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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023.07.10 UC Minutes ROSEMOUNT UTILITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS JULY 10, 2023 CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the Utility Commission was held on Monday, July 10, 2023, at 5:30 PM. in Rosemount Council Chambers, 2875 145th Street West. Chairperson Greg Johnson called the meeting to order with Commissioners Miller and Demuth. Staff present included the following; Nick Egger, Public Works Director; Login Martin, City Administrator; Mayor Jeff Weisensel; and Chuck Jacobus, Public Works Supervisor. Guests included the following; Jessie Kohler, Minnesota Department of Health; and Karla Peterson, Minnesota Department of Health Community Water Supply Unit Supervisor. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO AGENDA None. AUDIENCE INPUT None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 4.a. April 24, 2023 Utility Commission Meeting Minutes Motion by Demuth Second by Miller Motion to approve the April 24, 2023 Utility Commission meeting minutes. Ayes: 3 Nays: 0. Motion carried. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. OLD BUSINESS 6.a. Water Efficiency & Stormwater Rebate Update Public Works Director Egger reviewed the 2023 Q2 Water Efficiency and Stormwater Rebate program activity. Commissioners requested a new promotional video to be made by Mayor Weisensel promoting the rebate programs. NEW BUSINESS 7.a. Well Manganese Sampling Report & Operational Modification Recommendations - Minnesota Department of Health Jessie Kohler of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and Karla Peterson, MDH Community Water Supply Unit Supervisor, summarized and discussed the well manganese sampling report and recommendation to adjust pumping patterns to promote in-system water source blending. Staff discussed options for water source blending as recommended by the MDH to reduce Manganese (Mn) levels from wells that tested above 100 ug/L by mixing with water from wells with lower levels of Manganese. One option would involve retrofitting the well pumps with Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) would allow adjustments to the flow from each well. Currently, only well 7 has a VFD and all other well pumps have a set Gallons Per Minute (GPM) which cannot be adjusted. Retrofitting with VFDs is an interim lower cost option that can be done before installing a water treatment plant. These would be small-scale installations for a few million dollars which can be built into the budget and spread out over several years. In addition, installation of VFDs will provide electric and maintenance savings for the City. Another operational suggestion is to turn off the high Manganese wells for 2-3 days or pump these wells into a tower to blend. However, due to water system demands in the summer, these wells cannot be shut off as water tower levels would not be able to be maintained at a time of day when demand is high. The last option would involve combining discharges in which 2 wells would feed into a manifold housed in a building approximately the size of a well house and blending the water before pumping to the tower with the expectation that the water further blends in distribution. The plan for a future water treatment facility would make this option obsolete and is a higher cost than retrofitting the well pumps with VFDs. The Commissioners requested the City consider reissuing outreach information provided several years ago to residents on infants and Manganese. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT 8.a. Well Pumping Report Director Egger noted the pumping rates at this time are higher than compared to pumping rates in 2022. This may be due to having lower precipitation rates as compared to 2022. 8.b. Action Item / Issues list None. 8.c. Set Next Meeting Agenda for September 25, 2023 i. Discuss Financial Goals for Utility Funds ii. Rate Model Preliminary Review ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Utility Commission and upon a motion by Miller and a second by Demuth, the meeting was adjourned at 6:44 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Amy Simonson Recording Secretary