THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2008

REGULAR MEETING

7:30 P.M.

1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Wisniewski called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M., with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Wisniewski and Mr. Sauer present. No members were absent. Others present were: Tim Hansley, Lynda Yartin, Ed Drobina, Lance Schultz, Brenda VanCleave, Jerry Dailey, Nick LaTorre, Jennifer Sollers, and others.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF July 17, 2008, Regular Meeting. Mr. Sauer moved to approve; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sauer, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mrs. Hammond voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

3. COMMUNITY COMMENTS:

A. Jennifer Sollers. Ms Sollers stated she lives on Leasure Drive and she was present this evening to get an update on the flooding issues that occurred in her neighborhood from the sanitary line. Mr. Drobina stated since the flooding he and Ms VanCleave have looked at several sewers in that area. He stated yesterday they had installed dishes or inserts on the manhole lids in that area as well as other areas that could be impacted if the stream rises. He further a contractor was to start next Wednesday to video the sewer from there all the way up to the Windmiller subdivision. Mr. Drobina stated the 14-inch force main is finished and parts are on order to tie the lift station into that, and they should be in next week or the week after that. Ms Sollers asked if the city had discovered the cause as yet because sanitary sewers should not take on water, and they just want to make sure it does not happen again. Mr. Drobina stated with the investigation he has done in that area, there were several manholes that were under water because the stream was so high. Mr. Wisniewski clarified the street was flooded, but it was not from the creek. Mr. Drobina stated that was correct, the water somehow came from Long Road in behind some homes, through the one cul de sac, and the on to Ms Sollers street. He stated the manholes are out along the street, and they were covered with water. Mr. Drobina further stated the water was flowing into the manholes, which in turn would overpower the lift station because it could not pump enough water out, which in turn would back up the system. Mr. Drobina stated if we do not find anything when we get the lines videoed, then what we could do for next year is have a company come in and go through the lines and test each joint, however, that is quite expensive. Mr. Wisniewski clarified that there was flooding in the streets in Windmiller as well as in Longview Acres, and Mr. Drobina stated he thought there were several things that caused the backup. He stated manholes all the way up the street were covered with water and if each one let in water, it would flood the system. He stated by putting the dishes in that should prevent the water from getting in those manholes. Mr. Drobina stated once the lines are videoed, he will make the film available for the residents to see.

4. DEVELOPMENT:

A. Development Director’s Report. Mr. Hansley stated he had distributed his report and he would answer any questions. He stated the assisted living facility is beginning site work and the hotel will hopefully break ground next month, and Strike City will hopefully be submitting plans in the next few weeks for foundations permits. Mr. Schultz stated the Planning and Zoning Commission approved the 204 Anchor Business Park, which will be a strip retail center, a gas station, and likely a restaurant/pub. He stated one of the requirements is that they have to provide a traffic impact study for that and last Wednesday Ms VanCleave and Ms Frommer met with ODOT and they are doing some changes to the access out there. He stated they are going to put in quick curb; as you exit southbound on 70 they are going to extend that so it will be very difficult to weave onto southbound S.R.256 and make a left on S.R. 204. He stated they are trying to persuade people to use the Taylor Road exit to alleviate the traffic at the 256 exit. Mr. Wisniewski inquired when this would occur, and Mr. Schultz stated it should be before this Committee for approval next month. Mr. Hansley stated the city staff, staff engineer, city engineer, and ODOT all agree this is the best solution out of the three or four options in that area. Mr. Sauer stated after reviewing this at the Planning and Zoning Commission he did feel for safety reasons this is a good solution.

5. PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT:

A. Planning and Zoning Director’s Report. Mr. Schultz he had provided a written report to the Committee and he would answer any questions. Mr. Sauer clarified that dirt has been put into the hole at the Exxon site, and Mr. Schultz stated that was correct. Mr. Hansley stated filling in that hole was also dictated by the Nuisance Abatement Board.

(1) Planning and Zoning Representative Report. Mr. Sauer stated the major topic at the Planning and Zoning Commission was just discussed and he had nothing further to add.

B. ACTION ITEMS:

(1) Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance deleting Chapters 1254.02 and 1254.03 of the Pickerington Codified Ordinances. Mr. Schultz stated this will essentially reduce the platting time for residential and commercial subdivisions by one month and is a step in expediting our development process. Mr. Wisniewski clarified this has been reviewed by our law director as well. Mr. Sauer moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mrs. Hammond, and Mr. Sauer voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

(2) Review and request for motion to schedule a public hearing before Council regarding deleting Chapters 1254.02 and 1254.03 of the Pickerington Codified Ordinances for Tuesday, September 16, 2008, at 7:20 P.M. Mr. Wisniewski moved to schedule the public hearing for Tuesday, September 16, 2008, at 7:20 P.M.; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sauer, Mrs. Hammond, and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

6. SERVICE DEPARTMENT

A. REPORTS:

(1) Service Manager’s Report. Mr. Drobina stated he had provided a written report and he would be happy to answer any questions. Mr. Drobina stated with regard to the total dissolved solids, the study has been completed and a copy sent to Council. He stated the two recommendations were to do a dilution well at the wastewater plant or to put in a reverse osmosis treatment system at the water plant. Mr. Drobina stated he felt the best way to go was to change our treatment to a reverse osmosis, and we would get a better quality of water with this treatment than with our current ion exchange softening. He stated this would also provide a constant water quality. Mr. Drobina stated we are at the point where we need to go out for design on whichever way we decide to go. Mr. Drobina stated the rough figure for reverse osmosis was $1.7 million and Ms VanCleave stated we could probably get some money back by selling the softeners we currently have in place, and also with reverse osmosis we will no longer have to buy salt every year for our softeners. He further stated the estimate for the installation of the dilution well is approximately $200,000 plus any treatment equipment we would need. Ms VanCleave stated there are concerns that a well at the wastewater plant will not pump the amount of water we need, and may have an effect on other wells in the area. Mr. Drobina stated while the dilution well may be less expensive to install, you will have to pump more water to dilute the water and if the EPA requires us to remove the iron and manganese in the dilution water, we will be treating water we are just going to pump into the stream. He stated he felt that over time the operational cost of the dilution well will exceed the cost of going to reverse osmosis where we can get a better quality of water for our residents anyway. Mr. Wisniewski ascertained that we currently spend $196,000 per year for salt. Mr. Wisniewski further clarified that the $1.7 million figure for the reverse osmosis system included the engineering, installation, permitting, and a ten percent contingency. Mr. Drobina stated with the reverse osmosis system he felt we would save approximately $62,000 per year in operational costs. Mr. Drobina stated he would like to look at the budget to see how much we bring in to see if we would actually need to raise the rates $.90 per month to cover the cost of this. He stated he was requesting approval to go out for RFQs on the reverse osmosis system to see what we would get back. Mr. Wisniewski stated he did not have a problem with that, but he still had more questions, as he wanted to understand the other option that was available as well. Mr. Wisniewski moved to authorize the Service Manager to go out for RFQs for the reverse osmosis system; Mr. Sauer seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Sauer, and Mrs. Hammond voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

Mr. Drobina stated further he had attached to his report more information on the basement floodings on Rambling Brook we had in March. Mr. Wisniewski ascertained the cause of the flooding was the heavy rains we had in March. Mr. Hansley stated based on case law in Ohio, and probably the law director’s legal opinion, that in absence of any negligence or faulty design the city is not legally liable. He stated in the past you may have looked at a moral obligation as opposed to a legal obligation or perhaps, as in the case of Cherry Hill, there could have been an equipment failure that could have been anticipated. He continued in the absence of us not responding properly, if there was evidence we had not responded on the first call and taken the proper action, we are not legally liable. He stated you could review these claims and pay them as a moral obligation, but he would state we are not legally liable to do that. Mr. Drobina stated we also have the contractor lined up to video that sewer line along the stream from Stonebridge to the wastewater plant. Mrs. Hammond stated she felt we should determine if there is a problem before we pay these, and Mr. Wisniewski stated he agreed if there was a problem with something we have done he would be much more willing to address this.

Mr. Drobina stated the culvert for Meadows Boulevard is scheduled to be delivered next week and we have a contractor lined up to install it.

(2) Staff Engineer’s Report. Ms VanCleave stated she had provided a written report and she would be happy to answer any questions. Mr. Wisniewski stated with regard to the resident’s request for turn lanes on Cherry Hill Drive to Diley Road, a large amount of busses travel through that subdivision and turn lanes there would create a safety problem with the line of sight. Mr. Sauer stated he agreed with Mr. Wisniewski after reviewing this issue.

B. ACTION ITEMS: NONE.

7. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT CAPITAL PROJECTS.

A. WASTEWATER

(1) Wastewater Plant Expansion – Update. Mr. Dailey stated the contract is on Council for a second reading at the next meeting. He stated the loan will be considered on the last Thursday in September.

B. TRANSPORTATION:

(1) Diley Road Improvements Project – Update. Mr. Dailey stated utilities are being completed and the work is proceeding. Mr. Drobina stated everything is connected to the new 12-inch water line. He stated today ODOT closed the accesses to Georges Creek, Sheffield, and Fox Glen. He stated temporary accesses have been provided for these subdivisions and this was done for safety reasons, as people were not able to see due to the concrete barriers. Mr. Hansley stated this should also expedite the project and the new pavement should be able to be used this winter. Mrs. Hammond clarified that the streetlights on Diley Road will be at the intersections only and will essentially be the same as the ones that are on the south part of Diley.

C. WATER: No Report.

D. STORMWATER. No Report.

8. CHAIRMAN. Mr. Wisniewski stated he had nothing to report this evening.

9. OTHER BUSINESS: No other business was brought forward.

10. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mrs. Hammond moved to adjourn; Mr. Sauer seconded the motion. Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Sauer voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 3-0. The Service Committee adjourned at 8:30 P.M., August 14, 2008.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk