12/03/2018-CC-Minutes-Work SessionCITY OF SANGER, TEXAS
MINUTES: CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
December 3, 2018– 6:00 PM
502 Elm Street, Sanger, Texas
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Thomas Muir, Mayor Pro Tem Bilyeu; Councilman Bill
Boutwell, Councilman Lee Allison, Councilman Allen Chick Councilman David Clark;
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
The Mayor and all Council Members were present constituting a quorum.
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: City Manager Alina Ciocan; Public Works Director Neal Welch; City
Secretary Cheryl Price.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Muir called the Work Session to order at 6:00 PM on December 3, 2018.
2. Update from Alan Plummer and Associates on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement
Project.
City Manager Alina Ciocan prefaced that when the Council approved to retain the services of Robert
Macias to assist staff with start-up assistance at the plant, Councilman Clark and Mayor Pro Tem
Bilyeu asked for a future update from Mr. Robert Macias. Mr. Macias is here tonight to give Council
an update on the progress.
Jeff Caffey, Alan Plummer and Associates provided various photos showing the construction
progress of the plant. He noted that there is an issue with the Peak Flow Storage Basin with
cracking in the concrete. He noted that there is a concern of cracking in the basin concrete and
provided photos noting the cracking in the construction joints. He noted in the basin under the
concrete, there is a geo-synthetic membrane (equivalent to about a three-feet of compacted clay layer)
which gives the basin permeability. This layer was done to meet TCEQ requirements. The concrete
was put in to make it easier to clean the basin. The contractor proposed they would give the City a
credit if they used shotcrete, so they agreed. They left the bottom of the basin and the north slope
(where they drive down into the basin) concrete. The three sides were done in the shotcrete. That is
where the cracking is occurring. He noted there are some vertical and horizontal cracks. They have
had the structural engineer look at it and his main concern is the concrete is cracking where it wants
to crack, it has been through a cold and heat cycle. The structural engineer has given the contractor a
method to repair the cracks by grouting out the top part of the cracks with a saw and applying
expansion material and making them expansion joints. The structural engineer’s main concern is that
the City does not have long term maintenance issues on having to keep repairing the cracks. Mr.
Caffey noted that they have asked the contractor for an extended warranty and is waiting for them to
provide it. If they take out the shotcrete, we would have to do the under liner too, so it would be very
expensive. The City did pay for a good solid concrete basin, so that is what it should get and they are
relying on their structural engineer to give us guidance on that. Right now, they are basically creating
expansion joints where the concrete is cracking. Councilman Allision asked if they have looked into
the cause of the cracks and that the repairs may not be as purposeful if we don’t know what the cause
is. Mr. Caffey noted that there are two things they think could be causing the issues. One being, a lot
of the cracks are lined up along the joints and they put water stops along the joints which is a 9-inch
piece of plastic that is tied to the reinforcing that prevents water from going through. It is their
opinion that the contractor may not have done a good job at keeping the water-stop in place when
pouring; and, that could be the cause of the cracks. Some of the other cracks are caused by the
expansion and compression of the shotcrete. There is a question of whether we got the best material,
even though it met the specifications. There was discussion regarding different scenarios on what is
causing the situation and how to fix it. City Manager Alina Ciocan noted that staff has requested that
the cracks are fixed according to instruction and specification by the structural engineer. Councilman
Allison asked about the current warranty. It was noted that the current warranty is valid for one year
after construction is complete. Councilman Boutwell asked at what point would they deem this an
inferior product. Mr. Caffey stated that he felt this is, at one point, already an inferior product, that
this is not what the City paid for. Mr. Caffey stated through questioning by Councilman Clark that It
was noted that the shotcrete was offered by the contractor and considered by the structural engineer
and the product should do better than what it is doing. Mayor Muir asked what the Contractor’s take
was on the issue. Mr. Caffey noted that they are talking about an extended warranty. Councilman
Boutwell voiced his concern that an extended warranty may not do us any good if cracks continue to
show up and the warranty expires, it could end up costing quite a bit of money. Mr. Caffey noted
that they are going to work at getting this issue taken care of, but if there are more cracks that show
up in the spring, at some point they have to say they can’t keep filling the cracks. Mr. Caffey
continued the presentation on the completed improvements to the wastewater treatment plant
explaining details of each improvement made to date. Discussion was brought up on the generator
and it was noted that it needed to be started and running for a while on a regular monthly schedule at
full power periodically on a schedule so it is ready if an outage occurs. Mr. Robert Macias was
recognized and noted that they would create a final document of all of the operation and maintenance
practices and it would include maintenance of the generator. Mr. Caffey advised that Mr. Macias is
on site to help with the startup of Plant 1 and the deactivation of the other plants. Plant 1 and Plant 2
are in operation. Plant 3 and Plant 4 are out of service. They are full of fluid and sludge and we have
a situation of what to do with that and how to empty those basins. This is another one of the big
issues we are faced with right now. He recognized Robert Macias to summarize. Mr. Macias noted
that what the City has is four individual units/plants. He summarized the details of the improvements
to Plant 1 in detail. He noted that the City would have more capacity and would be able to handle the
sudden increases in flow, such as a rain event (this was a problem with the old plant) which washes
out all of the solids and bugs that make the system work). He noted that Plant 1 is all aeration and is
about 250,000 gallons in that one tank. He noted that the bubbles are finer and work better, for
oxygen transfer efficiency. He noted that it was one if the hardest parts to get the plant operators to
understand that the plant does not need as much air as it used to because of the improvements mad e.
More is not better in this case. The aeration basin is working well and then there are two clarifiers.
The system is designed to run on just one clarifier, but they put both clarifiers online to have a safety
net. If we have a rain event, we would have less of a risk of solid wash out. He noted that the new
units are working beautifully. The plant is putting out clear water. It is activated and operating
properl y. Additional information was shared regarding how the clarifiers are designed to work, that it
is going to be the workhorse of the plant and will handle the high flows. Mr. Macias noted that the
plant is in compliance. The plant used to use chlorine for disinfection and it now uses UV light
disinfection. They explained some of the future additions that are going to be added. Jeff Caffey
noted that one of the issues that he has been working with Jim Bolz on with is to empty tanks 2 and 4.
The lowest price he has found it about 20 cents per gallon and there is about 700,000 gallons in the
two tanks combined so we are looking at about $140,000 to get the tanks emptied. The received a
second proposal for $500,000 to empty the tanks. Another option which they have spoken with Ben
Hodges of Upper Trinity is to protect Plant 1. The thought process is to go ahead and try emptying
the tank through Plant 1 and see if the Plant 1 process is strong enough not to be affected. They plan
on continuous thorough testing and running the sludge through the unit in a small rate and diluting it
with chemicals with Robert Macias’s assistance. If this would work, it would avoid the large cost to
the city. Mr. Caffey noted that if you ran the unit 24 hours for 8 days, that is how long it would take
to empty the two basins. They can do a four-hour test to see how it does. They could run it through at
four hours a day at a point where they could consistently monitor it. At 4 hours a day it would take
about 32 days to empty the tanks. Mr. Macias noted that four hours a day is small enough that it
should not make a difference. It may take about a week to see if this process will work. They would
watch it very closely and if it looked like there was any sign of problems, they would shut it down.
Mr. Macias advised that you will know right away if there is a problem. It will upset the process
almost immediately. City Manager Alina Ciocan asked if it does upset the process how do we get it
back on track. Mr. Macias stated that it would not be irreversible, that it would just be keeping an eye
on it and doing microscopic evaluation to make sure there is no filimentis bacteria which does not let
the sludge settle. Also, there is the unknowns as to what else is in there that we do not know. Mr.
Macias noted that they can also take samples out of the tank and send them to the lab to see what else
may be in the tanks. As soon as they see adverse effects, they can stop it immediately and it will be
reversible. City Manager Alina Ciocan asked if it takes 32 days will that affect the timeline of the
project. Mr. Caffey stated that ideally the contract is written so that at the end of phase 1 they can
move into phase 2. Plant 3 is the one they want to get into first and it would be about 16 days to drain
Plant 3. Plant 1 has not been accepted yet, so there is some flexibility and the timing would not be
too big of an issue. It was noted they could start this process as soon as we get tests back from the lab
to see what is in the tanks, which may be a few days. Mr. Macias has two more weeks on the contract
and he could come back before the tanks start draining to keep an eye on the process. It was noted
that Mr. Macias would be testing the water on site by microscope. There was some discussion with
Councilman Clark regarding how the system would work. Mr. Macias shared a water bottle with a
sample to the audience and Councilmembers and stated that it is so clear right now it looks like
drinking water. Council Mayor Muir noted the pros and cons in running it through the plant and the
cost of hauling it off and stated that the Council is leaning on the professionals to advise us and lead
us through this process with what is going to be best to keep the system in compliance.
Mayor Muir noted that he would like to take 30 seconds regarding the next step to the plant which is
the outfall. He asked if we really could not discharge that kind of water, that clear into the stream
system. Mr. Caffey stated that the issues are the permitting limits that the State would require the
City to have because of the lake. If the creek went around the lake then it would be possible to
discharge at the creek.
3. Overview of Items on Regular Agenda.
No Items.
4. Adjourn.
There being no further business, Mayor Muir adjourned the Work Session at 7:05 PM.