With a three-man council, including Mayor Richard Kujath, Mayor-Elect Jim Schott, and Councilor Dave Gudmundson, the City of Fountain drew nearer to signage of an Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) with Valley Design at the Wednesday, November 7 meeting. Councilors Chad Wangen and Brian Ostby were absent.
Discussing the matter at length with the council was Rick Whitney of People Service, who operates the city’s wastewater treatment plant. A revised IPP agreement was brought forth by Whitney and he asked the council, city attorney, and city engineer, WSB Associates, to review and approve it. “The current agreement puts the city at great risk,” he stated, referencing a number of items within the agreement that could put the city back into non-compliance.
The first issue revolves around the amount of flowage the plant is designed to treat: 42,000 gallons with total suspended solids loading of 170. “In the old agreement, we’re giving Valley Design up to 200. That’s a bad deal,” he cautioned. “We’re already pushing more than it’s designed to handle. We’re doing a great job as it is, but if we overload it, we won’t be able to maintain compliance.” Whitney insisted that Valley Design should be allowed half, or 80-85.
The second issue is a described phosphorus limit in the agreement. According to Whitney, phosphorus levels are not an issue. “They allowed testing of all the chemicals in their plant. Nothing has a high phosphorus level. Phosphorus isn’t the problem, zinc is,” added Whitney. He suggested that is a phosphorus limit of one is included someone has to monitor it. “If there’s an upset in phosphorus, how are we going to prove it? We would have to take a composite sample every week. Do we want as a city to bear that cost?” Instead, Whitney suggested removing the limit or possibly requesting Valley Design do the monitoring if a limit is included.
Whitney stated there have been communication problems between himself and the city’s engineer. “Your engineer doesn’t want to talk to me.”
City Clerk Rhonda Flattum vehemently denied the statement. “I beg to differ. People Service and the engineer, you two have to work together.”
Whitney countered that. “What I see in an IPP agreement, I was never given this by you or the engineer. I was told by him that he didn’t want to have any more discussions with me, that’s why I stopped.”
“The city is getting caught up in the middle of this and it’s not pretty,” responded Flattum. “You two have to communicate.” She suggested People Service, WSB Associates, and the city council could meet to discuss the agreement.
“It has to be an agreement that works for the city,” stressed Whitney. “Please hold off until I can talk to the engineer, so I can make sure it works for the city.” All parties will be invited to be at the December council meeting.
Another issue for the plant was the option to buy bulk microseed. The issue was discussed at length previously, but the bulk tank was deemed too big for the space and there was concern over whether or not the concrete could hold the weight. Another concern was the settling of microseed inside the totes prior to use.
Currently, the city is spending $29,131 annually for a finished microseed product. After some review of options, Whitney noted the city could order two deliveries (12 totes in each delivery) of a more crude form at a cost of $18,727. Just 13 totes a year would be needed, so 11 totes would carry over to the next year. Unfortunately, due to the predicted settling of the unfinished product, a mixer would be needed for the bulk tank. Even with the cost of the bulk tank and a mixer, Whitney believes the city will make up the one-time costs within a year.
Whitney also stated the 4,500 gallons weighs 10.4 pounds per gallon, a weight he believes the five-inch concrete floor can sustain. “I’ll do whatever you want. I’m just here to bring numbers,” he added. “My goal is to get something that’s going to work for you.”
The city will wait until the December meeting for full council presence to make a decision on the IPP agreement.
The council has approved changes to the fee schedule. The two changes include increasing the rental charge for the community center from $200 to $400 and striking requirement and fee for dog licensing, which was $7.
“What are we doing for dog control?” asked Kujath.
Clerk Flattum noted that dogs running at large is still prohibited by ordinance. “We will have to deal with it when it happens,” she added.
“No one is buying licenses when they’re supposed to be,” added Schott. “We’re going to give it a try.”
The next organizational meeting for the 150-year celebration is Wednesday, November 14, 7 p.m., at city hall. Interested persons are asked to attend.
The next council meeting is Wednesday, December 5, at 7:30 p.m, at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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