didn't get money from the city council to do it right. comments. After listening to this, I had an opportunity to run a bunch of meetings and stuff, not generally very
well, but as grandpa used to say, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. And if you can use us as Greece and we get things that are in in action item forms that we can help you support
or support you going to town council, I think I speak for the the whole commission up here that we would commit ourselves to doing that. Am I right? >> Yes.
So, and Eva, we need your help too as far as getting them in front of us in bullet form, easy to read form, you know that that and if you talk to the people that are doing the job or
leading the job, if you could ask them how they would like to see it come to us and what we can do to get that word to town council, I think we need to do that. comments, anybody?
>> Well, I I have to say when the money was put in the budget or whatever for doing the fire hydrants, we were not the council was not told that it would be a poor job. We weren't told, as I recall, that it had to be more money to do it
right or we weren't told we can afford to do half of them in a good way. So, you can't totally put it on town council. Something got lost in communications. Maybe he didn't feel like he could ask for more. I don't
know. >> I wasn't putting it on town council. What I was trying to do is to make sure that we understood it and if town council had a question or help them understand exactly what's going on. And then somebody has to monitor what was
done. Jack said they painted algae. you know, not good, you know. So, we should That happened. Next time we ought to take somebody ought to ride out there and look at it. You know, it doesn't take much to get involved and get it done right.
Yeah, it does. It takes a commitment and that's what we need in my opinion. In in my opinion, the the two priorities for the for the city in general, I think, are p well the one maybe the one
majority is a public safety, right? Which means the police department, right? And proper proper water and sewer. You know, if you don't have those two things, it doesn't matter if you have the greatest school system in the in the
county or the the best roads, but if you don't have the police and you don't have a quality water to drink, you're in bad shape. Bottom line is we're here to help you. Did we cover the agenda? >> I think uh I know Brandon had a
director's report in there, but it was already included. I'm not sure. >> No, the the utility director report was not in there. >> Yeah. On the back. >> Oh, it's on the back. >> Okay.
Uh, Lake Rashard lift station pump number two is back from repair. Waiting on a bracket. When we receive it, they'll install the pump. Wastewater treatment plant construction completion expected is July 7th, 2026, which we
already know is not complete, not happening. Uh, the South Plant lift station was completed, is operational on June 28, 26. Uh we're waiting on D to send over paperwork so we can start decommissioning the South plant. The
Main Street and Marquata lift stations both have need tested for operations. Main Street lift station passed. Marquata is waiting on a pipe restraint to be installed. Both sites are at 95% completion. Pen
Engineering performing technical services during construction. Marquata Drive, South Main Street and South Wastewater Treatment Facility, pumping station and force main installation. The North Sewer Plant contractor pool
and Kent has stated that North plant will be completed on July 3rd, 2026, which we know it was not. There is some issue with the new asphalt around the headworks that is being addressed by Penoni Engineering that Pool and Kent is
repairing. pool and Kent is working on the punch out list for the final completion. Customer consumer report CCR is available. >> What is that? >> The customer consumer report. >> Huh?
>> It describes our water qualities. >> Water quality. >> Yeah, I believe that went out should have gone out to everyone on the loop. >> It's also It's on the website. >> It's also on the website. >> Okay. Thank you.
Any questions on the director's report? >> We done. >> No other business being heard. We stand adjourned. And thank you very much everyone.