Good evening everybody. Welcome to our utility services board meeting for April 6th, 2026. A reminder
that our mission for City of Bloomington utilities is to enhance the quality of life in our community
by providing safe, sustainable, and high quality drinking water, wastewater, and storm water services
in a cost-effective manner
promoting public health, economic vitality, and environmental stewardship. And our vision is that CBU
will be the leading municipal water utility organization in Indiana. Okay, on our agenda tonight, we
have petitions and communications to begin. Are there any of those, anybody want to speak to petitions
and communications?
What comments? Next is approval of the minutes of our meeting of March 23rd, 2026. Everybody's had a
chance to review those from that meeting. Any changes or updates? I move that we approve the minutes
from the last meeting. Second. It's been moved and second to approve the minutes of the meeting of March
23rd. All in favor, say aye. Aye.
All right, motion carries. Next is approval of claims and our first is standard invoices in the amount
of $828,014.02. Lots of claims. Any questions on the claims for tonight?
The Friends of Lake Monroe are matching funds for the watershed management player. Could you just, since
it's matching funds, I'm just not exactly sure what that is, but I know that's an important contribution.
Yeah, sure. So we contribute that annually to the Friends of Lake Monroe, and it supports that specific
position, the watershed coordinator position. So there are other matching funds
Thank you. Yeah, Amanda. I have questions too. On the what I think is then page two where we've got
our city of Bloomington charges. Excuse me. So the first one was my first question is about our vehicle
maintenance on utility vehicles of what we're paying there. And I was looking through our notes and
it looks like
We had our presentation on this back on December 1st of some of that preliminary data, but it was determined
that while it was data, it wasn't exactly what we were looking for. Where are we on that project? We
have data from 2023 and 2024 summarized, and we're working on summarizing 2025. From fleet. From fleet,
like taking fleet data. Correct.
But we also had, we had some research from our data that where we were doing averages of, you know,
oil changes and that type of, I mean, we're doing that stuff. And I recall we were going to try to get
that information a little bit cleaner too. So I just was kind of curious where we are with that whole
fleet project.
So we did refresh that. And I think there was discussion around the, I guess, refresh presentation.
And we discussed this with Fleet. Fleet then said, okay, let us look at our numbers and run our numbers.
And so now we're in a position where they're giving us their numbers to compare. They gave us, did you
say 23 and 24? Yeah, and we just got the numbers from 25 to compare. And so now we're at the stage where
we wanna come together and start comparing what we have versus what they have and start those discussions.
Okay, so again, just for point of point, I don't know,
We have been discussing this at least from my notes since February of 2024. And I know we've had questions
about this going even further back with the MOU. So I do think that this is dragging on a little too
long as far as kind of old business follow-up. I just want you to know I'm tracking this.
you know, when I see these big expenses for this come out and we still don't have answers on it, it
just kind of raises a red flag for me. So it doesn't mean I wouldn't not approve this, but I would like
to see us perhaps make some progress on that. I think to tag along with that, there's some expenses
for the vehicles that are in here as well. And I know things come up,
Like Amanda said, we've been at this for a long time without any answers or answers that aren't complete,
I guess. And if we're double-dipping, we've got to figure something out. And then I had a second question,
but I am mistaken. It was just the one. All right.
Any other points on claims? Yeah. Just a question on the sodium spill at the intake facility. One, everybody
okay? I don't know if we know what the causative agent or issue was there or if there was like a breach
of secondary containment or anything like that. I've certainly seen worse invoices for emergency response,
chemical cleanup in my lifetime, but
I just didn't know if we had the info on what happened or. So this is the sodium permanganate cleanup.
Sorry, I'm trying to find it. Page 20 on the packet. Set environmental. Set environmental? Yeah, in
the middle. Thank you. Second to the last page. So the sodium permanganate spill at the intake facility
We were doing work on, I believe they're the injectors, and there was not a very large amount, everyone
is okay. Yes. Good. So to answer your first question, yes, everyone is okay. And it was, it had spilled
into the vault that it was in, and we were cleaning that vault. And the vault is the secondary containment,
is that like where it's normally stored?
All right, any other questions for our standard invoices? All right, accept the motion to approve. Move
that we approve the standard invoices. All right, it's been moved and seconded by Seth. Any other discussion?
All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? All right, motion carries and next then is our utility bills.
For this period totaling two hundred six thousand seven hundred fourteen dollars and eighty three cents
Updated like right before the meeting Okay
It should be on the packet on the Chromebooks, though. So what is the correct amount? On the Chromebook
here, it's $206,714.83. I always bring a paper packet because it's easier for me to navigate the packet
when I review it.
If you'll just give me just a minute, I'd just like to lay my eyes on that. It's standard. Page 22.
Thank you. Yeah. And while you're looking, I should have mentioned that, of course, our standard conflict
of interest statement that if any board member has any personal or financial conflict with any of the
issues or individuals on the agenda, then please be sure to recuse yourself during those portions of
the meeting. Quick reminder.
Any other discussion on our usual utility claims list? All right. Megan, do you have a point?
You find it? All right. Moved and seconded to approve utilities for this period. All in favor, say aye.
Opposed? All right. We've got utility bills approved. Next is wire transfers down on page 33 of the
packet, totaling $709,336.25. And we've got all the
register there with all of those expenses. I move that we approve the wire transfers. All right, it's
been moved and seconded and for wire transfers. Thank you, Seth, for the second and any other discussion?
All in favor? Yeah. Yeah, okay. Yeah. So in the packet, it looks like we have the payroll register for
like employees. I feel like we should have
Well, it's public record, but we normally don't get it in this detail. Is that new? It's usually in
the folder that's on the Chromebooks, and that's in the Google Drive. It made its way into the packet
this month. It doesn't usually make it into the packet. But it's not a problem? No. OK. No. I did have
a question on the Chase Bank fee, so I believe that was
I last a couple months ago and that was with the Tyler, if I'm correct, the system. So we still phase,
do you have an update on that? We're still working through that one, but we did get, when we implemented
the credit card, passing the credit card fees on to the customer last year, they didn't implement it
correctly. So we did get a check, a refund check for about $9,000 for that. So we are making progress.
We did receive or we will receive? We did. We did receive, I guess. And then so, I'm sorry, you've told
me a few months ago, but can you remind me then why we're still billed credit card fees? It's the fee
that Tyler has to pay Chase, and they're still charging us for it. So it's not a credit card fee that
is being charged to the customer or to us. It's an interbank fee that Tyler has to pay for
for them to do their side of the transactions. Because we accept credit cards? Correct. I know that
that's nominal compared to our $100,000 before. But could that be an extra penny on everybody's bill,
or is that just something that we're going to have to pay every time?
Until we get it worked out with the contractor, we're going to have to pay it. But that's why I brought
up the refund because we did get a refund when this wasn't right last year. But that was for money that
we had already. Correct. Shouldn't have. Correct. Lost anyway. So I guess this would be till the end
of this current contract with them or something. Or until they've had some turnover on their staff.
And so it's been challenging trying to find the right person.
When you find the right person, they're not there anymore. And then you have to find the next right
person. So it's just proven to be a little more challenging than I expected. OK. And I know we've discussed
that this is we're not the only city department using this system, correct? Downtown uses. Downtown's
choice to use this that we. They chose to use Tyler, yes. Right. So I guess other departments also incurring
these fees that would rather not be. They're moving away from that.
So I think that some departments are and some departments aren't. But their goal is to move to where
the city does not pay any fees. Okay, so maybe the department that doesn't get charged this, maybe they
know the right person to contact? I've tried, but yes, it's a very fair ask. Thank you, okay. No further
questions. Yeah. Anything else on wire transfers? All right.
wire transfers, yeah? Second. Thank you, any other discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed?
All right, wire transfers are approved. Next is approval of customer refunds in the amount of $2,757.03.
Any questions on any of those refunds?
approve the customer refunds. Okay it's been moved. Seconded to approve the customer refunds for pay
date April 10th. Any other discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? All right motion carries.
Then next is our approval of the consent agenda. We'll ask Director Zeiger to take us through that.
Good evening, I'm Katherine Sager, utilities director. I'm presenting tonight's consent agenda totaling
$49,255.77. First contract is with Electric Plus for $1,770 for low tower light installation at Monroe
Water Plant. Next is with VET Environmental LLC for $11,389.79.
for consulting and reporting on results of phase two environmental site analysis for improved rights
of way between Madison and Bryan streets related to the Broadview sewer extension. Next is with MEG
services LLC DBA Midwest engine and generator for $7,364 for the replacement of generator air filters
and fuel lines at Monroe water plant.
Next is with Shambon Sun LP for a not to exceed of $16,361.98 to troubleshoot existing HVAC control
systems at the service center. Next is with Tyler Technologies for $3,510 for new world reorganization
based on the 2026 rate case. Next is with Electric Plus Inc for $960 to
set a new EV charger at Monroe Water Plant. Next is with AMI Roofing Contractors Inc. for $1,620 to
install gutters and replace snow cleats on the admin building at the Blucher Pool Wastewater Treatment
Plant. Next is with MEG Services LLC DBA Midwest Engine and Generator for $6,280 for the replacement
of intake generator air filters and wait, and fuel lines at Monroe Water Treatment Plant. Is there any
member who wishes to consider one or more of these items individually? Hearing none, if there's
no opposition, these items will be approved as recommended by staff. Hearing no opposition, the consent
agenda is approved. Thank you. Consent agenda is approved and the next item
discussion is the request for approval of professional services agreement with TY Lynn LLC and Dan Hudson
will present on that. Good afternoon I'm Daniel Hudson capital projects manager with the city of Bloomington
utilities. A few weeks ago we had a failure of one of our medium voltage boxes at the Dillman wastewater
treatment plant
and we had to hire an emergency contractor to do a wire around a fix, but it was a temporary fix. What
I'm proposing here from TYLN is a design to fix that box. Plus we have five other boxes out there and
they're gonna design all of them together. These boxes are 60 years old, so,
One failed, are the other ones gonna fail? We don't know. But would like to go ask the board to go under
design for TYLN for $149,220. Okay, thank you, Dan. Any questions on this request? Yeah, go ahead. Once
the project is designed to
built, what do you think our timeline is? And is this temporary fix? You know, do we think that that's
going to be able to last that long? We hope it's going to last that long. You know, it's hard to tell.
It is a temporary fix. If it goes, we'll have to hire another emergency contractor to do it again.
The design, I'm thinking, is going to be about eight months, probably. And then we have to go out to
bid. That's another two months.
And so it may be the end of the year, fall, before we get a contractor in there to do it. Okay.
Thank you. Okay. Yeah, I think we got our 60 years worth, money's worth of the product for 60 years.
Yes. I am just hopeful that whatever we find, while I know things don't work necessarily like they used
to, I do hope there's something that is, you know, going to take us to the next jump that we need to do.
I hope it goes another 60 years. But this is a medium voltage, which seems to be high to me. It's 1.4
kilovolts. And it steps down to 480 volts. And that's where the delay may happen. To buy transformers
today on the market, it may take 12 months, 18 months after you order them to get here.
It's hard to say when the project actually is going to be completed. Yeah, cross your fingers. All right.
What's the general life expectancy of these units? About 60 years or? Yeah, 50 to 60 years for that
kind of equipment is about right. And I was told, I don't know if it's totally true that they don't make
transformers in the United States anymore. So we have to go outside the country and I don't know if
there's tariffs on them or what. We used to make them here. We used to make all of them. But that's
that's another story. Yeah. That's for another board meeting. Okay. Any other questions for Dan?
All right. I move that we approve
the agreement with TY Lynn? Second. It's been moved and seconded. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed?
All right. Motion carries. And next is the request for approval resolution 2026-08, which is the declaration
of surplus and worthless items. So this is the,
the same thing that we're trying to bring every month. This one's a little light. We just have a few
stacks of pallets up on the hill that we would like to get rid of one way or the other. And a bonfire
was out of the question. Not on the premises. I was hoping we could have a company bonfire. These do
have market value, so good move. All right, any other questions for Matt?
Any discussion? Okay. I move that we approve the surplus for auction resolution. All right. It's been
moved and seconded. Any other discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? All right.
Next is the request for approval of memorandum of understanding between CBU and Joe Smith for a sewer
connection. And Mr. Wheeler will present this one. Good evening, Chris Wheeler, City Legal.
For some time now, the engineering department has been working on ways to expand and enhance the capacity
that Dilman Wastewater Treatment Plant would enjoy.
Our assistant director, Mr. Peden has identified a rather large piece of property situated just to the
east of our interstate that could be used for additional detention retention, which would greatly enhance
our capacity at Dillman. We engaged Mr. Smith for the instigation of the steps that would move towards
eminent domain so that we could go onto the property and do
some investigation and survey of the property of our own to try and identify what portion of the property
we would like to purchase from Mr. Smith. He was amenable to these overtures. He does have an attorney
involved, as you can see at the bottom of the signature lines on the MOU. After working through several
different items of negotiation with Mr. Smith's attorney, we arrived at the
outline of this MOU as an agreement that takes us a substantial step towards purchasing the property.
This is a little different than what we normally do because there are some moving pieces. We still need
to do a survey on the property so that we have a formal legal survey that identifies exactly what we're
purchasing. Mr. Smith then needs to go through processes through the county to subdivide the property.
And once we go through those dance steps, we can then actually do a transfer of the real estate
as legally identified from Mr. Smith to the city of Bloomington utilities, and then make our payment
to him as we've agreed, which is a $200,000 payment. That $200,000 was arrived at from an appraisal
done through a contract that this board approved months ago. We arrived at an appraisal value for a
fair market value on what we believe to be the identified property.
That's how we arrived at that. There are some caps on what, uh, so I'm sorry. One of the pieces
of consideration in addition to the $200,000 was to allow Mr. Smith to connect to our sewer system.
Should that property, that little piece at the bottom. So the big piece at the top that looks like a
big mouth Chris,
Could you go and, I know it gets you off the mic, but could you show us, because we did not get the
map in our packet. That's okay, but could you go up there though? That's the property we're looking
at purchasing. And where's Mr. Smith's?
Okay. Thank you. Should it ever be eligible for annexation? You know, go through all the steps of our
rules and regulations or for some reason get identified as economically important by ESD. Uh, so going
through those steps, but in the MOU, you can see, we point out currently that property is not eligible
for connection. It would only become.
they could become connected if at some point it becomes eligible. We will identify when we're putting
infrastructure in, we will stub it out so that they can connect someday in the future, assuming that
that will occur. There are some caps on that connection. It can only be for service that doesn't exceed
a capacity of flow of 3000 gallons per day, and it has a cap on the size of the meter. That meter is going to
the cost of that meter going in is part of the MOU, unless he wants it to be a larger meter, then he'll
have to pay the difference. So those little bells and whistles are built into the MOU. But we believe
this is a very good thing for CBU because it will provide a great deal of property available for us
to use to expand capacity at Dilma, which is much needed. So we would recommend, the staff does recommend
approval of this MOU. I'm happy to try and answer questions.
So just the sentence in the middle of the first paragraph. Oh boy, right out of the gates. The connection.
In the first whereas or the first enumerated? The first whereas? Oh, no, I'm in the memorandum.
The memo. Right. Are you looking at the where? The cover memo. Oh, in the cover memo? Mm-hmm. Oh, the
staff memo. But is that your work? That's what I was looking at. OK. And now I'm wondering if maybe
the question is answered on the next page. But I'll go ahead and answer it.
ask it anyway. Yeah, so that first paragraph reiterates that connection may only occur if the property
becomes eligible, but is the MOU bypassing that? No. So what's the advantage for him to have this?
It seems like he's not getting any special. We're stubbing it out so he can connect and we're going
to give him an easement across our property that we're buying at the top. When that becomes our property,
we're granting an easement so he can cross the property and connect at the stubbed out area. But that's
only going to be something he can do at a later date when the property becomes eligible for connection
because currently it's outside the city. So it's just an additional eligible and we hadn't done this.
He would not have been able to.
connect at that point, is that right? If his property becomes eligible to connect. And we weren't doing
this. At a later date, then he would need to negotiate with us for an easement to cross our property
to get there. OK, so we're making one step easier. So we're making it easier for him to make that connection.
OK, thank you. Making stuff easier? I'm sorry? I said, what, we're making stuff easier? This is awesome.
I was saying that sarcastically. Sarcasm received and appreciated.
question for you is that is that the Dillman plant that's on that other side that that's right oh right
there okay okay yeah 37 runs down these to the east and right up to the east northeast is Mays greenhouse
so my question is what is why we're up there the Kirk what is what are all the red boxes then up
at the right. Those are other people's properties. That's just identifying other people's properties,
buildings on other people's properties. Okay. Um, so my question to that is if we are going to be going
in and doing this work and those are other properties, are they, they're not, they're not included in
any of this and it's to no benefit to include them in it in the event that this area were to ever get annexed.
There was no need for us to even communicate with them because we're not touching their property and
it doesn't impact them. Perfect. Thank you. Those are my questions. Now to the north and as you, you
go up north, we are looking, we are buying properties to, to do additional work, to do sewer relief
as I under can, as I understand down through this property. So there are, we are doing additional work
that you're going to see coming along in the future.
potential extra capacity this could give us? I do not, that might be, we don't know yet. Engineering
says no, we don't know yet. But it's more regarding this. It's looking to future planning of what we
could need, so. Get it while it's available. Exactly. The information that I have and maybe there's
additional documents online it doesn't list
Mr. Smith is working with an attorney that I could see. Did you see that? There's a signature line at
the bottom with, oh, I thought that the attorney was in there. It only lists the property owner. It
has Joe signing, that's right. I apologize. He is working with an attorney though. Okay, and I'm glad
to hear that he feels good about this offer since we approached him about his land. So I think that's
very important and feels that's a fair
for both sides. We feel that's fair and he feels that's fair. Yes. I don't know how Joe feels. I've
never spoken with him directly. Okay. He feels good enough to sign a value. But he signed it to suggest
that he's okay with it. In the right direction. And then, okay, so I know he'll be doing surveying,
but is there a guesstimate of how many acres this is? The city will be doing the surveying. Oh, we will
at our expense. We're going to get the legal survey prepared. He's going to be doing the subdivision. Okay.
and then we'll prepare the deed and record it. But what's the guesstimate of acreage? I can't tell those
little numbers. Say 5.27. I don't know off the top of my head what the acreage is. 19 acres total and
14.27 is in FEMA floodway. We tracking right on that? Yeah.
eyesight is still working in the haze of the slide. That's great. Oh, Chris, you mentioned eminent domain,
but we're not in that department on this, right? Well, that's in order to, yes, in order to initiate
communications with a property owner, the steps that we are taking are statutorily built into our eminent
domain statutes.
So we are talking eminent domain, but we send an initial letter of intent that we are going to come
on the property to inspect and would prefer, I'll give you the process. We would prefer that they cooperate
with us and give us a right of entry, which Joe Smith did. We came on the property, surveyed and inspected
to see if it was suitable, found that it was. And then we send this formal offer
true eminent domain, giving them a fair market value of the property that they can either accept or
reject. If they reject it, we can then take the matter to court and force the sale. So we are in an
eminent domain situation. But because the offer that we made was acceptable, there's no need for us
to worry about court proceedings or anything like that. And that's usually what you think about when
you think about eminent domain is that it's that it's an adversarial relationship. But in this case,
we're in good shape along those lines because we've done our due diligence as we should in the process
and he's agreeable with it. Yeah, there are conditions precedent to filing in the court for eminent
domain and these steps that we have taken are those conditions precedent. I always like to, you know,
my opinion is if you can come up with a good agreement with a property owner, it's a whole lot better
than government
grabbing as some people look at it, even though we can prove overwhelming public benefit in these cases,
which is why we have the ability in the first place. The second question I have, I assume we did an
average of a couple of appraisals here or how did that work? No, we only used one appraiser. Okay. And
he was good with that too. He was good with the number we suggested. Okay.
We're good with it, obviously. Okay, good. All right. Good work. Good work for everybody that worked
on that. Is there any issue for us that it's in a floodplain or our use of the land will not?
My understanding is the area that we're going to be putting the infrastructure is not subject to the
floodplain, but Phil's coming up to give us a better understanding. Philippine Engineering.
We are limited by the floodplain. We can't put, we can't fill in the floodplain. So some of this might
be underground storage within that same space. There's also other utilities that cross this. So there
is that red line that kind of bisects north and south through the center of the, as I don't know that
he referred to it as this, but the Pacman words. So anyway, the red line there, that's an electrical line.
So there's an electrical easement that goes through north-south. And so our engineer has indicated that
there's enough space there, either underground or other space there where we can add more storage. Along
with the Dillman Relief Sewer that's gonna pass through this space parallel, somewhat parallel to that
existing sewer that you see along the top that's green, the Dillman Relief Sewer will be oversized to
provide inline storage. So we'll get that with the phase one and then phase two would be where we add
some storage off of that main line. So it's going to be like underground storage or there will be buildings
there as well? Not positive yet, but I think we'll be challenged to put above ground storage in the
floodplain. So it may be a combination of both.
Other questions, discussion? All right, looks like we're ready for a motion then. I move that we approve
the memorandum of understanding with Joe Smith. All right, it's been moved and seconded. Any
other discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Thank you. All right, motion carries. A good way
to plan for the future here. Okay, next on the agenda is
Any old business? Do we have any old business for the board? All right. New business? Yeah, so yeah.
I got the nod there. New business from the board, or yeah? I just want to give a public thank you to
the crew that came out to work on Easter Sunday at a water main break that
was at the corner of Rock Creek and Wood Bluff. They were out there very quickly and it was a wee bit
challenging from what I understand and hopefully everything is hooked back up, but they were out there
working and again, just appreciation for all those folks that come out on weekends and after hours and
on a holiday when they should hopefully be spending time with families and loved ones, but they're out
there taking care of our community. So thank you to the team.
Good comments there. All right, any other new business from staff? All right. We didn't have
any subcommittees today, so I don't think any subcommittee reports. Staff reports. Yeah. I'd like to
go ahead and congratulate Curtis Richardson for obtaining their CDLB license. And then I'd like to welcome
Phil Peden to come and introduce our new staff member.
in Philippine engineering. I don't know about you all, but I've been watching a lot of college basketball.
How about you all? And so you watch some of those teams, and you see that, man, that's a great team.
But then they go into that NIL transfer portal, and they grab a couple of really good players that makes
them the championship team, right? And so in the last few months, that's what we've been doing
in engineering. We've been building our team. And so back in December, we added Tonya in the back.
And then most recently, we added Ginger Davis. Ginger has a lot of great experience and a good background
she's going to make for a strong team and build our championship team. Which position is that? She filled
the utilities engineer position, so she's going to be doing a lot of storm water and playing review,
overseeing the playing reviews. Great. Welcome. Yeah, welcome to both of you. Thank you.
Thank you, Phil. Yeah, thank you. Yeah. All right. That's our staff report. Okay. Any petitions
or communications from the public? All right. Anyone else? All right. Well, we stand adjourned then.
Thank you. Thank you.