04/08/2008 Minutes (2)CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
Apri18, 2008
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Study Session of the City Council of the City of Grand
Island, Nebraska was conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 100 East First Street, on
April 8, 2008. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on April 5,
2008.
Mayor Margaret Hornady called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. The following members were
present: Councilmember's Brown, Haase, Zapata, Nickerson, Gericke, Carney, Gilbert, Ramsey,
Niemann, and Meyer. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator Jeff
Pederson, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, City Attorney Dale Shotkoski, Public Works Director
Steve Riehle, and Finance Director David Springer.
Waste Water Treatment Plant Update. Steve Riehle, Public Works Director reported that the
purpose of the Study Session was to update council on Solids Handling at the Waste Water
Treatment Plant (WWTP), customer breakdown, Swift loading and Swift's pre-treatment
improvements, a review of past presentations on costs and the 2008 budget, along with discharge
permit and future waste water operations. A PowerPoint presentation was presented.
Mr. Riehle stated the City's top wastewater customer was the Swift packing plant at 57%,
customers at 38%, food processing 4% and implement manufacturer 1%.
Reviewed were presentations to Council regarding the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
Presented were the following advantages of Anaerobic Digestion:
• Reliable and consistent process -widely used with successful track record
• Lowest O & M costs
• Major reduction in solids
• Pathogen reduction (Class B) allows immediate land application
• Improved de-watering ability of solids
• Enclosed to control odors
• Potential beneficial use of digester gas
City Administration recommended moving forward with the RFP for consultant engineering
services for the Acid Gas Anaerobic Digestion system.
Discussion was held regarding construction started at the Swift Plant to build an anaerobic
lagoon. Growth within Grand Island was discussed regarding the future needs of the waste water
treatment plant.
Discharge Permit and Swift Update:
• Discharge Permit exceeded March 27th through March 31St
- Total Suspended Solids
Page 2, City Council Study Session, Apri18, 2008
- Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD)
• Elevated levels of CBOD considered cause offish kill
• Swift Update
- Tuesday (April 8, 2008) meeting with NDEQ & EPA
- Wednesday (Apri19, 2008) meeting with City & JBS Swift & Company
Discussion was held regarding the outcome of the April 9, 2008 meeting. It was hoped that the
City could reach an agreement with Swift and avoid any more permit violations. Jeff Pederson,
City Administrator commented that the April 9, 2008 meeting was to reach parameters for an
agreement, fees, and costs through negotiations which may take several months to complete.
Disaster planning was mentioned regarding the environment, steps taken to avoid any more
problems, and penalties.
Jeff Pederson, City Administrator commented on the importance of the WWTP and importance
of planning for the future. Future management of WWTP was mentioned as there was no current
Superintendent on staff.
Mr. Pederson stated there was an option for aPublic -Private Partnership for Wastewater
Operations with the following points provided:
• Agreement to provide complete operation, maintenance, and management services
• City continues to own system
• Private company required to transition current employees to employment with the
company
• Experience, expertise, innovative approaches aimed at increased efficiency and cost
effectiveness
• Five year contract
• Request for statement of qualifications/proposals
Discussion was held concerning the possibility of a Public -Private Partnership regarding costs
of an RFP, benefits, ownership, enterprise fund, and control of costs, employee issues, policies
and procedures currently used.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
~a(~ ~,
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk