HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/23/92CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
November 23, 1992
5:00 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor Manning, Fox, Dell, Budak, Lemke, Angel and
Wright.
Members absent: Buck.
John Meyer, Public Works Director, stated that the state is
requiring new ammonia standards for nitrates released into the
Cedar River from the Water Pollution Control Plant. Meyer stated
that we had a ten-year moratorium on meeting the requirements up to
the time we passed our nitrate levels. The state then lifted the
moratorium and will be deciding on a time frame the City of
Waterloo has to meet the levels. Meyer stated that the estimated
time frame could be as short as two to three years. He continued
that the new standards would go from 21 parts per million and 49
parts per million to 6 parts per million and 10 parts per million.
If the plant is to be in compliance, it could mean an additional
$40 million in order to bring the plant up to date. Meyer
discussed a letter that had been sent to the federal government
questioning the amount of improvement to the nitrate discharge if
the plant is updated and rejuvenated.
Bob Bamsey, engineer for Brice, Petrides -Donohue and the engineer
working on the project for the City of Waterloo, stated that most
of the plant as it exists today was developed during the 1940s.
Bamsey presented charts and graphs showing the age of each section
of the plant and the time frame in which sections were developed.
Bamsey stated that with the new lagoon being constructed out by the
Northeast Industrial Park site, the requirements on the BOD
capacities to the plant will be greatly reduced once the lagoon is
placed on-line. Bamsey ran through the stages in which the plant
could be updated. He stated that in the next two to three years at
least $8 million worth of improvements would be needed. He
continued that approximately $18 million would be needed to meet
the current nitrate mandates.
John Meyer stated that in order to complete the rejuvenation
according to state mandates, a 60 percent increase in revenues
through sewer fees would be required to support the project.
John Meyer stated that he would like to report on a proposed
interceptor sewer to the Waterloo Municipal Airport. Meyer stated
that if any further development takes place due to the Ryan
Development that would require sewer discharges, an interceptor
sewer would have to be build to connect those requirements at the
airport, thus alleviating the problem on the east side of Waterloo.
John Meyer, Public Works Director, ran through the history of
garbage collection and the proposed changes to take place in the
near future. Meyer stated that a recycling system could be in
place as early as January or February with centralized drop-off
zones and a one bag per week collection for a fee. Meyer stated
that the three-week leaf collection held this fall cost the City
approximately $41,000. Meyer ran through a proposed schedule of
new rates for garbage collection and asked the Council to consider
the new rates prior to bringing an ordinance to the City Council
for formal approval.
With no further business before the Work Session, the meeting was
adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
Larry P. Burger
City Clerk/Auditor