DeKalb Sanitary District Board Meeting Minutes
DeKalb Sanitary District
June 19, 2007
Minutes
Approved July 17, 2007
The June meeting of the DeKalb Sanitary District Board of Trustees was held at the office of the District at 5 p.m. on June 19, 2007. In attendance were Trustees Dennis Collins, Tim Struthers and Carol Zar and Attorney for the District Keith Foster and District Treasurer Richard Stokke. Michael Zima, District Manager; Janice Tripp, Assistant Manager Administration; Steve Olsen, Plant Foreman; and Betty Jones, Secretary were present. Scott Trotter, P.E. and Mark Eddington, P.E. of Trotter & Associates attended. Mark Biernacki, Derek Hiland and Dan Doenges attended representing the City of DeKalb. James Tucker attended representing Cavel International, Inc. Pamela Mau attended representing signers of a petition from the Krpan, Lawnwood, Woodlawn neighbors. A number of observers were present for all or portions of the meeting.
President of the Board Collins called the meeting to order.
Trustee Struthers moved and Trustee Zar seconded approval of the June agenda. Motion carried.
Trustee Collins moved approval of the May minutes. Trustee Zar seconded. Motion carried.
Trustee Collins moved to approve the transfer of
- $251,000.00 to the O & M Fund from the Revenue Fund
- $9,868.53 to the O & M Fund from the Dedicated Tax FICA Fund
- $13,598.21 to the O & M Fund from the Dedicated Tax IMRF Fund
Trustee Struthers seconded. Motion carried.
Trustee Struthers moved to pay bills as presented. Trustee Zar seconded. Motion carried.
Trustee Collins moved and Trustee Zar seconded a motion to move Mark Biernacke’s presentation on behalf of the City of DeKalb forward to this point in the agenda. Motion carried.
Mr. Biernacki explained to the Board that the City of DeKalb wants to apply to the State General Assembly for a 12-year extension of the T.I.F. district that covers the central downtown area in order to facilitate their Downtown Revitalization Plan. The current tax increment funding district there expires in 2009. He explained the impact of the proposal on the District, promised that the City of DeKalb, by intergovernmental agreement, would return 50% (surplus) of the income generated to the taxing districts, and asked the Board to sign a letter of support for the extension to be sent to Springfield. The Board agreed to have the agreement and letter prepared and presented to them for signature at next month’s meeting.
During the Public Input portion of the meeting, Pamela Mau of 724 Krpan Court raised questions to the Engineers about no-sludge water treatment as a viable option for this plant. Scott Trotter told her he is still in the process of gathering information about this non-conventional technology and could not offer an opinion yet. She presented a petition with 60 signatures requesting the Board to change their plans for moving the creek on District property so as not to destroy trees and the wildlife habitat in the area. Trustee Collins told her that while it is valuable to have the neighbors’ input, there is no plan to move the stream. The Storm Water Improvements -- Wetlands Mitigation project was put on hold.
Jim Schneider asked for and received permission to hold his public input until the discussion of the Facilities Plan Update. Angela Valianos asked for and received permission to ask questions during the discussion of Cavel International’s fine.
Trustee Collins asked Mike Zima, District Manager, for an update on Cavel’s current status. Mike said that when Cavel obtained a temporary restraining order that allowed them to operate, they contacted the laboratory on Friday, June 1 to inform them of resuming operations and re-connected to the sewer main that same day, beginning slaughter on June 2, 2007. He said that daily DSD laboratory tests have shown Cavel in full compliance with their permit limits. He stated that he would like to have had Mr. Tucker call him personally before reconnecting. Jim Tucker stated that having had numerous conversations about the company’s desire to reconnect if they came into compliance, and having voluntarily disconnected from the system and still holding a valid discharge permit, he had found no obstacle to voluntarily reconnecting to the District’s sewer. He said that the judge has promised a ruling in their appeals case by June 28, 2007, and they will not know until then if they will be allowed to continue operation.
Trustee Collins solicited public input on Cavel, and Jim Schneider spoke to say that it is important to remember that Cavel was not causing disruption to the treatment plant and said that in terms of industrial treatment policy, the District should not fine if the discharge in question is not really a problem. No one else present offered any input.
After a discussion of the fines levied by Administrative Order #3 and #4, especially concerning the motivation for the increase to daily testing instead of weekly testing, Trustee Struthers put forth a suggestion that the Administrative Order #3 be held as originally put forth and the $25,500.00 fine now in escrow be claimed by the District in full. He said that he would support deducting from the $55,000.00 fine levied by Administrative Order #4, the fines for violations above the normal testing rate of once per week minus costs for conducting the tests which were meant to help Cavel come into compliance. By his reckoning, the reduction would be $17,000.00. Trustee Zar expressed agreement with this. Trustee Collins stated that while he would be in favor of levying the entire fine, he could agree with the other Trustees. Trustee Collins also told Mr. Tucker to notify management rather than staff of changes in connection status. Attorney Foster was instructed to draw up an amending order reflecting the above decisions. Public input was again solicited, but there was none.
Treasurer Stokke gave the Treasurer’s Report and discussed this month’s investments.
There had been no requests for annexation this month.
Trustee Collins moved and Trustee Zar seconded Ordinance No. 503 directing the District’s compliance with Illinois Department of Labor prevailing wage rates. Motion carried.
The Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2007-2007 Budget having been scheduled for 1 p.m. on 6/20/2007, voting on Ordinance #504 was deferred until after that hearing.
The intergovernmental agreement between the DeKalb Sanitary District and the City of DeKalb having been modified by Keith Foster according to the Board’s direction at the April 2007 meeting, the Trustees signed the agreement. It will now be sent to the City.
Mike Zima reported that no development plans had been submitted for review this month.
Scott Trotter submitted the Engineer’s Report in writing and deferred discussion until the individual items in the agenda.
Scott Trotter gave a presentation on the Facilities Plan Update. He had reworked the data using current capacity. He also addressed the reasons for the discrepancies between his firm’s and Strand’s assessments of the scope of rehabilitation the 303 Hollister plant requires. Mr. Schneider gave his feedback to the Board on the explanations given.
Mark Eddington reported that the District has Army Corps of Engineers approval for the proposed design of the Lions Park Lift Station and are waiting for Department of Natural Resources approval. The City of DeKalb has granted the necessary variance and the Park District is in agreement, but the easements will still need to be drawn up. Trotter & Associates hopes for a bid date in early July.
Insituform has finished cleaning the project lines and begun lining. Trustee Collins moved to approve Change Order #1 in the amount of $3,160.00 for increasing lining footage for economy of scale at the Annie Glidden Road (2007-#17-01) job. Trustee Zar seconded. Motion carried.
Elliott & Wood is finished with the 2007 Spot Repairs project. Trustee Collins moved and Trustee Zar seconded approval of Change Order #1 in the amount of $10,500.00 for water main adjustment on Garden Street. Motion carried. Trustee Collins moved to approve Pay Request #1 in the amount of $10,500.00. Trustee Zar seconded. Motion carried.
Trotter & Associates have been working with Mike and Steve to bring the District’s Standard Notes & Details up to date.
Steve Olsen will give a presentation on the Emergency Response Plan in August.
Trustee Collins moved and Trustee Zar seconded approval of the Catastrophic Loss Relief request of Mayme Makela of 928 State Street. The request did meet all of the requirements of the policy. Motion carried.
Janice and Mike announced the July 27, 2007 retirement of Jim Smith after 31.8 years of service, and said that Jim will be missed.
The Trustees declined to consider the addition of a retiree healthcare benefit at this time, and instructed that it be brought to a meeting in the spring of next year during Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Budget discussions.
In New Business, Janice presented quotes received to remove a dead Oak tree from the property at 1109 Sycamore Road because it presents a danger to passersby, and to trim bushes near the house to facilitate painting. She was instructed to contract for the job with A-1 Tree & Stump Removal at $2,400.00, the lowest quote received.
Trustee Zar moved to continue the meeting until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 for the purpose of a public hearing and a vote on the 2007-2008 Fiscal Year Budget and appropriation ordinance. Motion carried and the meeting was continued.
DeKalb Sanitary District
June 20, 2007
Continued Meeting Minutes
Approved July 17, 2007
The June meeting of the DeKalb Sanitary District Board of Trustees had been continued for the purpose of the Public Hearing on the 2007-2008 Fiscal Year Budget and a vote on Appropriate Ordinance #504. At 1 p.m. on June 20, 2007, Trustees Tim Struthers and Carol Zar, Attorney for the District Keith Foster and Tracey R. Gallegos, Michael Zima, District Manager; Janice Tripp, Assistant Manager Administration; and Betty Jones, Secretary were present.
Trustee Struthers called the continued meeting to order.
The public hearing on the District proposed 2007-2008 Fiscal Year Budget was held at 1 p.m. Trustee Struthers voted to open the hearing. Trustee Zar seconded. Motion carried and Trustee Struthers opened the meeting. There was no one present wishing to give public input. Trustee Struthers moved to close the public hearing. Trustee Zar seconded. Motion carried.
Trustee Zar moved and Trustee Struthers seconded approval of Ordinance # 504, "AN ORDINANCE MAKING APPROPRIATION FOR CORPORATE PURPOSES OF THE DEKALB SANITARY DISTRICT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF SAID DISTRICT, FROM MAY 1, 2007 TO APRIL 30, 2008 INCLUSIVE." Motion carried.
Trustee Struthers made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Zar seconded. Motion carried, and the meeting was adjourned.
Dennis J. Collins, President