09-26-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 received from third party insurance carriers with the sole intended use to fund the replacement of the vehicles damaged by the third party’s. He stated that the remaining unused balance of insurance reimbursement will be $18,110 sequestered in the general fund to accumulate for future third party damaged vehicle replacement. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Puzzello made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. BILL NO. 60-11 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, APPROPRIATING $400,000 FROM SEWAGE WORKS CAPITAL FUND #642 FOR ENGINEERING EXPENSE ON THE PRIMARY CLARIFIER REHABILITATION PROJECT Councilmember Oliver Davis, Chairperson, Utilities Committee, reported that this committee met on this bill and sends it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. th Mr. Gary Gilot, Director, Public Works, 13 Floor County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Gilot advised that this project is one of twenty projects and a part of the 50 million dollars identified in the facility plan to upgrade the nearly 60 year old facility. This project is important to bring the plant up to standards to meet current EPA and IDEM regulations and combined ewer overflow consent decree negotiations. Also, there is a daily growing need to replace this equipment as we are using 3 different companies, equipment parts to repair and piece together this worn out equipment to keep it in operation. This project is estimated to cost 3.5 to 4 million dollars. The project scope is to totally rebuild and refurbish all eight (8) primary clarifiers. This process equipment can treat up to 100 million gallons of wastewater a day. The primary clarifiers are used to remove raw wastewater solids, grease and scum and some of the biological oxygen demand found in wastewater. The major components for upgrade are the concrete structures themselves, gears, chains, sprockets, valves, flight scrappers, chain rails, hand rails, tilt tubes and gear reducer drive mechanisms. The project will be accomplished over 3 years as we must keep the wastewater plant in operation as we do the tanks one at a time. The bill would allow for the appropriation for engineering services to jump start the clarifier rehabilitation effort. Mr. Gilot noted that the budget presented to the Council includes these engineering monies for spending in fiscal 2012, and if this bill is approved, the 2012 budget could be reduced by the same dollar amount. Mr. Gilot noted that the request of funds is to enable completion of engineering yet this year and allow the project to be construction bid in January 2012 allowing the construction to commence when the weather breaks in the spring of 2012, thus speeding up the project. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Dieter made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council. Councilmember White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. 7