Water and Sewer 6/15/26

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Water and Sewer Minutes 06-15-26 214 KB

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Town of Richmond

Meeting of Water and Sewer Commission

Minutes of June 15, 2026

Members Present: Erin Farr, Bard Hill, Greg Rabideau (arrived at 6:05 PM), David Sander, Morgan Wolaver

Members Absent:  None
 

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

 

Others Present: The meeting was recorded for MMCTV Erin Wagg, Michael Miller

MMCTV Video:  https://youtu.be/vgxz1ox-dA4?si=e2rxiEK0JBAggm2f 

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 June 1, 2026.  Hill seconded. 

Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Rabideau absent.  Motion approved.

Sander moved to approve the minutes of June 8, 2026.  Hill seconded. 

Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Rabideau absent.  Motion approved.

Purchase Orders:

Sander moved to approve purchase order number 5598 to Hoyle Tanner for Step 2 Design and Engineering for the 20 year study in the amount of $869,844.00.  Hill seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Rabideau absent.  Motion approved.

Sander moved to approve purchase order number 5600 to Munson for the Tilden Ave., Bridge St., and Cochran Rd., waterline replacement project in the amount of $1,418,840.00.  Hill seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Rabideau absent.  Motion approved.

Warrants: 

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

Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Rabideau absent.  Motion approved.

Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present

Discussion of June 17, 2026 deadline to submit applications to be considered for appointment to the two seats on the Water and Sewer Commission that are reserved for customers of the water and/or wastewater system
Timestamp: 0:05

Arneson reviewed that he received emails from Farr and Wolaver expressing interest in being re-appointed.  He also received another application from a customer of the system.  There are three applications for two open seats.  At the July 6 meeting, the Commission will discuss the applicants and make a recommendation to the Selectboard.  The Selectboard will make appointments at the July 20 meeting.


Update on Tilden Ave., Bridge St., and Cochran Rd. Waterline Replacement Project
Timestamp: 0:06

Cote summarized the boil water notice on Tilden Ave.  The contractors are past the Baker intersection so laying pipes will be much faster with a dig box and anticipate being done by Thursday.  They still have to cross the swale and the path to Jericho Rd.  Cote stated that the contractors brought in a second crew for Cochran Rd.  They hit a sewer service on the third section of pipe.  There are no record drawings of the sewer services on the end of Cochran Rd.  Cote confirmed that they are detailing the depths and GPS and physically photographing every piece of pipe and joint.  Wolaver stated that they are doing a great job with safety.  Cote stated that they will put in a skim coat over the test pit that was dug on Bridge St because it gets washed out all the time.  


Review of May water data
Timestamp: 0:17
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/06/4c_Monthly_Water_Report_May_2026.pdf 

Farr stated that the data looks good and she loves the charts.  Cote stated that a couple days in June it got messed up.


Discussion of Wastewater data reporting
Timestamp: 0:18
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/06/4d_May_2026_WR43_pdf.pdf

Cote wondered if the Commission wanted to know more about the wastewater data that is reported to the State.  Cote illustrated the spreadsheet for the State.  Hill suggested that at another meeting, Cote could run through the metrics in each column.  Cote stated that it is the effluent that is discharged into the Winooski River that the State sets parameters on.  Farr stated that it would be good information for them to know when they have discussions with the community when asking them to vote for the new wastewater treatment plant.    


Follow up on funding alternatives for the wastewater treatment facility 20-year upgrade
Timestamp: 0:23
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/06/4e1_User_Rate_Alt_1_-_Base_Model.xlsx

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/06/4e2_User_Rate_Alt_2_-_No_LOT.xlsx 

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/06/4e3_User_Rate_Alt_3_-_No_LOT_Add_Tax_Share.xlsx 

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/06/4e4_User_Rate_Alt_4_-_Add_Tax_Share.xlsx 

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/06/4e5_User_Rate_Alt_5_-_Add_Tax_Share_No_Loan_Suppression.xlsx 

Arneson reviewed the previous discussions where Hoyle Tanner provided some alternatives.  Arneson presented the spreadsheet data of the funding alternatives.

Arneson confirmed that 50% of a Local Options Tax (LOT) would be allocated to sewer and the other 50% would be allocated based on the Selectboards discretion.  The LOT revenue is estimated at $332,000 per year.  Arneson confirmed that they would have to go through a Town vote to approve the 1% LOT so it could fail.  Farr observed that for a Residential user, it is ~$300 per year average if they do not have a LOT.  Hill observed that as water/sewer get more expensive, it creates incentive for people to use less.  Arneson stated that would create higher metered rates.  Arneson confirmed that the residents could vote on the LOT on the November ballot so the bond could be voted on at Town Meeting Day in March.  Arneson stated he would reach out to Hoyle Tanner, VLCT and other towns for information regarding the LOT for the July 6 meeting.  Hill stated that the LOT impacts a finite number of businesses in Richmond so that informs their outreach and engagement along with the voters.  Arneson stated he will email business owners about the July 6 agenda and suggested a 5 PM start.  Arneson stated that he will invite the other 2 Selectboard members as well but the Selectboard will need an actual follow-up meeting based on the Commission’s recommendation (potentially on July 20).  Arneson estimated that if a bond vote is successful in March then the bond payback would probably start in FY29.  Farr stated that they probably would not use the alternative with the LOT and taxpayer burden sharing.  Wolver stated that he is concerned about the amount of revenue that the LOT is going to generate because Hutchinson and Caterpillar do not sell much in Town.  Cote confirmed that 30,000 gallons of septage per day for five business days is well within the plant’s realm.   


Superintendent’s report
Timestamp: 0:53

Cote stated that they did a bunch of work on the wastewater plant and are working on bringin the dissolved oxygen back into the parameters.  Cote described the Rural Water procedures for setting their mixed liquor which is dissolved solids in the aeration tank.  It will give them a better handle on how to run the plant in the future.  


Discuss Items for Next Agenda:
-New system for mixed liquor
-Local Option Tax
-Wastewater number review


Adjournment

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

Meeting adjourned at: 6:57 PM 

Chat file from Zoom:  None