Well, good evening, afternoon, everyone. We'll call the meeting of the Utilities Services Board of the
City of Bloomington for May 18th to order. The first thing to remember is our mission, and that's that
our City of Bloomington utilities mission is to enhance the quality of life in our community by providing
safe, sustainable, and high quality drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services.
stormwater appropriate today, in a cost-effective manner, promoting public health, economic vitality,
and environmental stewardship. And our vision is to be the leading municipal water utility organization
in Indiana. Okay, first, are there any petitions or communications from the public as we begin the meeting?
All right, hearing none, we'll go right to approval of the minutes
of our previous meeting on May 4th, 2026. They had a chance to take a look at the minutes. And I'm happy
to entertain a motion to approve. I move we approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Thank you,
Seth. Thanks, Jim. It's been moved and seconded to approve the minutes of May 4th. All in favor say
aye. Aye. Opposed?
All right, minutes are approved. Next are the approval of claims and we have standard invoices for this
two-week period in the amount of $969,873.72. Any questions about the items on standard invoices?
standard invoices second moved and seconded any further discussion all in favor say aye aye opposed
all right standard invoices are approved next your utility bills in the amount of twenty eight thousand
fifty five dollars and ninety four cents move we approve the utility claims okay so moved and seconded
any other discussion
All in favor say aye. Aye. All right. Opposed? Utility bills are approved. Next are wire transfers in
the amount of $594,229.96. I move that we approve the wire transfers. Second. Moved and seconded. Any
other discussion on wire transfers? Okay all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed?
Wire transfers are approved. Everybody gets paid. That's good. Customer refunds in the amount of $1,492.42.
Anybody see anything on customer refunds or questions? I move that we approve the customer refunds.
Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion further? All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Customer refunds
are approved.
Next is the special check run for $3,816.85. I move that we approve. What was the total on that? $3,816.85,
I think. Yep, it is. That's the first one. Yeah. I move that we approve the special check run. Second.
Been moved and seconded. Any other discussion?
All right, and then we have, oh, yes. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? All right, motion carried.
Item F, then, is the special check run for State of Indiana workforce in the amount of $1,180.50. I
move that we approve the special check run for the State of Indiana workforce. Second.
All right, it's been moved and seconded. Any discussion on that check run? All in favor say aye. Aye.
Opposed? All right, motion carries. Check runs approved. Next on our agenda, item five is the approval
of the consent agenda totaling $20,464.37. Director Zeiger. Good evening, I'm Catherine Zeiger, utilities director.
I'm presenting tonight's consent agenda totaling $20,464.37. The first contract is with Bledsoe, Rigert,
Cooper, and James Inc. not to exceed $15,000 to complete survey work and produce a preliminary plat
for 6570 South Old State Road 37.
Next is with Affordable Waste Solutions LLC DBA Affordable Septic and Repair for $4,764.37 for reseating
plant mixed liquor at Blucher Pool Wastewater Treatment Plant. Next is with Precision Compaction Services
LLC DBA Precision Odor Control for $700 for air pro-preventative maintenance at Blucher Pool Wastewater
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. Very good, thank you. Item six on our agenda is to request approval
of consulting service agreement with Commonwealth Engineers Incorporated
and Kevin White is here to explain this project. Yep, Kevin White, Capital Projects Coordinator. Yes,
this is a project with Commonwealth Engineer to do a basis of design study for the sewer system that
runs through basically College Mall Road. We have an ongoing SSO in the area of Covenator and College
Mall Road.
So this basis of design will implement some flow meters that you'll hear another contract later tonight
with grip about. We'll set the flow meters out, study the system, figure out potential route and size
of pipe needed to be upgraded to alleviate this ongoing SSO. As part of that basis of design study,
they'll also
estimate the construction cost of the different options. So this is really just the very beginning stages
of what's going to be a much larger project down the road. Happy to try and answer any questions. It
is for the amount of $197,461 and no cents. Kevin, could you give us a little background on the SSO
issues in that region and
you know the development what we are trying to plan for here or catch up to yeah and I might defer to
Phil a little bit on this I know he's got a lot more history on it but I know that we've been we've
had we fought some undersized pipes in the area there and it's a pinch point to where two of the larger
pipes come together and we just need some more capacity in the pipe now Phil can speak to the ongoing
issue there if you don't mind
sure. Philippine engineering. So we had the corrective SSO corrective action plan from 2004 that detailed
a lot of the issues that we have in the southeast range basin or sewer basin. And so that area around
college mall, we've done a ton of rehabilitation, we've done a lot of lining, we've done grouting. So
we did connection remediation too. So I'm gonna say
over $5 million, maybe $10 million in rehabilitation in that basin, try to eliminate I&I. We
still occasionally still have the SSO there at Covenanter and College Mall Road. So as part of that
corrective action plan, it detailed upgrades to this system for more capacity all the way down to where
the sewer crosses Sayre Road. It's significantly undersized. We lined it to try to eliminate I&I along
the stream.
And that was years ago, but that didn't correct it, so. This happened during storm events, more or less?
Yeah, dry weather were okay, but rain events. Yeah. Well, I ask that because, you know, we're kind of
seeing some transition in that area and how we need to be ready for future uses and that sort of thing.
In terms of current SSO issues, is this like top three, number one priority that we have? Yeah, so the
biggest one that we had was right down here at Micro Motors at Grimes and Walnut, the most reoccurring
one, but then our sewer that we did, the South Central Sewer Interceptor, which is about two miles of
interceptor from Grimes to Moores Pike.
that corrected that one, it went through the switch yard park. So we eliminated our worst one, but College
Mall Road still occurs. Matt, do you know how frequently we've seen that one occur in the last year?
I'm not entirely sure. It's at least once a year, I think. Yeah. So the idea was we do all
this rehabilitation and try to eliminate I&I to push this down the road a little bit so we didn't have
to do the big project. But it's still happening. And like you said, there's
a lot of development happening in that area too. A lot of changes where we're seeing increased flow.
The goal is to get this estimate so that we can put this on the next rate case for sewer so we have
an accurate idea what the cost will be for the project. That's a good idea. Other questions or discussion
for our staff experts?
with Commonwealth Engineers. Second. All right it's been moved and seconded. Any further discussion?
All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? All right motion carries thank you. Item seven then is the request
for approval of the second amendment to our agreement with Commonwealth Engineers which pertains to
booster station improvements and Kevin is still at the podium.
Yep, Kevin White, capital projects coordinator still. This is, as Kirk said, related to the booster
station improvement and general guaranteed savings contract that we started a while back and then had
some funding issues. So we hit pause for a couple of years. We've since
Receive the one point two five million dollar grant from Congresswoman who chin and then so it's and
then we have the water rate case funding that's going to become available so this project starting to
pick back up the thirty nine thousand six hundred dollars and no sense that this second amendment is for is to
is to cover the fee rate increases from Commonwealth during that two year delay. And it is not a change
in material costs as it says on the summary of contract as pointed out to me from the controller's office
this morning. So I just wanted to make that clear. Happy to answer any questions. Any questions, Kevin?
second amendment to the agreement with Commonwealth engineer for the booster station improvements second
okay it's been moved and seconded any further discussion all in favor say aye opposed all right motion
carries thank you thank you next is item 8 request approval of the resolution 2026-12
which is the bid acceptance and contract award for the Dillon Wastewater Treatment Plant Filter Media
Replacement Project. Dan. Hi, I'm Dan Hudson, Capital Projects Manager for the City of Bloomington Utilities.
And back in April 30th, we had a special board meeting. It was open to the public where we accepted
bids for the replacement of the media.
at the Dillman Wastewater Treatment Plant. We received three bids and we found that Thenemann was the
lowest, most responsive and responsible of the three for $690,000. The engineering estimate for that
was $800,000. So I'd like the board to consider Resolution 2026-12
as an acceptance of their bid. Okay, thank you. Any questions for Dan? Nope. All right. I move that
we approve resolution 2026-12 with Deniman Construction. Second. Moved and seconded. Any further discussion?
All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed?
motion carries thank you next as item 9 the request for approval of our public works agreement with
thenaman construction incorporated again this is the contract with the thenaman and us to perform the
work we previously talked about for
$690,000. I'd like the board to consider this contract so we can move forward with it. Okay. I move
that we approve the contract with Veneman. All right. Moved and seconded for approval of the contract.
All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? All right, motion carried.
Very good. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Item 10 is a request for approval of the service agreement
with GRIP, Incorporated. Matt. Hi, folks. I'm Matt Dabberton. I'm the environmental program coordinator
for the utility. This contract is related to item six that Kevin presented with the contract with Commonwealth.
RIP would be placing three sewer flow meters in the College Mall sewer basin, as well as installing
a couple of rain gauges. We would then be using that equipment once the flow study is concluded to replace
some of our old permanent flow meters that the utility owns, which have been failing lately.
I believe the contract is for around $47,000. I'm happy to answer any questions. Okay. Yes, $48,901.74.
Very good. Questions for Matt on this project. Okay.
that we approve this service agreement with GRIP, Incorporated. Second. All right, it's been moved and
seconded. Any further discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? All right, motion carries.
Thank you. Thank you. And next is item 11, request for approval of the amendment number three to our
agreement with Stantec Consulting Services. Matt. Yeah, so Stantec is the
that is doing our rate design for our current rate case. So hopefully this last amendment will get us
to the finish line with them. OK. Any questions? Discussion? All right. Yeah. Well, I'm just curious.
So it looks like it's like quadrupled since we started. Am I looking at the right page here? Well, this last one.
We just threw $49 on it again to make sure, but they billed by the hour. So if they don't use it all
day, we won't pay for it. Why originally did we expect that there'd be so much less work? I mean, I
guess we spent a lot. I thought we spent a lot of time going back through records to provide the data
that they needed.
Yeah, we did. So there was some data issues in the beginning that caused some doubling of work. And
then just as we've gone through this process, it's taken them more time to do the analysis and to prepare
testimony for the IURC. OK. And are we still hopeful to get on? Do we have a calendar date yet? We do.
We're at an evidentiary hearing on June 2. June 2. OK. Which is after our next meeting. Yeah.
Yes, okay. Okay, thank you. Okay, any other questions? All right. I move that we approve amendment number
three to the agreement with Stantec Consulting Services. Second. Okay, it's been moved and seconded.
Any other discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? All right, motion carries.
Item 11. Now we're up to item 12, requesting approval of the revised memorandum of understanding between
CBU and retreat at the switch yard. Yes. Catherine Sager, utilities director. I'm bringing back the
MOU between CBU and retreat at switch yard, which was considered at our last regular meeting.
It was suggested by the board that we added additional language that now reads, in the event retreat
decides to sell the property before the balance is paid in full, the retreat shall immediately notify
CBU and the remaining balance due and owing for connection fees shall be paid to CBU at closing on the
sale of the property. We have added that.
and are presenting this again to the board. All right, thank you. Any questions or discussion? Thank
you for adding that in there. My only question would be then it's on them to disclose, if they would
buy, which I know is a big hypothetical, but if they would sell, I mean, then it's up to them to disclose
that to us. There's no like, oh, we know before it happens
They have to be the one to tell us like there's not like a legal lien or something on the property that
we would be automatically notified if it would come up for sale. I don't think there's like an automatic
lien that we would be notified. But if it did change hands, we would likely know that you're about it.
But right. But what's the consequence if they don't collect this money?
legal avenue to collect this money, I guess. Since they'll be signing it. Yes. And they're responsible
for it. Yes. So if they would sell and not disclose it at closing and pay at closing, then this document
holds them liable for the full amount. Yes. OK. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. I guess my question is, so
my question is, will we
file this with the, will this lien be filed then with the, I don't know which department it is. If you.
This is anything but MOU. Okay. Yeah, this is an MOU. This is not necessarily a lien. So once again,
how do we get this money if they sell it? That's, I mean, that was what we were talking about last week.
But I guess my, wouldn't it
be like, so it's a loan, so why wouldn't there be something filed with the, again, I don't know which
department it is, but if you buy a home or if you do something and somebody loans you money, because
we're essentially loaning the money, correct? I mean, we've worked out a payment plan with them, so
if someone were to loan you money on a property, then you file that with
And again, I don't know which department it is, so that there is this then legal document on file that
this is owed. So I guess. I don't see it as a loan. There's a charge for the connection, and it's to
be paid over time. It would be as if someone did work on your house, and you paid it off over time.
They're not loaning you the money.
It's just setting a time period for the payment of their connection fee. OK. Like we could, I assume,
send this to collections if they didn't. Like we have ways of collecting money if they weren't. Well,
and it would also be breach of contract. Yeah, also breach of contract. This is a contract. OK. But
I can certainly see that.
point of the discussion. Because we've seen lots of examples where things happen, and then four or five
years later, we forget about them. Or someone does. We would never forget, but. Let's not forget. We
won't forget. And then there it is. I can see how it's been billed, but they said they were not able
to pay it.
So we've performed the services. So I guess that's why I see it as more than like their bill that we've
agreed to let them pay over five years. It's the services have been performed. So like, um, like somebody
that go put on a new roof for a thousand dollars, they've performed the services are getting paid back.
Yeah, we also, I mean, I suppose we also have payment plans for
regular customers and they've used the water or the water has been used and then they are paying for
that service for that water over time. But they're not it's not a five year payment plan. For fifty
two thousand dollars. No no no this is a much larger example which is why we have an MOU and we're taking
this to the board. And they're getting into the agreement with us saying that they couldn't pay but
I digress.
I know I understand I'll just say I understand that I appreciate that our legal has looked over this
so I think we've all made our. Expectations and thoughts about it very clear and so what we expect we
hope that this is held holding them to that expectation yes. And future developments yeah. I move that
we approve.
revised MOU between CBU and retreat at the switch yard. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Any other
discussion? All right. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Okay. That MOU is approved. Now we go to
old business. Any old business from the board? Old business from staff?
New business from the board. New business from staff. Have we had any subcommittees meet in the last
two weeks? I don't think so. Now we're up to staff reports. All right. Got a few. So first, we're going
to welcome Colton Harden, apprentice master equipment operator in operations who will be working at
Blucher Pool Wastewater Treatment Plant.
We want to congratulate T&D crew members Brandon Bray and Joseph Gibson. They were promoted to utility
specialist too. We want to congratulate Alan Christie and Joshua Wathen in T&D who earned their collections
licenses. And also Parker Iles with environmental programs who earned his DSL. And I also want to just, you know,
Thank all the crews who were helping to clear inlets ahead of this storm to help lessen the impact that
our current aerial flooding is going to have on the city. I know we've been really, really busy with
a lot of other storm projects, and we've got a lot of projects happening right now because it's construction
season in Bloomington. So I just really appreciate all the crews who took that extra time to get out there.
And then finally, I wanted to present to this board a video that we're really proud of that Frank made
following the partnership we had with Eskenazi. They had this exhibit called Moliana Vital Ecosystems.
And what was cool about it is it used art and science to teach folks about the importance of keeping
our waterways clean and how it's all connected and how watersheds are connected. So yeah, enjoy this
video made by Frank. And sorry, the sound will be coming from this computer over here.
good example thank you all right thank you okay then any petitions or communications from the public
or others with us okay well no other business we will stand adjourned until next meeting thank you