Volume 22 - Issue 11 - June 2021

Board of Directors Meeting Summary

The following action items passed by majority vote during the regular meeting of the Sanitation District No. 1 Board of Directors held Tuesday, May 18.

Master Service Agreement -
Facilities and Collection Systems Engineering Planning Services
A Master Service Agreement (MSA) for these services was awarded to 20 separate engineering firms for as-needed services that include technical support for planning projects associated with implementing SD1’s Watershed Plan, SD1’s Mitigation Banking efforts and Northern Kentucky’s Regional Storm Water Management Program. Those engineering firms awarded a one-year contract with an option to renew include Mason Carr Civil Engineering, Jones Warner Consultants, Stantec Consulting Services, Wade Trim Ohio, Viox & Viox, DLZ Kentucky, Fishbeck, Hazen and Sawyer, CT Consultants, Dante T. Zettler, Sustainable Streams, Black & Veatch, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Aracadis – Cincinnati, Inflo Design Group, Strand Associates, AECOM Technical Services, Brown and Caldwell Cincinnati, Jacobs Ohio and Tetra Tech – Cincinnati.

SD1’s approach to procuring professional services required for various services is based on the establishment of master service agreement (MSA) contracts. Tasks associated with certain services can be grouped into categories.

Through the competitive bidding process a group of qualified firms are identified. A Master Services Agreement of standard terms and conditions are then entered into with each of the firms to establish a pool of as needed bidders for individual tasks. This allows SD1 to establish with successful bidders the standard terms and conditions upfront thereby expediting services and increasing efficiency in the process.

SD1 Goals Advanced: Financial Viability, Environmental Stewardship,
Operational Efficiency and Resiliency, Optimal Infrastructure Management

Blasting and Coating of Clarifiers – Wastewater Treatment
The SD1 Board awarded a contract to Mohon Blasting and Coating LLC in an amount of $92,400 for the blast-cleaning, inspection and coating of two degraded clarifiers at the Western Regional Water Reclamation Facility.

The facility treats an average flow of 10 million gallons per day and depends on the optimal operation of process equipment, including clarifiers. The performance of these clarifiers has a significant effect on the water quality, the biological treatment system and the solids-handling facilities. Following a scheduled preventative maintenance exercise, two clarifiers were identified as in need of repair.

SD1 Goals Advanced: Financial Viability, Operational Efficiency & Resiliency,
Optimal Infrastructure Management, Workforce Dedication

Fitzgerald and Forest Ave. Storm and Sanitary Improvements
Design and Construction Administrative
The SD1 Board awarded a contract to Palmer Engineering of Ft. Mitchell for engineering services to design and provide construction administration in an amount not to exceed $116,435 for the Fitzgerald and Forest Avenue project.

The ultimate goals of the project are to address flooding in the neighborhood and eliminate sanitary sewer overflows (SSO) for the typical year per the Updated Watershed Plan.

SD1 Goals Advanced: Customer Satisfaction, Stakeholder Support, Financial Viability,
Environmental Stewardship, Optimal Infrastructure Management

Outside Legal Services Contracts
The SD1 Board authorized the award of legal services agreements to the following firms at the rate-schedule submitted with each proposal for a five-year period. Adams Law; Barron Peck Bennie & Schemmer; Dressman, Benziger & Lavelle; Dinsmore & Shohl; and Santen & Hughes.

SD1 uses outside counsel from multiple law firms who are highly qualified and experienced in specific areas when necessary, in order to provide service in all areas of law and without conflicts of interest.

SD1 Goals Advanced: Financial Viability, Operational Efficiency

Willow Run Watershed Detention Basin Retrofit Project
The SD1 Board awarded a contract to Gresham Smith in the amount of $184,485 for engineering design and construction administration to retrofit 10 existing detention basins in the 717-acre Willow Run Watershed with enhanced volume control devices that will reduce combined sewer overflows (CSO).

The project is estimated to cost $0.01 per gallon of CSO reduction, making it the most economical project in the Updated Watershed Plan (UWP). Additionally, it will be the single most impactful combined sewer overflow removal project in the first 10 years of the UWP. It will allow SD1 to capture 3.2% of total combined flow and represents the largest contribution to the Clean H2O40 amended consent decree’s milestone of 75% capture by 2029.

SD1 Goals Advanced: Financial Viability, Environmental Stewardship,
Optimal Infrastructure Management

Storm Water Public Cost-Share
Five new requests were approved by the SD1 Board, including two requests from Campbell County (Rockyview Drive and Schweitzer Court), a request from the City of Lakeside Park (Paul Hesser Drive), a request from the City of Erlanger (Shadyside Drive) and a request from the City of Melbourne (Rainbow Court). Various storm water control measures will be implemented in each of the locations to control flooding and drainage issues.

The SD1 Public Cost-Share Program provides financial assistance to co-permittees for the installation of new storm water infrastructure that addresses drainage issues associated with a dedicated and accepted right-of-way, impacting a right-of-way or caused by or related to public infrastructure drainage. Upon satisfactory completion of the project, SD1 assumes ownership of the new infrastructure and reimburses the co-permittee a percentage of the project cost. Currently, the SD1 reimbursement percentage is set at 50% of the cost.

SD1 Goals Advanced: Operational Efficiency & Resiliency,
Optimal Infrastructure Management

Dry Creek Centrifuge Rebuild – Wastewater Treatment
The SD1 Board approved the completion of repair work on the Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant A centrifuge by Flottweg Separation Technology, Inc., in the amount of $56,812.75.

The Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (Dry Creek) has several different treatment processes. The process in which solids are handled and removed from the waste stream is extremely vital to the overall treatment plant operation. The heart of solids handling is the centrifuges. Ensuring this equipment has routine preventative maintenance is key to optimal efficiencies.

SD1 Goals Advanced: Financial Viability, Operational Efficiency & Resiliency,
Optimal Infrastructure Management

Solo Camera Program – Collection Systems
The SD1 Board approved the purchase of one Solo Camera Robot from RedZone Robotics, Inc., in the amount of $65,595.

The purchase of the Solo Robotic camera will allow for more efficient production days, thus increasing SD1’s level of service provided to the ratepayers of Northern Kentucky. The incorporation of more Solo cameras into our inventory of video inspection equipment will provide opportunities for the attrition of higher-cost CCTV equipment and/or a reduction in the amount of contract video inspection.

SD1 Goals Advanced: Operational Efficiency & Resiliency

Lakeview Force Main Realignment – Change Order
The SD1 Board approved a change order for additional work that includes upsizing the force main under Buttermilk Pike in an amount not to exceed $190,000. The project will extend new 36-inch pipe, which will provide increased capacity at Lakeview Pump Station as well as reduce risk of future failure.

Extending the upsizing of the force main under the road now will eliminate the need to rework the connection of the pipe during a future replacement project. Because SD1 already has an active project in process, it will be most efficient both logistically and fiscally to coordinate and execute this project at current material and labor costs while already on site.

SD1 Goals Advanced: Financial Viability, Operational Efficiency & Resiliency,
Optimal Infrastructure Management

List of Potential Property Acquisitions
The SD1 Board authorized SD1 staff to pursue either purchase of property easements or engage in the condemnation process on select parcels that are anticipated but not confirmed to be necessary for construction of future capital improvement projects.

SD1 Goals Advanced: Financial Viability, Environmental Stewardship,
Optimal Infrastructure Management

Fiscal Year 2022 Operation and Maintenance and Capital Budget
The SD1 Board approved the proposed fiscal year 2022 budget and authorized SD1 to submit it to the Boone, Campbell and Kenton county Judges Executive for their approval at their annual meeting scheduled for May 21, 2021, at 3 p.m.

SD1 Goals Advanced: Financial Viability, Operational Efficiency & Resiliency,
Optimal Infrastructure Management

Details about the SD1 Strategic Business Plan are available at: https://www.sd1.org/223/Strategic-Business-Plan.

Main Office Second Floor Carpet Replacement

Carpet replacement will begin in select areas of the Main Office second floor on the evening of Monday, June 14. This work will go on for a few weeks and Facilities will communicate with affected users prior to their individual areas being replaced. Work will generally start after 4:30 p.m. each day and the work areas should be usable again by the start of the next day’s shift. On the day(s) that your area is scheduled, you will need to finish work and vacate the area preferably by 4:30 p.m. but no later than 5 p.m.

In preparation, affected workers may either need to vacate their office or prepare their cubicle for the work. If you are in a 2nd floor office, Facilities and IT staff will move your furniture and computer prior to your scheduled date. If you are in a cubicle, you will need to remove all personal items from the floor and place them on your desktop or in totes or boxes. Facilities and IT will take care of moving the computer, file cabinets and other furniture. Facilities will provide boxes or plastic tubs for your personal belongings that you store beneath your desk. You will also need to label your boxes and chair so that they can be returned to you.

Regardless of whether you are in an office or a cubicle, Facilities will communicate with you prior to your scheduled date. You will not need to do anything to your work area until Facilities schedules your area to be done. These details will be communicated more frequently to second floor employees via regular emails, so please be on the lookout for those. For those of you in cubicles, the plan is to jack them up, replace the carpet beneath them, and then lower them back into place.

While this work is going on, Conference Room 2B will be taken off-line for the duration of the project because its carpet does get replaced and it will also be used as a staging area for the work. Conference Room 2B is scheduled to be inaccessible through the end of June.

In general, areas that will have carpet replaced include the office of Adam Chaney and Brian Ellerman as well as Tom Wiechman's old office; Conference Room 2B; and much of the cubicle areas and hallways.

Some areas on the second floor will not be affected either because the carpet has previously been replaced or is still in good shape and not scheduled for replacement at this time. These areas include Conference Room 2A, and the following offices: Debbie Vinson, Chris Cole, Ron Schmitt, Todd Denham, Brandy Miller, Janeen Rutherford, Jim Gibson, and the vacant HR office across from Janeen. You may continue to schedule and use Conference Room 2A as normal during this project.

If you have specific questions or concerns, please communicate through the Facilities Help Desk via https://gis.sd1.org/LucityCustomCitizen/mainpage.html so that everyone is in the loop.

Thank you for your patience and assistance!

Public Service Park Tours Available for SD1 Staff in June and September

Any SD1 staff interested in learning more about the Public Service Park is welcome to sign up to take a tour of the facility on June 23 or September 16 from 10-11:30 a.m.

Craig Frye will also give a brief Storm Water 101 presentation highlighting several of the BMPs in the park, including vegetated roof, biofiltration swale, permeable pavers, wetland, and a retention pond.

Tours will begin in the Board Room. If you are interested, email Lora Bonno to register at lbonno@SD1.org.

Safety Article: National Safety Month

Since we focus a lot on work safety, I thought we would look at some home safety tips. According to the Home Safety Counsel, home injuries cause nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits each year in the United States. Below are the Top Ten Home Safety Tips:

Prevent Falls

Install grab bars in the tub and shower. Use non-slip mats.
Have bright lights, over stairs and steps and on landings. Replace lights when they burn out. Keep stairs clear of clutter.
Secure rugs to avoid slipping and pooling of water on slick surface

Prevent Poisonings

Keep cleaners, medications and beauty products in a place where children can’t reach them. Use child safety locks on doors.
For Poison Help, call 1-800-222-1222. Call if you need help or want information about poisons. Call 9-1-1 if someone needs to go to the hospital right away.

Prevent Fires & Burns

Have working smoke alarms and hold fire drills. If you build a new home, install fire sprinklers.
Stay by the stove when cooking, especially when you are frying food.
Keep your hot water at 120 degrees to prevent burns. Use back burners and turn pot handles toward the back of your stove. Use a travel mug when you drink something hot.
Never leave candles unattended.
Make sure that all appliances are in good working order and that no wires are frayed.
Don’t overload electrical outlets – in fact, it’s a good idea to unplug small appliances like toasters when not in use

Prevent Chocking & Suffocation

Things that can fit through a toilet paper tube can cause a young child to choke. Keep coins, latex balloons and hard round foods, such as peanuts and hard candy where children cannot see or touch them.
Place babies to sleep on their backs, alone in their crib. Don’t put pillows, blankets, comforters or toys in cribs. These things can sometimes keep a baby from breathing.
When your children are in or near water, watch them very carefully. Stay close enough to reach out and touch them. This includes bathtubs, toilets, pools and spas – even buckets of water.

Playground Safety

Children should always be supervised on the playground.
Check for objects (like hardware, s-shaped hooks, bolts, and sharp or unfinished edges) that stick out on equipment and could cut a child or cause clothing to become entangled.
All hardware on equipment should be secure, with no loose or broken parts
Plastic and wood should show no signs of weakening, and there should not be any splintered or rusted surfaces

*information obtained from that National Safety Council of America and Home Safety Counsel

Safety Puzzle

The monthly Safety Puzzle is now available on the intranet under the Safety tab. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Bradford.

Work is coming along quickly on our Clean H2O40 Highland Heights Equalization Tank and Pump Station project. This tank will combine with a similar tank just down Route 8 in Silver Grove to hold about 3 million gallons of excess flow during wet weather events, helping to eliminate about 21 million gallons of typical-year sanitary sewer overflows.

Comings, Goings and Anniversaries

May Arrivals

Wayne Herolaga, Collection Systems
Ben Ricketts, Dry Creek Operations & Maintenance
Sean Sohi, Dry Creek Operations & Maintenance
Michelle Hahn, Legal
Roger "Dalton" Meece, Dry Creek Operations & Maintenance
Gary Lowe, Collection Systems
Jeremy Adams, Facilities Fleet
Brandon Toole, Facilities Fleet
Nicholas Smedley, Engineering Operations

May Departures

Mario Sebastiani
Joe Buerkley

June Birthdays

6/2 - Brian Hudson, Finance
6/3 - Nicholas Shay, Small Plants
6/3 - Zach Martin, Technical Services
6/4 - Elizabeth Fet, Storm Water - Water Resources
6/4 - Rick Wessels, Board of Directors
6/7 - Carey McLaughlin, Development Services
6/9 - Robert Schroeder, Engineering
6/10 - Donna Biddle, Design & Construction Management
6/10 - Gregory Hedlund, Collection Systems
6/12 - Amberly Riegler, HR/Safety
6/12 - Kyle Maggard, Collection Systems
6/13 - Michael O'Bryan, Design & Construction Management
6/14 - Sarah Griffith, Dry Creek Operations & Maintenance
6/15 - Chad Kelley, Collection Systems
6/20 - Steven Osterhage, Asset Management
6/20 - Timothy Friedhof, Collection Systems
6/20 - William Wulfeck, Asset Management
6/22 - Loren Boggs, IT
6/24 - Mitchell Harthun, Dry Creek Operations & Maintenance
6/25 - Craig Frye, Storm Water - Water Resources
6/26 - Mariah Ahlert, IT

June Employment Anniversaries

Mike Madden - 25 years
Greg Braunwart - 25 years
Ashley Bode - 20 years
Donna Biddle - 18 years
Michael Vice Sr. - 18 years
Clinton Anders - 18 years
Jeff Verdin - 15 years
Matthew Wooten - 15 years
Mindy Scott - 15 years
Alex Woods - 12 years
Ronda Steffen - 12 years
Philip Sebastian - 11 years
Elizabeth Fet - 9 years
Angela Cook - 9 years
William Wulfeck - 7 years
Melissa Bradford - 7 years
Robert Horine III - 6 years
Brian Ellerman - 6 years
Nicholas Shay - 5 years
Daniel Fletcher - 3 years
Sonny Delgado - 3 years
Jacob Lewis - 2 years
Jerry Elliott - 2 years

Staff birthdays are also available in the daily calendar on The Pipeline.