Water and Sewer 10/5/26

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Water and Sewer Minutes 10-05-26 171 KB

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Town of Richmond

Meeting of Water and Sewer Commission

Minutes of October 5, 2026

Members Present: Bard Hill, Merrick Gillies, David Sander, Morgan Wolaver

Members Absent: Greg Rabideau
 

Staff Present: Josh Arneson, Town Manager; Duncan Wardwell, Deputy Town Manager; Steve Cote, Water Resources Superintendent

 

Others Present: Recorded by MMCTV Erin Wagg, Michael Miller

MMCTV Video:  https://youtu.be/HfN1bWncH68?si=QJggcRagsaVqloJd 

Call to Order: 6:00 PM

Welcome: Wolaver

Public Comment: None

Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: None

Approval of Minutes, Warrants and Purchase Orders

Minutes:

Sander moved to approve the minutes of September 21, 2026.  Hill seconded. 

Roll Call Vote: Hill, Gillies, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Motion approved.

Purchase Orders:

Sander moved to approve purchase order number 5547 to the Vermont Bond Bank for the payment on the loan for the Jericho Rd. project in the amount of $52,985.74 payable from the water and sewer department.  Hill seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Gillies, Sander, Wolaver in favor.  Motion approved.

Warrants: 

Hill moved to approve the Warrants as presented.  Gillies seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Hill, Gillies, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Motion approved.

Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present

 

Consideration of recommending that the Selectboard accept a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan for planning and engineering for the 20 year study for the Wastewater Treatment Facility
Timestamp: 0:04
4a RF1-362-2.0 Richmond WWTF Loan Agreement Signed by VBB

Arneson stated that this is an application that the Commission recommended the Selectboard put in back in June for the preliminary and final design engineering.  Arneson stated he would confirm if the loan specifics were under the State allocation fee curve. 

Sander moved to ask the Selectboard to accept the CWSRF Step 2 loan for the preliminary and final design for the Wastewater Treatment Facility 20 year study.  Hill seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Gillies, Sander, Wolaver in favor.  Motion approved.

Follow up on the Wastewater Treatment Facility Tour being held on Saturday, November 7, 2026 as part of the public outreach for the upcoming bond vote for renovations to the facility
Timestamp: 0:12

 

Cote stated that Hoyle-Tanner asked to change the tour to November 7.  Arneson summarized that they would have time to do a direct mailing to the whole Town for the October 17 proposed tour.  Arneson stated that he will follow up on the website and mail materials for the next meeting.  Gillies observed the next meeting is the last scheduled meeting before the tour.  Hill requested an outreach plan that provides what they are going to do and when.  Cote summarized that they have already given two really good tours. Arneson confirmed that the tour would take place at 10 AM on November 7.


Update on Tilden Ave., Bridge St., and Cochran Rd. Waterline Replacement Project
Timestamp: 0:17

 

Cote stated that the last connection was made today. The engineer will do a final walkthrough on Tilden to create a list of things to do.  They will make sure they check twice that all the valves work, all the curb stops work, the hydrants are right and everything’s good.  Cote stated that he would knock on doors to ask if everything was done to the person’s satisfaction.  The Bridge St sidewalk was finished today and will pave in front of them. On Cochran Rd, they have done a lot of topsoiling and getting ready to wrap up.  There is still an 8-inch main that comes up Bridge St and feeds into Huntington Rd.  That valve will not be disconnected until the Huntington Rd project is complete.  The Huntington Rd project is starting this week. Cote stated that he notified the businesses that all the traffic would be diverted around Farr Rd circle. Thompson Rd will be closed when they dig the first section of the pipe.  The contractor estimates laying about 150 feet a day with a total of 600 feet. Cote stated that today’s boil water notice should be the last for this construction project.  

Cote stated that he was not able to keep up with State asset management for the water system, but he plans to work on it this winter.  Cote summarized that he could take the data points from the engineer to make sure the curb stops are pinpoint accurate on the map.  Gillies stated that he did a bunch of those for other municipalities so he could talk through the most valuable parts.  Cote illustrated that the water system really needs to have a clear asset management plan and actual water audit.  Cote stated that he feels that they are producing more water than what they are getting paid for, so they need to find out where it is going. Gillies estimated that most Vermont municipalities have about 8-10% lost water.  


Superintendent’s report
Timestamp: 0:41

Cote stated that during the October routine testing, they got a total coliform hit from Papa McKee’s and are hoping it was just a fluke.  They had to take a service sample above and below the affected place plus a raw water sample.  Cote does not think it is construction related but something might have been stirred up. The chlorine is higher than ever here in Richmond.  

The Wastewater treatment plan has been having a problem getting high water alarms.  Cote stated that he wants to change the filter clothes.  Cote stated that in the fall they draw down the clarifier to clean it.  

Cote stated that they took 40,000 gallons of septage today and have been averaging ~30,000 gallons for the last couple of months.    

 

Review of September water data

Timestamp: 0:50
4e Richmond Water Report September 2026

Cote stated that one day they had an issue with the pump, but they were able to bring the chlorine right back up.  The chlorine is a little bit higher, with the construction going on it is a safety net.  


Discuss Items for Next Agenda: 
-Website and flyer updates

-Pump Station location
-Selectboard LOT decision


 

Adjournment

Sander moved to adjourn.  Hill seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Gillies, Sander, Wolaver in favor.  Motion approved.

Meeting adjourned at: 6:53 PM

Chat file from Zoom:  None