March 2021 minutes
All minutes are in draft form
March 9, 2021
7:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
TRUSTEES PRESENT OPERATORS PRESENT WEB MANAGER
Joe O’Brien Kirk Patch
Tanner Palmer
Steve Jennings CLERK ASST. OPERATOR
Nancy Benson
1. Call to Order and Welcome. Joe O’Brien called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. to adopt the Agenda, which was approved.
2. Review and approval of minutes of previous meeting(s). Minutes from the February meeting were approved.
3. Review and approval of financial statements. The financial reports for February were approved.
4. Customer Comments. Kirk talked with the new owners of the Koniuto property at 446 Vermont Route 15. They said they were confused about the bill and would pay.
Joe talked again with Bernard Coffey’s son. Bernard is still in the hospital. Kirk said there was a spike in usage in February. The usage was almost doubled. The line froze in December and split. It was leaking in the basement. The sump pump was pumping it out. It also froze the meter. Kirk met with last week and replaced the frost pipe. They want the water shut off when it is warmer. Both houses are vacant.
5. Correspondence. None.
6. Operations Report.
Operator’s Report.
- Water usage. ________ gal/day
- Test Results and Testing.
Bacteria results negative.
Fluoride results within tolerance.
7. Repairs, Maintenance, and Connections.
Kirk said February was pretty quiet, except for the Coffey leak.
Kirk said the chlorine motor failed in the analyzer. Marc and Mike had purchased spare parts, so he replaced the part and it is working well. It is very labor intensive. $70.00 a month is needed in reagents. To have the motor and sensor replace were about $400.00. Kirk said it is worth looking at something different. Kirk said the one we have is no longer available. To replace it would be about $5,100.00. They are all around the $4,000.00 range. The newer ones are maintenance free. No reagents are needed. Kirk will get more information. Similar issues occurred with Mark, Michael and Andy.
Kirk brushed the snow off the solar panels.
Kirk said John is doing a good job. He is pleased with his orientation.
Joe said Mike is no longer coming up on Fridays. He is still available for backup.
8. Old Business.
A. Nothing new on Mill Development.
B. Remote meters on hold.
C. Marc sent a note from Kennedy hydrant rep. That is our brand. Marc and Kirk sat in on a webinar. Kirk said there is a data logger into the type of hydrant, instituted into system for pressure. They could be replaced and incorporated into new hydrants. $2,500.00 per hydrant for cellular data. Two or three could be done to monitor system. The technology is the same as Mission. Tanner asked Kirk if salt would affect the logger. Kirk said no, it is inside the hydrant. Burlington has put in a couple dozen and Rutland has a bunch. Kirk will call and see how they are going. Joe asked if would add $2,500.00 onto the hydrant price. Kirk said it would be an additional $2,500.00 on top of the hydrant price to install the cellular data chip in the top of the hydrant. The battery lasts about five years. It is $100.00 to replace the battery. We could look at doing three to monitor for failure. The hydrants cost about $2,000.00 to replace. Joe said it would come out of the capital fund. Maybe do a few each year. Kirk will get more information.
D. No new allocations.
E. Wells and pumps are workng well.
G. All good
H. Kirk said the tank inspections will be scheduled for June.
9. New Business.
A. Not discussed.
B. Not discussed.
C. Kirk did a rough draft of the hydrant policy. Joe looked at, but not thoroughly. He will put it on the April agenda. We need to outline the responsibility for the communication piece.
Andy sent Kirk an e-mail that Alex McDonald will not be able to mow the pump stations this summer. We will have to find a replacement.
Tyler Billingsley from the Town of Underhill said they will be doing stormwater improvements on the Park Street catch basin, work on Park Street down by Jacobs Store and River Road near the cemetery. They will be replacing piping. He wanted copies of as built drawings where the water lines are. Storm drains were put on our water lines. He worked with Marc before. We need to pay close attention to the work. The service line that Vermont Gas broke needs to be finished. It is only 4’ down. It should be 5’ to 6’ down. Tyler mentioned collaboration of water line with stormwater work. Joe mentioned getting an engineer to do work to abandon the line and come off Depot Street. Kirk with meet with Tyler.
Joe will tell Andy he no longer receives free water.
Joe will ask Andy to make arrangements with Coffey. He will probably not be back at the house. The taxes have also not been paid.
10. Next Regular Meeting. Next regular meeting April 6, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
11. Review and Approve Bills. Bills were reviewed and approved.
Adjournment. The regular meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Benson, Clerk/Treasurer
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Joe O’Brien, President