Utility Dept Budget NarrativeCity of Otsego 2020 Utility Department
Budget Narrative
Overview
The City of Otsego Water and Wastewater Utility serves the residential equivalent of 14,000
people.
Wastewater Treatment
West Wastewater Facility: Class B Minor Facility, constructed 2007
Residential Equivalent Connections:
Platted 2785 Built 2428
Liquid Expansion Planning — REC based (2018 Wastewater Master Plan)
Initiation 2402 Operational 3302
East Wastewater Facility: Class A Major Facility, constructed 1999; upgrades 2001, 2007
Residential Equivalent Connections
Platted 3637 Built 2871
Liquid Expansion Planning (phase 4) — REC based (2018 Wastewater Master Plan)
Initiation 3664 Operational 4564 RECs
Collection System (2018 inventory)
10 Lift Stations — 24 submersible pumps (5 weighing over 2000 pounds)
62 miles of gravity sanitary
21 miles of forcemain
1,634 manholes
Water
Class C System
4 Well Houses — Ground water with chlorine, fluoride and polyphosphate addition.
8 Wells — 7 submersible, 1 turbine
2 - One million gallon hydro pillars
1 - 0.4 million gallon spheroid
3 - Pressure control stations
Distribution System (2018 inventory)
83 miles of watermain
923 hydrants
1,983 valves
Staffing
Operations and maintenance is generally 75% wastewater 25% water to support regulatory
compliance and reporting, operations, preventative and corrective maintenance and customer
service. Regulatory Reporting Agencies include: EPA, MPCA, MDH and DNR
In 2018 the Department incorporated meter responsibilities, curb stop services and added a
second cul-de-sac plow route. A Foreperson position and year round Seasonal assistance was
instituted in 2018. The last full time hire was March of 2016.
Staffing is generally split into three Operation and Maintenance Categories; Wastewater,
Water and Collection/Distribution. A Utility Operator visits each Wastewater Treatment
Facility and operational well house on a daily basis — 365 days per year and on call staff is
available 24 hours per day for emergency services. On a normal week, there are 1 - 2
emergency calls within two categories of equipment fails or customer responses.
Staffing Levels FTE Licensure
Utility Manager 1 Class A Wastewater, Class B Water, Type IV (Biosolids)
Foreperson 1 Class C Wastewater, Class C Water, Type IV (Biosolids)
Operator 3 Class D — C Wastewater, Class C — B Water, Type IV (Biosolids)
Seasonal 0.8 Class D Wastewater, Class D Water
Budget impacts 2020
A staff addition is budgeted to support the solids dewatering operation at the East
Wastewater Treatment Facility. The addition meets Wastewater Master Planning
recommendations, ensures compliance and conveyance of safe drinking water and treated
wastewater discharge. The Department recommends a licensed operator to fill the position.
To meet project timing request advertisement be initiated December 2019 for February
availability. The strategy of year round seasonal assistance will remain as a supplement to a
full time regular employee. The current seasonal position ends February. It is planned the
position would be reestablished July to encourage applicants from the graduating Water
Environment Technologies Program.
A vehicle addition is requested to support transportation for customer service,
collection/distribution and operation needs. The Department maintains four pickups for six
operations staff, recommending the addition of a 3/ ton pickup for snow removal and towing
capacity.
Capital impacts 2020:
Water Tower 2 reconditioning
Constructed in 2003 Tower 2 has met coating life expectancies. Water tower inspections are
conducted by KLM Engineering on a 3-5 year basis to track coating status leading us to this
timing. Interior and exterior coating replacement, mixer addition, logo update and minor
structure modifications will be completed. The construction schedule is established for April 1
through July 8. Staff will conduct West Public Water System flushing late March to
accommodate the system maintenance prior to the tower being offline. System pressure will
be maintained through use of pressure control valves, VFD speed adjustment and additional
operational monitoring.
Solids Building — Wastewater Biosolids Handling
Engineering design is finalizing to initiate construction of the Solids Handling Building at the
East Wastewater Treatment Facility. The construction provides solids capacity by method of
dewatering and removal; replacing the current practice of digestion and storage. The project
will bid early 2020 for a spring initiation and operational capacity late 2020.
Municipal Well Addition
The addition of a new well is scheduled to meet water production needs. The location has
been determined and test drilled to confirm qualifications. Engineering design has been
initiated to meet a spring 2020 completion.
Water Master Planning
The Water Master Plan will be completed this year for Council presentation and adoption early
2020. Engineering and staff will provide recommendation of Capital Improvements to meet
growth of the community and ultimate capacity of the system. Near term priorities will
include a Water Tower addition and East/West Water System connection.
West Wastewater Treatment Facility
Growth is being monitored to recognize the trigger of the next phase of capacity for the West
Wastewater Treatment Facility. Looking to the future expansion and change of operation
from extended aeration to membrane filtration is determined in the Wastewater Master Plan.
Initiation of planning for permitting, design and construction will begin in 2020.