04-05-12 Utilities Committee - Laserfiche WebLink

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UTLIITIES COMMITTEE APRIL 5, 2012 Committee Members Present: Tim Scott, Karen White (left at 6:30 p.m.), Valerie Schey Other Council Fred Ferlic, Henry Davis, Jr., (left at 6:50 p.m.) Citizen Member: Christine Sopczynski, Dawn Pontius Others Present: Kevin Allen, Al Greek, Jack Dillon, Aladean DeRose, Mark Neal Agenda: Update on CSO LTCP Consent Decree Chairperson Scott opened the meeting of the Utilities Committee at 6:04 p.m. and introduced Gary Gilot, Volunteer, Board of Public Works, 13th Floor County - City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., to give the update on the CSO LTSP Consent Decree. Mr. Gilot advised that the City of South Bend was built at the south bend of the St. Joseph River. He noted that South Bend has 36 Combined Sewer Overflow Locations. He noted that after years of negotiation and six years into early action projects implementation, a consent decree was filed in federal court outlining plans for the most extensive capital project in South Bend's history in order to ensure compliance with the federal Clean Water Act. A 20 year, $509.5 million long -term control plan to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in the City of South Bend was signed by then Mayor Stephen J. Luecke along with officials form the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the State of Indiana and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The consent decree was filed in South Bend before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. Nearly 800 other cities with aging sewer infrastructure find themselves facing the same kind of massive investments, upwards of $50 billion as a requirement of the Clean Water Act. Since 2006, South Bend already has invested or committed through current rates $100 million towards the $509.5 million plan. Initial efforts have included expansion of the 55 year old Wastewater Treatment Plan, separating existing combined sewers into separated storm and sanitary sewers, and building capacity for additional storage of combines sanitary sewage and storm water. South Bend's environment is getting cleaner. Homeowners are confronted with fewer basement backups of combined sewage and storm water and city residents are more actively enjoying the St. Joseph River, our most treasured natural resource. This consent decree