Syracuse Discusses Mishaps At Wastewater Treatment Plant
September 21, 2016 at 7:56 p.m.
By JUDE STRIEBY-RASKA-
Even after a letter was sent requesting a viable solution to the problematic aeration ditch equipment from Aeration Industries, Public Works Superintendent Rob Merchant reported that no word was heard back from Triad Associates.
After sending an email to all parties requesting to know who came up with the incorrect data that the equipment was installed under, he was told by a representative from Aeration Industries that they used averages.
“Where they didn’t have the data, it looks like they made assumptions, based on national averages,” said Merchant. “In my view, the equipment was probably destined to fail.”
Due to the lack of information from both Triad and Aeration regarding the origin of the faulty data, he said it is unclear whether Triad did not give Aeration complete data or if Triad gave them all the data and Aeration just chose to average it.
“Regardless, it's the engineer's responsibility to review submittals … Why didn’t someone go through all that information to find out if it was flawed, or find out if they used correct data for their submittals?” he asked. “To me, it's obvious that wasn’t done.”
He finalized that the equipment currently cannot be made to work properly without adding more blowers and pumps, and continuing to pay three to four times higher electricity bills.
“To me, the equipment submittal was flawed data, it wasn’t review properly by the engineer .... and the equipment was misrepresented on what it could do,” he said.
Weighing in on the matter, Council President Larry Siegal stated, “It's our responsibility to look out for the ratepayers, and there is certainly a problem here that isn’t getting resolved.”
Russell Jacobs, of R. E. Crosby Construction, qualified Merchant’s statements by saying that the equipment is working in accordance to the manufacturer's design statements, but does not meet the requirement of the Syracuse wastewater plant.
Jacobs addressed his concerns about Crosby not being able to hit their completion goal for the project due to the aforementioned complications. Merchant made a point to tell the council that Crosby had done everything possible to meet their finish date, stating that until the problem with the aeration ditches arose, Crosby had been on track to meet their deadline. He also reiterated Crosby’s intent to move forward with the construction needed to the ditches, at no cost to the town, once a third-party review gives their recommendations on how to proceed.
Jacobs suggested a formal meeting with all parties involved, since email had not produced results. Siegal seconded that idea, stating that the council would give all parties involved two weeks to hold a quorum and get a resolution. Pending the results, the council will then decide whether or not to go into executive session to decide what needs to be done.
Merchant asked to enter into a contract with Commonwealth Engineers for a third-party review of the UV structure and hydraulics at the wastewater plant. A motion was passed to accept the services of Commonwealth for $6,500, with proposed modifications and recommendations to be presented by Nov. 1.
Merchant also announced that after he ran them by town attorney Vern Landis, letters are ready to be sent to any property owners whose property lies within 200 feet of the new sewer lines. The town code dictates that any property within 200 feet of a sewer line is required to tie-in to that sewer. He mentioned that Indiana state law dictates it be 300 feet, but that in these situations, the stricter of the two rules is usually what is enforced.
He asked for payment for a $4,480 overage to be paid Phend and Brown due to additional material needed when paving recent streets in Syracuse. The motion for paying this was approved.
Clerk-Treasurer Paula Kehr-Wicker gave the first reading of the 2017 budget.
Town Manager Henry DeJulia asked for funds for three town projects: the crosswalk, sidewalk and pavement surrounding the town hall and police building for $62,000, to be completed by Niblock Excavating by Nov. 4; 10 decorative safety lights from Ward Industries for Dolan and Pearl Street for $21,690, to be delivered by Nov. 4; and two traffic speed signs from Radar Signs for $6,630 to be delivered by Nov. 18.
DeJulia also brought to question a business entity’s request that he look into the possible creation of another riverfront area. He asked the council whether he should pursue the request. The council gave their approval.
The council adopted ordinance 2016-09, which authorizes the town to refinance some outstanding Waterworks Revenue Bonds from 2004 worth $3,827,568, which runs until 2026. There is a cost to refinance, but the savings outweigh the costs. Refunding the bonds within the next 2-1/2 months would incur a 1 percent call premium, which would be around $40,000. Waiting until December, which is 90 days within the February coupon date, would mean the call premium would disappear. Plus, the town is currently able to refinance the bonds at a lower rate, from 3.1 percent to low 2 percent, and overall this makes a savings of $80,000.
Police Chief James Layne divulged that he was creating a set of 130 to 150 standard operating procedures for the Syracuse Police Department. The procedures are based on the state and federal codes with some changes made for the Syracuse procedure. The council will need to look over and approve these procedures when they are finished.
Fire Chief Mickey Scott drew attention to the fact that now he sends out reports to not only the fire board, but also the town council members and township board members, to ensure everyone is seeing the same information.
Scott reported the department successfully collected non perishable items for citizens impacted by the recent tornado victims in Kokomo. He also mentioned the results of the recent Muscle Dystrophy Association Boot Drive, in which the local fire territory collected $2,175.10. All proceeds go directly to MDA.
Scott requested council approval to trade in the Syracuse Fire Territory’s 2004 Chevy suburban and purchase a new vehicle for the department, due to the vehicle’s continued downward repair spiral. The board passed a motion for the vehicle trade in and purchase for $39,840.
Diana Clark was appointed the town council representative to the Syracuse Library Board.
The meeting had a few different visitors. Virginia Surso from Rock Solid was there representing her organization to the council. Rock Solid gives middle schoolers to high schoolers a safe place to be after school on Thursdays from 3:15 to 6:30 p.m.
Jeremy Van Lue, Scoutmaster of Syracuse Boy Scout troop 728, brought three of the troop’s five young men to the town meeting. Zach Griffith, Jackson Heyes, and Devin Van Lue are working on their Citizenship in the Nation Merit badge, part of which requires them to participate in a public meeting. Close to the motion for adjournment, Siegal called upon the troops for a volunteer. Heyes got the opportunity to bang the gavel and end the meeting for the night.
Even after a letter was sent requesting a viable solution to the problematic aeration ditch equipment from Aeration Industries, Public Works Superintendent Rob Merchant reported that no word was heard back from Triad Associates.
After sending an email to all parties requesting to know who came up with the incorrect data that the equipment was installed under, he was told by a representative from Aeration Industries that they used averages.
“Where they didn’t have the data, it looks like they made assumptions, based on national averages,” said Merchant. “In my view, the equipment was probably destined to fail.”
Due to the lack of information from both Triad and Aeration regarding the origin of the faulty data, he said it is unclear whether Triad did not give Aeration complete data or if Triad gave them all the data and Aeration just chose to average it.
“Regardless, it's the engineer's responsibility to review submittals … Why didn’t someone go through all that information to find out if it was flawed, or find out if they used correct data for their submittals?” he asked. “To me, it's obvious that wasn’t done.”
He finalized that the equipment currently cannot be made to work properly without adding more blowers and pumps, and continuing to pay three to four times higher electricity bills.
“To me, the equipment submittal was flawed data, it wasn’t review properly by the engineer .... and the equipment was misrepresented on what it could do,” he said.
Weighing in on the matter, Council President Larry Siegal stated, “It's our responsibility to look out for the ratepayers, and there is certainly a problem here that isn’t getting resolved.”
Russell Jacobs, of R. E. Crosby Construction, qualified Merchant’s statements by saying that the equipment is working in accordance to the manufacturer's design statements, but does not meet the requirement of the Syracuse wastewater plant.
Jacobs addressed his concerns about Crosby not being able to hit their completion goal for the project due to the aforementioned complications. Merchant made a point to tell the council that Crosby had done everything possible to meet their finish date, stating that until the problem with the aeration ditches arose, Crosby had been on track to meet their deadline. He also reiterated Crosby’s intent to move forward with the construction needed to the ditches, at no cost to the town, once a third-party review gives their recommendations on how to proceed.
Jacobs suggested a formal meeting with all parties involved, since email had not produced results. Siegal seconded that idea, stating that the council would give all parties involved two weeks to hold a quorum and get a resolution. Pending the results, the council will then decide whether or not to go into executive session to decide what needs to be done.
Merchant asked to enter into a contract with Commonwealth Engineers for a third-party review of the UV structure and hydraulics at the wastewater plant. A motion was passed to accept the services of Commonwealth for $6,500, with proposed modifications and recommendations to be presented by Nov. 1.
Merchant also announced that after he ran them by town attorney Vern Landis, letters are ready to be sent to any property owners whose property lies within 200 feet of the new sewer lines. The town code dictates that any property within 200 feet of a sewer line is required to tie-in to that sewer. He mentioned that Indiana state law dictates it be 300 feet, but that in these situations, the stricter of the two rules is usually what is enforced.
He asked for payment for a $4,480 overage to be paid Phend and Brown due to additional material needed when paving recent streets in Syracuse. The motion for paying this was approved.
Clerk-Treasurer Paula Kehr-Wicker gave the first reading of the 2017 budget.
Town Manager Henry DeJulia asked for funds for three town projects: the crosswalk, sidewalk and pavement surrounding the town hall and police building for $62,000, to be completed by Niblock Excavating by Nov. 4; 10 decorative safety lights from Ward Industries for Dolan and Pearl Street for $21,690, to be delivered by Nov. 4; and two traffic speed signs from Radar Signs for $6,630 to be delivered by Nov. 18.
DeJulia also brought to question a business entity’s request that he look into the possible creation of another riverfront area. He asked the council whether he should pursue the request. The council gave their approval.
The council adopted ordinance 2016-09, which authorizes the town to refinance some outstanding Waterworks Revenue Bonds from 2004 worth $3,827,568, which runs until 2026. There is a cost to refinance, but the savings outweigh the costs. Refunding the bonds within the next 2-1/2 months would incur a 1 percent call premium, which would be around $40,000. Waiting until December, which is 90 days within the February coupon date, would mean the call premium would disappear. Plus, the town is currently able to refinance the bonds at a lower rate, from 3.1 percent to low 2 percent, and overall this makes a savings of $80,000.
Police Chief James Layne divulged that he was creating a set of 130 to 150 standard operating procedures for the Syracuse Police Department. The procedures are based on the state and federal codes with some changes made for the Syracuse procedure. The council will need to look over and approve these procedures when they are finished.
Fire Chief Mickey Scott drew attention to the fact that now he sends out reports to not only the fire board, but also the town council members and township board members, to ensure everyone is seeing the same information.
Scott reported the department successfully collected non perishable items for citizens impacted by the recent tornado victims in Kokomo. He also mentioned the results of the recent Muscle Dystrophy Association Boot Drive, in which the local fire territory collected $2,175.10. All proceeds go directly to MDA.
Scott requested council approval to trade in the Syracuse Fire Territory’s 2004 Chevy suburban and purchase a new vehicle for the department, due to the vehicle’s continued downward repair spiral. The board passed a motion for the vehicle trade in and purchase for $39,840.
Diana Clark was appointed the town council representative to the Syracuse Library Board.
The meeting had a few different visitors. Virginia Surso from Rock Solid was there representing her organization to the council. Rock Solid gives middle schoolers to high schoolers a safe place to be after school on Thursdays from 3:15 to 6:30 p.m.
Jeremy Van Lue, Scoutmaster of Syracuse Boy Scout troop 728, brought three of the troop’s five young men to the town meeting. Zach Griffith, Jackson Heyes, and Devin Van Lue are working on their Citizenship in the Nation Merit badge, part of which requires them to participate in a public meeting. Close to the motion for adjournment, Siegal called upon the troops for a volunteer. Heyes got the opportunity to bang the gavel and end the meeting for the night.
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