HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-11-2019 Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board Meeting MinutesFEAB January 2019
FEAB MEETING MINUTES
January 11, 2019
3:00 p.m.
Conference Room, Public Works, 555 South Section Street, Fairhope, AL
Member Attendees: Gary Gover, Jim Horner, Ben Frater, Jeanine Normand, Ron Allen,
Tony Pritchett and Mike Shelton
City Council: None
City of Fairhope: Kim Burmeister, Planning and Zoning Department; Christina LeJeune,
Planning and Zoning Department; Jeremy Morgan, Electric Department
Honored Guests: John Manelos
Minutes taken by: Kim Burmeister
FEAB MINUTES:
December 2018 minutes were approved as amended. Jim's written comments from the
last meeting were included, and these members were added to the contact list : Ben
Frater, Shawn Graham, Jim Horner.
Discussion of Items:
1. Sewer System Infrastructure
Jeremy Morgan, Assistant Electrical Superintendent and SCADA system operator,
explained how the system is operated. He is still the only employee that works
specifically with the SCADA system . No new SCADA personnel has been added.
Per Jeremy: The SCADA system is for supervisory control and data acquisition,
but the water/sewer department only use it for data acquisition and not for controls.
The lift stations are not on fiber and are instead monitored by "Cradle Point" radio
controls. The system would be more reliable if it were linked with fiber. There are
currently 70 + lift stations in Fairhope . Richard Peterson has a 5-year plan for
system improvements and he (RP) would be the best person to address the group
with details of his 5 year plan.
Tony mentioned the many sewer overflows in 2018 and would like to know what
has been done to prevent overflows. He is also concerned that no new personnel
has been added to monitor the SCAD A system. He was under the impression that
Richard Peterson would be adding new SCADA personnel in 2018.
FEAB January 2019
John Manelos said that there was a recent (Sept. 2018) significant overflow in
Tatumville gully.
Jim asked if the City is still doing smoke tests on sewer lines to find infiltrations.
Kim said the City is doing video testing of sewer lines , which can go farther than
the smoke test. Video tests of sewer lines can go up to 500 '.
John thinks the City should do a better job of following up on watershed studies.
There has been little or no follow up on the recent studies such as: Mobile
Baykeeper Fly Creek water testing study (2018) Sewer Capacity Study (2017);
Fly Creek Watershed Study (2013). He would like to know if the City has done
any of the actions proposed in these studies . Kim said the City 's purchase of the
triangle (Dyas) property at the entrance to Fairhope in the Fly Creek watershed
was an action plan listed in the Fly Creek Watershed Study, but she is not sure if
anything else in this plan has been done.
Mike and Gary expressed concern that there has been no follow up to the Sewer
Capacity Study (released in 2017). Tony said that it's been over a year since this
study has been done and there should be a list of action taken to date. What actions
have been taken?
Gary noted that there are now storage tanks at the lift stations to hold some
overflow.
Jeanine said the frequent sewer overflows are not acceptable and FEAB should ask
Council and Mayor to act on preventing the overflows now. Mike and Ron felt it
is imperative to hear RP's 5 year plan and what the actions have been and will be
done from the Sewer Capacity Study before sending a strong directive .
John said the City has very competent leadership , but leaders need to be told what
the priorities are to the citizens . If the sewer ov erflows are perceiv ed as the
biggest priority than that will be put first on the list. John has attended several
council sessions . He said RP has asked for funding for staff and upgrades but has
been turned down . He is also concerned over who is managing the $30K in
funding for capital improvements . He feels the City needs to hire someone to
oversee the funding , so that Richard Peterson can concentrate on sewer and
infrastructure upgrades instead of managing the funds.
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FEAB January 2019
2. Council Representation:
Kim said Conyers called her prior to today 's meeting and asked that any directives
the group has for him be emailed immediately. He is unable to attend today 's
meeting. Mike said it is important that the group have council representation so
that motions can be followed through at the next Council meetings. Kim will make
sure Conyers gets first draft of the minutes on the Monday morning following the
Friday meetings.
3. Motions made and passed:
1. FEAB requests a written report stating:
a. Corrective actions taken in lieu of the 2018 sewer overflows
b. Follow up action taken from the Sewer Capacity Study detailing what
activities / projects have been done , which activities or projects are
planned, and time line for completion of planned projects.
NOTE: Jeanine introduced the motion, Jim seconded , passed
unanimously
2. FEAB requests that Jimmy Conyers formally invite Richard Peterson to the
next FEAB meeting to discuss RP's 5 year plan and immediate action plans to
address sewer overflows .
NOTE: Mike introduced the motion, and Tony seconded it. Passed
unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 4 p.m . Next meeting is Friday, February 81h, 3 p.m. at the Fairhope
Public Library Boardroom.
FEAB CONTACT INFORMATION:
Chairman: Gary Gover govers@bellsouth.net (251) 990-8662
Members:
Rick Frederick rfrederick@mobilebaynep.com (251) 380-7941
Ron Allen ron.allenl@att.net {251) 210-4226
Shawn Graham ShawnDG12@aol.com (251) 928-5120
Jeanine Normand drjnormand@aol.com (251) 928-2284
Tony Pritchett apritchettassoc@gmail.com {251) 990-5185
Nicole Love nicolemrobinson@hotmail.com (407) 312-1362
Ben Frater ben.frater@gmail.com (404) 314-8815
Mike Shelton yaupon3@gmail.com (251) 990-2995
Jim Horner none (251) 928-9722
CITY CONTACTS:
Jimmy Conyers, City Council jimmy.conyers@fairhopeal.com
Kim Burmeister, Planning and Zoning Departmen t kim.burmeister@fairhopeal.com
Nancy Milford, Planning and Zoning Department Nancy.milford@fairhopeal.com
(251) 928-8003 City of Fairhope