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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Committee Minutes 01.12.2009MINUTES PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE JANUARY 12, 2009 5:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Mark Mace Dave Siljestrom Emelie Eaton Norman Orr Norman Stamper Chuck Rodgers Troy Kelsey OTHERS PRESENT Public Input: None Kurt Markegard Kelly Rhoads Bill Kampfer Connie Kampfer Introduction of new Members: New members of the Public Works Committee are: Dave Siljestrom, Emelie Eaton, Norman Orr, Chuck Rodgers and Troy Kelsey. Goals and roles of the Public Works Committee issues: The goals and roles of the Public Works Committee are to work with the Public Works Department to discuss options on projects, and make recommendations to the city council. The committee then takes the recommendations for action to the mayor and to the council to be approved. One large issue that the committee will have to work on and make suggestions for is the trunk line issue, where the pipe lays under the interstate. This is a city, state and federal issue. Mark stated that large issues like this one will likely cause rate increases on water and sewer, which the council will have to vote on and approve. Public Works Directors report on Public Works issues - Kurt Marke ard: Kurt gave a report to the Public Works Committee on the projects that the Public Works Department is working on at the present time. He stated that streets are a large issue right now, and lots of citizens were complaining about snow removal on the streets. Below is a copy of the Public Works report that Kurt had given; The City of Laurel Public Works Department has been in a transition period in the last few years due to staffing changes. The department has been consolidated from having two different departments in 2007 that consisted of a Utility Department and the Public Works Department. The utility department was formed six years ago to address the need to have certified distribution operators in their own department paid for by the enterprise funds exclusively. A department head oversaw the water and sewer plants along with the distribution system for water and sewer. When the department heads for both the Public Works and Public Utilities resigned in 2007 the departments were recombined under the direction of the Public Works Director. The position of Public Works Director was filled in December of 2007 with the appointment of Bill Sheridan. Mr. Sheridan was responsible for overseeing the Public Works Department until he took the position of CAO in July of 2008. At that time Kurt Markegard who was acting Deputy Director of Public Works then was promoted to the position of Public Works Director. Since July of 2008, Mr. Markegard has had the sole responsibility of overseeing the Public Works Department and all of the respective duties that must be carried out on a daily basis. The CAO has helped Mr. Markegard carry out his duties and has helped him meet the needs of the community to date. The Public Works Department facilitates many services that are detailed as follows. 1. Water Treatment Plant a. The water plant collects, filters, and disinfects the City of Laurels water including providing raw and treated water to CHS Refinery. b. The Water Treatment Plant is staffed by six certified operators that work in shifts to supply water 24 hours a day, 365 days a year non-stop. 2. Sewer Treatment Plant a. The sewer plant collects, filters, and disinfects the City of Laurel's waste water. b. The Water Treatment Plant is staffed by four certified operators that work day shifts to treat and discharge water to the Yellowstone River seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 365 day a year. 3. The Water and Sewer Distribution or Utility Crew a. Oversees the water distribution and sewer lines throughout the City of Laurel. b. There are currently two certified operators and two operators in training that oversee the many miles of water and sewer lines including two water pressure booster stations and three sewer lift stations and work day shifts Monday thru Friday 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 4. City Shop a. Involves the buildings the City of Laurel owns at 20 South Seventh Ave. where city equipment is stored. b. One mechanic is typically stationed there unless he is needed in another department for an assigned project or helping due to an absence of a fellow co-worker in another department. This mechanic repairs many departments' vehicles and equipment including police vehicles. 5. Street, Parks, Cemetery, Solid Waste, and Sweeping and Lighting Districts a. These divisions oversee all operations of a normal city government that promotes the health and welfare of it citizens. b. These services are staffed by eight employees that share responsibilities in the day to day operations with two employees working Tuesday through Saturday for facilitating the collection and disposal of Solid Waste. 6. Building and Codes a. Oversees all building construction along with enforcing the public works codes b. Two employees currently working Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 7. The Office of Public Works a. This is the place where all request for services takes place and includes working with the City Clerk's office to provide administrative services for Laurel citizens. b. Six employees share duties at this time and work Monday thru Friday 8a.m to 5 p.m. The above departments strive to provide the best service possible within prescribed budgetary limits and time allowed. There is always going to be the need for better and more efficient procedures and services as well as for the proper planning as we move forward into the future. This committee will be beneficial in helping the Public Works Department deal with the ever changing environment that the City of Laurel citizens will incur and with cooperation, there is no doubt that we can succeed. Kurt also gave an update on the seniority list of the Public Works and Public Utilities departments. He stated that many of the City employees are probably nearing retirement, so that will be another issue we will have to deal with, when the time comes. (Seniority list attached). Emelie Eaton asked how many total people the Public Works and the Public Utilities Department have? Kurt stated 27 not including the clerk's office. Review Document of Standards for Public Works and Utilities: Kurt handed out the Rules and Regulations books for the Public Works Department and Public Utilities to each committee member. He stated that these rules and regulations were passed by the city council in 2003. He asked that each member look at the books so that they can get familiar with things that the city can and can not do. Kurt said that the City of Laurel is growing and the role of the public works committee is to meet and complete the goals that are asked by the City of Laurel citizens. Kurt stated that the city had an issue come up today. They think that someone poured gasoline into a sewer line. Several businesses called in a complaint about the smell of the gasoline. The fire department, police, along with public utilities guys were working on the streets trying to determine what and were the smell was actually coming from. Other Items: Mark Mace suggested that someday, at one of the meetings, we would take a field trip to one of the plants. He stated that a field trip would better help all of us understand what we may be dealing with, if there is ever a problem that needs to be addressed. Kurt stated that the trunk line that runs under the freeway will have to be repaired. This line runs from the sewer plant to Lindy Lane. We found an 18" clay pipe that has fractures and is oblong. They also found that the pipe has about three inches of sediment in it. They have been trying to video the pipe, but the camera keeps falling down, so they don't know how far the pipe is bad. The city is looking to run another line. This project could cost up to one million dollars. Kurt also stated that the intake lids that were installed in 2003 need to be replaced. The city has hired COP Construction to do the work. COP Construction divers have agreed to fix the intake lids once the ice melts, so they are able to go into the water. Kurt said that the lids need to be put back on, before tree braches and other debris cause damage and needs and emergency fix. Kurt said that we should know when this project should be completed, as soon as the snow melts. Kurt stated that CHS had a fire on December 25, 2008, where they needed to use an excess amount of water. When CHS has to use excess amounts of water, and then suddenly shuts the water down, it causes breaks in the weak lines in the city. There was also a water line break in a residential neighborhood on Christmas Day. Kurt stated that he has had a meeting with CHS, and they are going to work together so that this does not happen again. Kurt said that he is trying to get software and gauges loaded at the plants, so we can record when a water hammer happens, and we can see where and what caused the breakage. Kurt said that hopefully he would have more information by the next meeting. Dave Siljestrom explained to Kurt about the bursting mechanism that the City of Billings uses. He stated that this tool seems to be working great. Kurt told Dave that he was familiar with the bursting tool, but it does not always work the best when the water and sewer lines run on top of each other. The meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m. submitted, Utility BiKiAg Clerk City of Laurel Seniority List 1/13/2009 Employee Public Works Employees Years of Hire date Year Department Service Robert Mann 9/4 1979 WWTP 30 Robert Johnson 1/3 1980 WTP 29 Bruce Lefler 4/6 1981 City Shop 28 Dou las Reiber 4/6 1981 WTP 28 Les Deines 5/19 1981 WWTP 28 Richard Musson 6/1 1982 Police 27 Connie Crowe 2/3 1983 Police 26 Robert Volmer 4/15 1983 WWTP 26 Don Nelson 1/14 1985 City Shop 24 John Volmer 11/29 1985 WTP 24 Tim Reiter 4/2 1986 WTP 23 Cathy Gabrian 2/23 1987 City Clerk 22 Che II Lund 2/9 1988 Public Works 21 Glenn Bies 5/7 1990 WWTP 19 Geral n Stevens 11/19 1990 Library 19 Les Riddle 12/6 1990 WTP 19 David Sa for 12/17 1990 City Shop 19 Bud Arnold 3/22 1993 City Shop 16 John Curfman 6/1 1993 City Shop 16 Chris Shay 6/7 1993 Court 16 Michelle Steffans 5/31 1994 Police 15 Mark Guy 11/12 1994 Police 15 Neva Hall 11/14 1994 City Clerk 15 Nancy Schmidt 10/17 1995 Library 14 Susan Canape 11/10 1995 Police 14 Travis Pitts 11/13 1996 Police 13 Sheryl Phillips 7/1 1997 Court 12 Joel Sauter 10/14 1997 Police 12 Jason Wells 3/18 1998 Police 11 Cindy Allen 4/17 1998 City Council 11 Fran Schwei ert 7/6 1998 City Shop 11 Jay Hatton 11/4 1998 Police 11 Ma Embleton 3/1 1999 City Clerk 10 Guy Rolison 12/6 1999 City Shop 10 Stan Lan ve 1/5 2000 Police 9 Nathan Herman 7/10 2000 WTP 9 Janelle Fau ht 9/18 2000 Ambulance 9 Monica Salo 11/2 2001 Police 8 H.P. Nuernber er 7/30 2002 City Shop 7 Gary Colley 1/6 2003 Public Works 6 Kurt Marke and 1/3 2005 Public Works 4 Kyle Bryant 2/1 2005 Police 4 Kell Rhoads 4/11 2005 City Clerk 4 Brenda Sell 4/28 2005 Police 4 Brian Kline 6/22 2005 City Shop 4 David Firebau h 1/23 2006 Police 3 Employee Hire date Year Department Years of Service William Brew III 6/7 2006 Police 3 James Huertas 4/18 2007 Police 2 James Cani lia 9/4 2007 Planning 2 Fred Gregory 10/15 2007 Police 2 Jessica Ayers 11/1 2007 Police 2 Chris Rosenberg 11/13 2007 Public Works 2 Bill Sheridan 12/17 2007 Mayor's CAO 2 Kevin Bud a 12/18 2007 City Shop 2 Dave Waggoner 12/26 2007 City Shop 2 Leah Carr 1/28 2008 Library_ 1 Marcia Hafner 2/19 2008 Library 1 Che II Weigand 3/3 2008 Library 1 Robert Volmer 4/28 2008 City Shop 1 Charles Petroff 8/11 2008 City Shop 1