ITEM 3.8 Hiring temp Utility assistantIV
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MINNESOTA
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
Request for
City Council Action
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT:
REQUESTOR:
MEETING DATE:
Utilities
Kurt Neidermeier
April 27th, 2015
PRESENTER(s):
REVIEWED BY:
ITEM #:
Consent Agenda
Lori Johnson
3.8 Utility Assistant
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
A Utility Assistant temporary part time position was reviewed at the April 22"d, 2015 Public Works
Subcommittee with recommendation of approval.
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? I IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
No. I No.
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
The Utility Budget approved January 2015 included $1650 for part time assistance to fully incorporate
the departments role in spring and fall hydrant maintenance, complete job hazard analysis with related
training and Safety Coordinator responsibilities.
Since budget approval Engineering studies were completed at the West Wastewater Treatment Facility
to identify methods and resolve to odor issues noted by neighbors of facility. The studies found
inadequate solids digestion and identified the need for additional digestion space; requiring design,
State approval, additional equipment and construction.
The studies also provided recommendations of operational strategies to maximize process function
including: initiation of the second oxidation ditch for additional process volatile solids destruction,
reduction of digester solids concentrations to allow appropriate oxygen transfer, routine digester
loading through operation of the Gravity Belt Thickener three times per week versus one, digester pH
adjustments through manual equipment operation and routine monitoring of various process indicators.
All recommendations were implemented in January 2015 and established as standard operating
practices.
The new operational practices have increased staffing needs as follows:
• Gravity Belt Thickener operation: 3 hours per week or 156 hours per year. Involves valve
changes, equipment start up and pre wash, operation and monitoring, equipment shut
down, clean up and transfer of solids. The recommendation increased equipment operation
two times per week.
• Operation, process testing and maintenance of the 2"d Oxidation ditch: % hour per week or
39 hours per year.
Labor involves twice per week laboratory analysis for the 2nd process train including Mixed
Liquor and Settleometer testing; three times per week Dissolved Oxygen Sensor inspections,
probe cleaning, calibration and maintenance; Aerator routine equipment maintenance
including oil testing, oil changes, and motor greasing.
• Digester monitoring: 10 hours per year for digester monitoring
Monitoring includes sampling and testing for pH, volatile solids, total solids and temperature
requiring valve changes, proper sampling techniques, chain of custody completion, lab
contact, documentation, record keeping and billing.
• Blower operation: 28 minutes per week or 24.25 hours per year
Labor involves manual blower operation allowing denitrification to occur in the digester
resolving the pH in -balance noted by the study.
• Solids hauling West WWTF to East WWTF: 45 minutes per event— 10 events per year if
batch hauled or 7.5 hours per year.
Labor includes: valve changes, pump and load out stand operation, contractor
communications, billing, reporting and record keeping.
• Solids handling East WWTF: 30 minutes per event —10 events per year if batch hauled or 5
hours per year.
Labor includes tank preparation for acceptance, valve changes, additional thickening
processing, solids transfer to digester and storage tank.
• Training and orientation of the new employee is anticipated at 8 hours.
These operational responsibilities will remain as a part of the Staffing budget going forward,
reduced when adequate digestion capacity is accomplished and hauling related expectations are
no longer needed for a reduction of 12.5 hours per year.
Staff recommends the addition of 250 hours per year of part time assistance to accommodate the new
operation practices. The position will be filled by a part time employee at $11 per hour (benefits
included) for a budget increase of $2750. The updated budget totaling $4400 would provide utility
staffing assistance of 400 hours for 2015.
The role of the Utility Assistant is to provide Operations staff the time to complete the added
responsibilities allocating higher priority tasks to the Operations Staff and general lower level tasks to
the Assistant position.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: ATTACHED X NONE
POSSIBLE MOTION
Please word motion as you would like it to appear in the minutes.
Motion to approve the addition of a Utility Assistant position for 400 hours per year.
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: BUDGETED: ° YES
601— Water Operations Budget
602 —Sewer Operations Budget ° No
ACTION TAKEN
° APPROVED AS REQUESTED ° DENIED ° TABLED ° OTHER (List changes)
COMMENTS: