07222025 Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes

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AGENDA REVIEW SESSION July 17, 2025 147 The Agenda Review Session of the Board of Public Works was convened at 10:30 a.m. on July 17, 2025, by Board President Elizabeth A. Maradik, Vice President Joseph Molnar (absent), and Board Members Gary Gilot, Murray Miller, Breana Micou, and Board Attorney Michael Schmidt present. The Board of Public Works Clerk, Hillary R. Horvath, presented the Board with a proposed agenda of items presented by the public and by City Staff. Board members discussed the following item(s) from the agenda. OPENING OF OUOTATIONS Mr. Gilot asked about item 3.B: South Bend WWTP Digital Twin Sensors Installation. He asked if we had monitoring and modeling that we are trying to calibrate? Engineer Gemma Stanton stated it wasn't her project but offered up that they have to install the sensors to get the data to create the digital twin. REJECTION OF BIDS/QUOTATIONS Mr. Gilot asked about item 6.A: Police Upfit Equipment and if the rejected quote would be rebid or go to open market. Attorney Schmidt stated that when there is a supply procurement with no sensible bids received, the state allows municipalities to go to open market so long as the quote is officially rejected as a non -compliant bid. He clarified certain public works projects over a specific dollar threshold must go out and be rebid. RESOLUTIONS Mr. Gilot spoke on item 10.A: Resolution No. 18-2025 A Resolution of the City of South Bend, Indiana Board of Public Works Approving the Donation of Police Equipment. He emphasized that it was good policy to not use old or outdated equipment, but he had concerns about donating old and outdated equipment to other entities. He asked if the City was legally covered for old devices being donated. Attorney Schmidt noted that the City would not be responsible once the items were donated. AGREEMENTS/CONTRACTS/PROPOSALS/ADDENDA Mr. Gilot spoke on item I LC: Professional Services Agreement with Black & Veatch Corporation for the Design of the North Water Treatment Plant Renovations for PFAS Minimization. He stated the selected method for PFAS treatment surprised him. He noted he liked the broader coverage of a Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) treatment system because it would cover more than just PFAS such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Trichloroethylene (TCE), or tetrachloroethylene (PCE). Attorney Schmidt noted that it was a strategic decision of the department to go forward with the recommendation for Black & Veatch to perform the work and said the Director of Public Works may be able to discuss the strategy in more detail at the regular meeting. Mr. Gilot spoke on item I LG: Professional Services Agreement with Commonwealth Engineers Inc. for Design Services for Well Replacements at Cleveland and Pinkhook Water Treatment Plants. He asked if we should be replacing wells when the City of South Bend water supply is so much greater than our demand. He stated he questioned Cleaveland where there is no treatment other than a little chlorine. He felt it was a good time to decommission the wells emphasizing that adding that capacity back when we have so much more supply than demand even at peak conditions for the next twenty (20) years didn't seem to make sense. He stated he understood replacing the wells at other treatment facilities where we have invested in but not at Cleveland. Engineer Becca Plantz stated she understood it as those are the wells that were repurposed from the airport and they were all nearing the end or stressed past their timeline. She noted they would consider his advice during the preliminary investigations that this may not be worth the investment if the demand is not there, but with the end of useful life, they want to make sure they sustain the wellfield if needed. INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER DISCHARGE PERMITS Mr. Gilot spoke on item 15.A: Industrial Wastewater Discharge Permit with Amazon Data Services, Inc. at 3110 State Road 2 Hwy, New Carlisle. He asked about them getting a data logger for hourly PH and Chlorine Residual considering how much they would be discharging. He stated that logger would save them from excess waste if they were to have a malfunction and it would also protect our waters. He stated not adding something like a data logger would be a missed opportunity considering how big an investment they are already making on this data center.