DOWNRIVER UTILITY WASTEWATER AUTHORITY
March 14, 2024 Meeting Minutes
CITY OF TAYLOR COUNCIL CHAMBERS

 

1. ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTIONS
DUWA Chair Gail McLeod (Allen Park) called the meeting to order at 9:02 AM and asked for roll call to be taken. At the time of roll call, voting representatives were in attendance from 11 communities: Allen Park, Belleville, Brownstown Township, Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, Riverview, River Rouge, Southgate, Taylor, Van Buren Township, and Wyandotte. A quorum (at least 7 members) was present.

 

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Copies of the Agenda were made available prior to the meeting (Attachment 1). Motion by Mayor Bill Bazzi (Dearborn Heights) and supported by Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) to approve the Agenda. The motion passed unanimously by all attending members.

 

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a. February 8, 2024 Board Meeting
Copies of the meeting minutes from the February 8, 2024 Board meeting were included in the pre-meeting Board packet (Attachment 2). Motion by Rick Rutherford (Belleville) and supported by Roxie Fairchild (Brownstown Township) to approve the minutes. The motion passed unanimously by all attending members.

 b. February 29, 2024 Special Board Meeting
Copies of the meeting minutes from the February 29, 2024 Special Board meeting were included in the pre-meeting Board packet (Attachment 3). Motion by Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) and supported by Greg Mayhew (Wyandotte) to approve the minutes. The motion passed unanimously by all attending members.

 

4. LEGAL UPDATE
Attorney Jim Fausone, of Fausone & Grysko, provided the Legal Update.

a. General Counsel Monthly Report
Attorney Fausone stated that a written summary of the monthly legal update was provided in the pre-meeting Board packet (Attachment 4). Attorney Fausone stated that the legal team has been assisting the System Manager on matters regarding the Biosolids Dryer project, the UV project, as well as the bonding process for the UV project.

Attorney Fausone thanked the Board Commissioners for participating in the Special Board Meeting that was held on February 29, 2024. He felt the meeting was productive and appreciated the time commitment of the Board Commissioners to attend. Attorney Fausone also stated that after the Special Board Meeting, the Tolling Agreement with Kruger, which was set to expire on March 1, 2024, was extended by six months through September 1, 2024.

 

5. SYSTEM MANAGER UPDATE
System Manager Mackenzie Chamberlain, of OHM Advisors, provided a verbal summary of activities since the last meeting. A written summary was provided in the pre-meeting Board packet for the System Manager Report (Attachment 5).

a. System Manager Monthly Report
System Manager Chamberlain noted the following highlights from the System Manager Report:

• • • DUWA continues to await receipt of EGLE’s comments on DUWA’s NPDES permit response letter.
    • HRC and ICS are currently working on the design of the PLC-5 replacements in the Solids Handling Building. The 100% design is expected to be complete and ready for bid in mid-May.
    • 2024 CCTV efforts are in progress and include a 6.5-mile stretch of the Eureka Interceptor from I-275 to the east towards the DWTF. CCTV efforts to date have identified over 2,000 feet of 42-inch pipe near the airport that has experienced degradation due to hydrogen sulfide attack. No immediate repair is required; however, the 2024 CCTV efforts will first be completed to determine the extent of the impacted pipe to support the development and scheduling of a future pipe rehab project.
    • Veolia OM continues to track and monitor odors and complaints. Veolia OM met with EGLE last week to provide a status update on odor mitigation efforts.
    • The DWTF has experienced increased effluent mercury concentrations since December 2022. Veolia OM is investigating several potential sources of the increased mercury levels, and OHM will continue to monitor the investigation.
    • The Bond Series Ordinance will be brought to the Board for approval later in the meeting. Proceeds from the municipal bond will be used to fund a portion of the UV project and possibly several other small capital projects or projects related to the Biosolids Dryer System.
    • Rate package development efforts will commence this month. The draft rate package will be reviewed with the Finance Committee at their next meeting in April.
    • The System Manager authorized three expenditures:

• • • • HRC was authorized to immediately review the CCTV videos of the pipes that experienced significant structural degradation. HRC’s efforts have totaled about $1,500 to date, and HRC will continue to track their efforts related to this task as part of their incidental services to DUWA.
      • Wade Trim was previously authorized for $2,000 for their engineering review of the new sanitary connection of the Taco Bell Development in Taylor. With Wade Trim’s construction inspection efforts, Wade Trim’s total cost is $5,492.50. This cost will be reimbursed to DUWA by the developer.
      • OHM renewed DUWA’s website domain name for a fee of $23.17. This fee was accounted for within DUWA’s budget.

Jeff Dobek (Riverview) asked if odor complaints are being tracked and documented. System Manager Chamberlain confirmed that the date, location, and prevailing wind direction associated with each odor complaint are tracked on a map. She added that a couple odor complaints were received last week when dosing of the hydrogen peroxide was temporarily stopped, but no additional complaints have been received since dosing of the hydrogen peroxide was resumed.

• •  

b. UV Disinfection Replacement Project Update
System Manager Chamberlain provided an update on the UV Disinfection Replacement Project to the Board (Attachment 6). Black & Veatch provided the 100% design deliverables, which were issued for bid on February 27, 2024. A mandatory pre-bid meeting was held at the DWTF on March 5, 2024. Four general contractors and some potential subcontractors attended the pre-bid meeting. Bids are due on March 27, 2024. The bids will be reviewed by Black & Veatch and the UV Project Subcommittee, which will support the project from procurement through the end of construction. After review of the bids, Black & Veatch will provide its recommendation to the Technical Committee and then the Board for approval at the April 11^th Board meeting. The UV Project will be funded in part by the $10M grant from the State as well as in part through municipal bonding. Details of the State grant and municipal bonding will be discussed later in the meeting.

c. Biosolids Dryer Facility Project Update
As Jason Nash (Veolia CPM) was unavailable to attend this month’s Board meeting, System Manager Lambrina Tercala, of OHM Advisors, and Travis Tuma, Veolia’s Project Manager at the DWTF, provided an update on the Biosolids Dryer Facility project to the Board (Attachment 7). There has been a heavy focus on operating and maintaining the cake bin, cake pumps, and pump motors over the past month. The dryers have had relatively consistent operation over the past three weeks operating at about 60% dosing pump speed.

Alfa Laval has agreed to extend the warranty on centrifuge 3. Kruger has replaced the stators on the cake pumps and is also working on cake pump rebuilds. One dryer was taken offline this week to perform condenser tower cleaning. The team has been working to resolve bridging issues in the cake bin where the product does not fall into the bin to submerge the pumps. Additionally, the BLIS system injection rate was reduced to provide better sludge distribution across the dosing pump distribution nozzles and dryer belt. When the sludge was very lubricated (with SFE water from the BLIS), it would favor the first few dosing pump distribution nozzles as the path of least resistance, and the last few nozzles would be somewhat starved. With less water and higher pressures, there is better distribution across the nozzles.

The ability to run the dryers is also contingent on the availability of trucks. Sometimes the dryers must be shut down because there is no truck available to haul the solids. There are two 100-yard trailers dedicated to the DWTF. The use of the crusher will also allow for more dried solids to be hauled per truckload. However, the crusher has been experiencing clogging, and there is a meeting with the crusher manufacturer on Friday to resolve this issue.

Attorney Fausone asked for additional clarification regarding the need to recalculate the cake pump motor size. Travia Tuma responded that the cake pump motors were running above their full load amps (FLA) and safety factor. The team met with the pump manufacturer, and upon review of the cake pump sizing calculations, it was determined that 5.6 hp motors were needed for these cake pumps rather than 5 hp motors. Kruger is now considering replacing the existing 5 hp motors with 7.5 hp motors, which would require a new motor and gear box as the pump assembly could remain the same. Mayor Tim Woolley (Taylor) asked if these cake pumps are the same pumps that have been failing recently and if the pump manufacturer will provide the new pump motors at no charge. Travis Tuma confirmed that these are the same cake pumps that have been failing recently as three cake pumps failed in the past month. Attorney Fausone added that the pump manufacturer’s miscalculation of pump motor size will be added to the list of damages that DUWA will seek to recoup.

Attorney Fausone asked for an update on the condensing tower clean-in-place (CIP) process. Travis Tuma responded that one dryer was taken offline this week for cleaning. The hydrogen peroxide chemical provider was onsite this week to work on the design of the permanent CIP system and to identify the optimal peroxide dosing location. The chemical provider will then provide a quote and recommended peroxide dosage rate. Currently, a temporary CIP skid is used to clean the condensing towers. With use of the skid, the media does not need to be removed from the towers for cleaning, but the dryers still need to be offline for the cleaning process to occur. Three contractors were contacted for a quote to install the permanent CIP system, but all quotes have been substantially higher than the $150k-180k cost estimate. The team will continue working with the chemical provider until a contractor can be secured.

Attorney Kerry Morgan (Riverview’s attorney) asked if the dryers are expected to consistently run at increased capacities over 60%. Travis Tuma responded that the dryers seem to run well at 60% speed, but the desire is still to get them to run at 100% of their design capacity. The cake pumps have been the limiting factor of dryer capacity, but once the pump issues are resolved, the team will begin to increase the throughput into the dryers to achieve design capacity. Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) asked if the pump motors will take long to upgrade. Travis Tuma responded that the motors are in stock, but the variable frequency drives (CFDs) have a long lead time, thus the motors likely will not be replaced until May. The team is also exploring the possibility of using 10 hp motors instead of 7.5 hp motors to further increase the pump amperage capacity.

Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) referenced the pie charts (Attachment 8) and asked why it appears that the South Dryer has had more issues than the North Dryer. Travis Tuma responded that the South Dryer has historically had more problems than the North Dryer, but since reducing the BLIS injection rate, the South Dryer has outperformed the North Dryer and has achieved a higher throughput and produced a drier product than the North Dryer.

Mayor Bill Bazzi (Dearborn Heights) stated his concern with the pump failure rates and suggested that an analysis be performed on the pump reliability and pump materials to confirm that the proper parts and materials are being used on these pumps. He added that the manufacturers should have a root cause analysis certification. System Manager Tercala added that Mayor Bazzi has suggested a root cause analysis be performed in previous Board meetings, and she asked Stantec, DUWA’s Dryer Project Task Leader, if they could perform such an analysis. Stantec confirmed that they could perform a Hazard and Operability Analysis (HAZOP) workshop to review failure modes. Mayor Bill Bazzi (Dearborn Heights) is reviewing Stantec’s HAZOP scope. System Manager Tercala encouraged Mayor Bazzi to connect with Stantec to assess appropriateness of scope per his requests. Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) asked if the Technical Committee would be included in the HAZOP workshop. System Manager Tercala responded that if the HAZOP analysis workshop proceeds, then the Technical Committee would be made aware.

 

6. OTHER REQUESTS FOR AUTHORIZATIONS AND APPROVALS
System Managers Lambrina Tercala and Mackenzie Chamberlain, of OHM Advisors, presented the following requests to the Board:

a. UV and Other Capital Projects: Adoption of Bond Series Ordinance
DUWA plans to pursue municipal bonding to fund the remaining portion of the UV Disinfection Replacement project that will not be covered by the $10M State Grant that was awarded to DUWA. Several meetings were held with the Board Officers to determine the not-to-exceed bond amount that would be included within the Bond Series Ordinance. A summary page was provided to the Board that outlines the anticipated remaining cost of the UV project as well as the estimated costs of several other small capital projects and biosolids dryer system improvements that could be paid with bond proceeds, if so desired (Attachment 9). Upon review of these projects, the Board Officers decided that a not-to-exceed amount of $10M would be appropriate to include within the Bond Series Ordinance, noting that there is no commitment by DUWA to complete any of these projects and DUWA could still decide to bond for less than $10M, but not more than $10M.

Kari Blanchett, of PFM (DUWA’s Financial Advisor), presented the financing timeline to the Board (Attachment 10). The tentative timeline allows DUWA time to contemplate the bond amount after the UV bids are received. The tentative bond sale is set for May 8, 2024, but this date can be adjusted as necessary. Bond proceeds would then be expected to be received by the end of May. The Board may also want to consider earlier redemption provisions on portions of the bond that would have later maturities so that these bonds could be callable early.

Drew Van de Grift, of Dykema (DUWA’s Bond Counsel), presented the Bond Series Ordinance to the Board (Attachment 11). The Bond Series Ordinance is structured similarly to DUWA’s previous ordinances, and makes reference to and aligns with DUWA’s Master Bond Ordinance. The Bond Series Ordinance recognizes and demonstrates compliance with all applicable laws, which is of importance to bond holders. The Bond Series Ordinance also preserves flexibility of the bond, including the bond size and bond timing, and preserves the Board’s authority and discretion.

Attorney Fausone commented that Dykema has assisted DUWA since the system transfer. He reiterated that the $10M not-to-exceed amount stated in the Series Ordinance indicates the maximum bond size that DUWA can pursue, but does not indicate how much DUWA will actually bond. DUWA cannot bond for more than the $10M stated in the Series Ordinance, but can bond for less. Attorney Fausone also stated that Exhibit A of the Series Ordinance is standard language that relates to the bond form, and is not unique to DUWA.

Mayor Bill Bazzi (Dearborn Heights) asked if the bond funds will be put into a restricted account for the project. Kari Blanchett, of PFM, responded that the bond proceeds will be segregated into a separate account for the sole purpose of this bond issuance. DUWA will receive the bond proceeds in a lump sum so it is important that the bond is sized appropriately as DUWA will pay interest on the amount of bond proceeds received. With current market trends, DUWA may earn more money on interest than it will pay on interest of the bond proceeds. However, DUWA cannot keep interest earnings unless certain requirements are met, such as if the bond proceeds are spent within a certain amount of time.

Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) stated that bond proceeds may also be desired to be used to fund other capital projects besides the UV project. Kari Blanchett stated that there is flexibility within the Series Ordinance that would allow for some bonds to be callable earlier, such as within ten years, depending on the bond size. There is a cost associated with making bonds callable early. PFM will provide DUWA with a cost comparison of bond calling options. If a portion of bonds are desired to be callable early, it is recommended to call those bonds with longer maturities as more interest would otherwise be paid on these bonds. Attorney Fausone added that only the bonds for the other capital projects that may not be pursued should be able to be callable early in case there is leftover cash on hand. The bonds for the UV project should not be callable early because these funds are sure to be spent. A bond rating call is planned to be scheduled next month. Decisions related to bond size and bond use flexibility will be made over the next couple months as additional discussions are held and as additional information on the UV bids are received.

Motion by Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) and supported by Mayor Bill Bazzi (Dearborn Heights) to adopt the Resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of Sewage System Revenue Bonds of the Authority as described in the Bond Series Ordinance. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously with 73.74% of the vote (affirmative vote by all attending members).

b. UV Project: EGLE Grant Agreement
Black & Veatch estimates the UV project to cost between $12.6M and $15.6M. DUWA has been awarded a $10M earmark through the State’s budget via ARPA funding, and this grant will be used to support funding of the UV project. The disbursement of these grant funds will be managed by EGLE, and the funds will be paid to DUWA through reimbursements.

EGLE provided a Grant Agreement to DUWA that outlines the terms and conditions of the funding (Attachment 12). The Agreement was reviewed and recommended for approval by DUWA’s Professionals. The Grant Agreement was also circulated to the Finance Committee for review, and no comments were received. Per the terms of the Grant Agreement, federal cross-cutter requirements do not apply, but compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act is required, and all project work must be complete by September 15, 2026. Doug Drysdale, DUWA’s Accountant (DNS Financial Services), is proposed to be DUWA’s authorized signatory for the Agreement.

Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) asked when DUWA could expect to receive the funds. System Manager Chamberlain responded that funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis, and DUWA can submit requests for reimbursement from project expenses incurred since March 3, 2021. Rumzei Abdallah (Plante Moran) noted that UV project expenses have totaled about $400k as of December 31, 2023 for UV design efforts. Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) asked if the bond sizing summary page included engineering expenses for the UV project. System Manager Chamberlain confirmed that the bond sizing summary page included engineering expenses for the UV project, which can be submitted for reimbursement.

Motion by Mayor Tim Woolley (Taylor) and supported by Jeff Dobek (Riverview) to approve the EGLE Grant Agreement and to authorize Doug Drysdale, DUWA’s Accountant, to sign the Grant Agreement with EGLE. The motion passed unanimously by all attending members.

c. Spare Drag Conveyor Flights
DUWA’s drag conveyor is the primary means for transporting dried solids to the truck loading bay. As the dryers have not been able to handle the full solids capacity of the facility, in the event that the drag conveyor is shut down, the operators must discharge to the landfill.

The drag conveyor contains HDPE flights that are connected to an iron chain within a pipe that circulates on a continuous loop to push solids up a slope to the truck loading bay. The flights rub against the inside of the pipe wall to create a seal, but the continuous friction creates wear over time. As a wearing item, it is recommended to maintain a supply of spare flights to allow for rapid replacement, as needed. The manufacturer recommends maintaining approximately 1/3 of the total number of flights needed at the site. The frequency to replenish the inventory of spare parts is anticipated to be one year or longer.

The manufacturer sells replacement flights on orders no less than 250 replacement flights, which is about 1/3 of the total number of flights. The manufacturer provided a quote for 250 spare flights for a cost of $9,750, not including tax and shipping (Attachment 13). The purchase of the spare flights will be through Veolia OM, and Veolia’s markup will not be applied. Stantec recommends purchase of the spare flights, and this request was also reviewed by the Technical Committee and was recommended for approval.

Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) asked how long the 250 spare flights will last if it is only 1/3 of the total number of flights at the site. Jason Tapp, of Veolia OM, responded that this quantity of flights should last about one year. Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) asked if another set of 250 spare flights was purchased a year ago. Jason Tapp responded that spare flights were not purchased a year ago because Veolia OM rotates the disc to create an even amount of wear around the entire circumference to help reduce the frequency of flight replacement. However, the existing inventory of spare flights has now been consumed and needs to be replenished.

Motion by Rick Rutherford (Belleville) and supported by Greg Mayhew (Wyandotte) to authorize Veolia to purchase the 250 spare drag conveyor flights for a cost of $9,750 plus taxes and shipping, as recommended by Stantec. This fee will be paid from DUWA’s Capital Outlay – Biosolids Dryer line item of the budget. The motion passed unanimously by all attending members.

d. SAN Warranty Renewal
DUWA has maintained a warranty for the SCADA system’s Storage Area Network (SAN) since 2022 through Insight. The SAN is a virtual hard drive that is a critical component to the SCADA system. While redundancy is available, it is best practice to maintain a manufacturer’s warranty should issues arise. The current warranty is up for renewal.

A 1-year warranty extension costs $2,801.75 (Attachment 14). A 2-year, 3-year, or 5-year warranty extension is also available, if desired. The annual cost for these multi-year warranty extensions would be locked in at that same price of $2,801.75. It is recommended that a multi-year warranty extension be considered to lock in the annual cost. If a multi-year warranty extension is not purchased, the annual cost would otherwise be expected to increase year over year per inflationary increases. A 1-year warranty extension was presented to the Technical Committee and was recommended for approval. The quotes for the multi-year warranty extensions were not yet available at the time of the last Technical Committee meeting.

Mayor Bill Bazzi (Dearborn Heights) recommended a 5-year warranty extension, but noted that as systems age, more parts need replacement. Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) also supported a 5-year warranty extension, and asked how much of the SCADA system’s useful life remains. Jason Tapp, of Veolia OM, responded that the SCADA system hardware and software were recently replaced during the electrical system upgrades that were completed around the time of system transfer. This warranty applies only to the software, not the hardware, and the warranty allows for software upgrades. Chairperson McLeod (Allen Park) asked if the warranty renewal would be paid up front or on an annual basis. System Manager Chamberlain responded that the warranty will likely be paid all at once up front, but she will confirm.

Motion by Mayor Bill Bazzi (Dearborn Heights) and supported by Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) to extend the existing Storage Area Network warranty, as provided by Insight, for five years for an annual cost of $2,801.75. This fee will be paid from DUWA’s Other Services & Charges – Software Maintenance line item of the budget. The motion passed unanimously by all attending members.

 

7. CONTRACT OPERATOR UPDATE
Jason Tapp and Travis Tuma, of Veolia, provided the Contract Operator update.

a. Plant Performance
Jason Tapp, of Veolia, stated that Veolia is working to optimize the use of their crusher which crushes the dried solids before they are dropped into the truck to increase the volume and weight of each truckload. Veolia primarily uses one hauler for landfill disposal of the dewatered solids, but Veolia also contracted with another, more expensive hauler through the end of 2024, if needed.

Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) asked if the DWTF is keeping up with solids disposal or if solids are backing up at the DWTF. Jason Tapp responded that it is not ideal nor typical to have a backup of solids at the DWTF. Currently, the DWTF is keeping up with solids disposal and is at a comfortable solids level. Attorney Fausone added that the solids are stored in a sludge blanket, but inline storage of solids is not ideal. Travis Tuma added that the DWTF is equipped with a sludge blanket sensor that indicates the thickness of the sludge blanket. The sludge blanket should be between one and two feet thick, and it is currently about three feet thick. A sludge blanket over eight feet thick would be concerning.

b. January 2024 MOR
The January 2024 Monthly Operating Report (MOR) was provided in the Board’s pre-meeting packet (Attachment 15). Highlights from the summary and other updates included the following:

• • • • The DWTF remained in compliance in the month of January and there were no violations. The average flow into the DWTF was about 71 MGD, which is significantly higher than the typical average flow of 30-40 MGD. The DWTF treated about 2.3 billion gallons in January.
      • The first bypass event since October 2021 occurred between January 26-29, 2024 due to significant snowmelt combined with over an inch of rainfall. The highest flow received during this time was 226 MGD, which required bypassing a portion of the treatment process. All flow still went through UV disinfection, and the DWTF still met its compliance and permit requirements during the bypass event. The DWTF handled the high flows well as there were no major failures or equipment issues. This bypass event was also good training for newer staff who have not yet experienced a bypass event as 80% of the operations staff have not experienced a bypass event in their tenure.
      • Veolia continues to dose a small amount of ferric chloride and hydrogen peroxide for odor control. The DWTF ran out of hydrogen peroxide for a short period of time, and during that time, several odor complaints were received. There have been no odor complaints since dosing of the hydrogen peroxide has resumed. Veolia is trying to minimize dosing of the hydrogen peroxide because it causes an increase in turbidity, or cloudiness, of the effluent water, which reduces the efficacy of the UV disinfection system.
      • Veolia staff completed several maintenance items including the following:
        • The screw conveyor, which transports dewatered solids to the truck bay for hauling to the landfill, snapped in half so Veolia OM staff removed it and sent it to the shop for repair. They were able to reuse half of the old conveyor and connected it to the new conveyor. The repair and replacement was completed in three days.
        • The scum beach paddles, which clean the top of the secondary clarifier tanks, froze to the edges of the tank causing the paddles to twist. The scum paddles were repaired and will be reassembled this week. There was no impact to plant capacity.
        • A new towbro will be shipped to the DWTF this week for installation. This will be the third towbro replacement out of six. The towbros rotate at the bottom of the tank whereas the scum paddles rotate at the top of the tank.
        • A lift was rented to pull the media out of the condensing tower for cleaning. Now, a clean-in-place skid is used for media cleaning so that a lift is not necessary.
        • Seaway Mechanical was onsite to replace 14 stators on the dosing pumps on the dryer system. Veolia OM learned this process to perform this work in the future.
        • New motors were installed on the cake pumps for the dryer system. Three motors have burned out in the past three months. Four spare motors remain available on the shelf.
      • Routine maintenance on the flow meters throughout the collection system was performed.
      • There is about one mile of pipe remaining to be inspected as part of the 2024 CCTV efforts. There was some difficulty in gaining access to the airport to inspect the pipes under the runway. Coordination with the Wayne County Airport Authority and the Federal Aviation Administration was required to complete background checks and obtain clearances. Some stretches of pipe show significant structural degradation to the point where the rebar is exposed. Veolia will coordinate additional in-depth inspections at these locations. Findings will be reviewed with the Technical Committee in consideration of a potential future pipe lining or rehab project.
      • Veolia had two maintenance positions and one operator position open in January. One of the operator positions has since been filled and one maintenance position is in the process of being filled. A lab technician position is now also open.
      • There have been zero lost-time accidents at Veolia over the past four years, which amounts to about 384,000 work hours without lost-time accidents. There have been a couple minor injuries in that time, but none that required employees to take time off.
      • Veolia received 168 Miss Dig tickets in January, of which 36 were emergency tickets. The number of Miss Dig tickets is expected to increase as the weather warms up.

Greg Mayhew (Wyandotte) asked if Veolia has noticed any more odors around the City of Wyandotte. Jason Tapp responded that the collection team investigated some locations of odor complaints, but they did not notice any odors and their personal gas detectors did not detect any hydrogen sulfide in the area. He added that it is possible that a Southgate-Wyandotte pipe on Pine Street could potentially be contributing odors. Jason Tapp requested that Greg Mayhew (Wyandotte) continue to report any odor complaints to Veolia so they can investigate.

c. Chemical & Sludge Price Updates
Jason Tapp presented the summary of commodity unit price changes to the Board (Attachment 16). The unit prices for oxygen and supplemental oxygen increased by a few percentages compared to the unit prices last month. Supplemental oxygen is only used when the DWTF’s oxygen demand exceeds its typical demands, thus supplemental oxygen is only needed a few times each year. This month’s combined cost of Ferric Chloride and PACl for phosphorous removal was less than the amount that DUWA would normally pay for Ferric Chloride for phosphorous removal. With January being a wetter month, Veolia stopped dosing Ferric Chloride as odors were expected to be reduced since much of the wastewater influent would be diluted with stormwater from the recent rain events.

The total cost for sludge hauling and disposal in January was about $170k, of which DUWA would pay about $87k. The cost for hauling dewatered (not dried) solids increased by about 3% compared to last month.

d. Existing Disinfection System Remaining Life Update
Jason Tapp stated that the UV system is running well. The system has not needed significant maintenance, so the inventory of spare parts remains at about the same level since the last Board meeting. He also stated that Veolia will continue to work with Trojan to replenish the inventory of OEM spare parts. Veolia spent about $65k on spare bulbs and sleeves last month.

Jeff Dobek (Riverview) asked if the turbidity of the effluent water will have as much of an impact on the efficiency of the new UV system as it does on the existing UV system. Jason Tapp responded that the effluent water needs to be as clear as possible to maximize the efficiency of the new UV system. Increased turbidity causes the water to become cloudy making it more difficult for the UV rays to come into contact with and inhibit the pathogenic microorganisms in the effluent water. He added that minimizing the use of hydrogen peroxide should help reduce turbidity. Veolia is also exploring the possibility of dosing the hydrogen peroxide into the sludge system so that it would be consumed before it reaches the effluent water to reduce its impact on the water’s turbidity.

 

8. TREASURER’S REPORT

a. Aging AR
Treasurer Jason Couture (Taylor) presented the Aging Accounts Receivable report (Attachment 17). Treasurer Couture stated that the total amount in the Accounts Receivable (AR) is approximately $4.8M. Of the $4.8M, $2.6M is related to the debt payments from the communities which were recently invoiced. River Rouge and Dearborn Heights are shown to have outstanding payments over 120 days; however, these payments were recently received and will be removed from the next Aging AR report. Additionally, about $1.2M in payments were received within the last week and these payments are not reflected in this report.

Treasurer Jason Couture (Taylor) also noted that some communities are behind on their self-reporting worksheets for billing. Two invoices are sent to each community monthly; one is a fixed amount for sewer use and excess flow, and the other is based on self-reported flows. Beginning next month, Accountant Doug Drysdale (Southgate; DNS Financial Services) will provide a summary of communities who have and have not submitted self-reporting worksheets for invoicing.

Chairperson McLeod (Allen Park) asked who is notified regarding the self-reporting worksheets. Treasurer Couture responded that Accountant Drysdale communicates with the communities’ finance departments directly on aging AR and self-reporting worksheets; however, many communities have had recent turnover within their finance departments. He added that a 1.5% late charge could be applied to unpaid invoices to incentivize timely payments; however, DUWA has not historically assessed a late fee.

b. Pending Invoices
Treasurer Jason Couture (Taylor) presented the revised invoice register for a request for payment (Attachment 18). He noted that the revised invoice register was provided in the printed pre-meeting packets and will be shared via email following the Board meeting. The revised invoice register includes a modified payment of $56,000 (instead of $56,153.42) to US Bank for the interest payment on the amended bond with Wayne County related to the system transfer. The invoice register included 38 invoices due for a total of $8,521,235.02 The largest invoices included those to Veolia for operation and maintenance and unit cost reconciliations, US Bank for semiannual bond payments for the SRF, Senior Lien, and WIFIA bonds, and Wyandotte Municipal Services for utility services.

Motion by Mayor Bill Bazzi (Dearborn Heights) and supported by Mayor Tim Woolley (Taylor) to pay the invoice register. The motion passed unanimously by all attending members.

 

9. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.

 

10. OTHER BUSINESS
Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) thanked System Manager Tercala for the technical presentation she gave during the Special Board Meeting as the presentation was well received and was very informative for the community leaders who were not previously familiar with the Biosolids Dryer Project. Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) also commended Chairperson McLeod (Allen Park) for her efforts in generating interest and encouraging the elected officials of each member community to attend the Special Board Meeting.

 

11. NEXT BOARD MEETING DATE: Thursday | April 11, 2024 (9:00 AM; In-Person)
Chairperson McLeod (Allen Park) reminded the Board that the next meeting would take place on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 9:00 AM in-person at Taylor City Hall.

 

12. ADJOURNMENT
There being no other business, Chairperson McLeod (Allen Park) announced that a motion to adjourn would be in order. Motion by Jeff Dobek (Riverview) and supported by Mayor Joseph Kuspa (Southgate) to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously at 10:32 AM.

 

Meeting Minutes Prepared by:
Mackenzie Chamberlain, DUWA System Manager  |  OHM Advisors

Meeting Minutes Reviewed by:
Lambrina Tercala, DUWA System Manager  |  OHM Advisors

 

ATTACHMENTS

1. Meeting Agenda
2. February 8, 2024 DUWA Board Meeting Minutes
3. February 29, 2024 DUWA Special Board Meeting Minutes
4. Monthly Legal Update (by Fausone & Grysko)
5. System Manager Report for March 2024 (by OHM Advisors)
6. UV Disinfection Replacement Project Update (by OHM Advisors)
7. Biosolids Dryer Facility Project February 2024 Monthly Progress Summary (by Veolia CPM)
8. Biosolids Dryer Operation Charts (by Veolia CPM)
9. Potential Projects to be Funded by Bond (by OHM Advisors)
10. Bond Financing Timeline (by PFM)
11. Bond Series Ordinance and Resolution (by PFM and Dykema)
12. EGLE Grant Agreement
13. Request to Purchase Spare Drag Conveyor Flights
14. Request for Warranty Extension of SCADA System’s Storage Area Network
15. Monthly Operating Report for January 2024 (by Veolia)
16. DWTF Unit Price Changes Summary (by Veolia)
17. Aged Accounts Receivable Report, dated March 7, 2024 (by Doug Drysdale)
18. Invoice Register, dated March 11, 2024 (by Doug Drysdale)