Ice Slicer
Last year we had a lot of issues clearing the city streets when the temperature dropped below 15 degrees. The city uses Magnesium Chloride (De-ice) during large snow events to help melt away ice and slush on streets. Mostly we use this product on intersections and on hills for better traction. This product works well when the temperature is in the +20 degree range but once temps drop below this the product becomes ineffective and can make streets more treacherous.
A few years back the city put in a grant for a sander combo that would spray De-ice and also could lay sand on the streets. Problem is we cannot use sand due to the air quality issues. Also this sander combo was designed for maintaining long stretches of roads, like state highways and county roads, not city streets. Another issue is that it is made to handle sand or salt sand and not a product like Ice-slicer.
I was in touch with the Gallatin County (Bozeman) road supervisor Dave Smith and they were looking for a sander combo. I mentioned to him that we had just what he was looking for but that we were in the market for a stainless steel sander that we could use for the Ice Slicer. Dave said he would look for one and we could do a trade. He found a sander that was exactly what Corky was looking for.
After getting all the necessary information put together, Gallatin County delivered the sander here on Sunday the 27th and picked up the combo sander. The Ice Slicer arrived the week before. I have included some information about the Ice Slicer in your packets.
Wastewater Treatment Plant
On Monday November 21, Kurt Shaw from Huber returned to finish up the last remaining issues with the new sludge press. He changed out the oil, in the motor for the conveyor to light synthetic oil and that seemed to take care of those issues. The polymer is a different story. As you know we were having issues with the polymer not working with the sludge in our new press.
This issue is still not resolved to our liking. We ordered a different type of polymer to try but the mixture was not working. The way it is set up we add dry polymer powder to a tank that holds 250 gallons of water. This is pumped into the line with the sludge to the press. One tank can take up to two days to run.
The technician from Huber started this process on Tuesday the 23rd and left on Wednesday evening the 24th and the polymer was still not working properly. He then asked Mike Voorhies to keep diluting the mixture. Mike called me and explained that this would be very difficult not knowing how much to add or take out of the mixture and felt that we then would be accepting responsibility on the final product.
I contacted Bill Buxton at M&M and explained our situation to him, the city not wanting the responsibility of the press not performing to the specifications that were laid out in the project. Mr. Buxton said he would pass this information on to Huber and make sure that they understand the cities position on this issue.
Water Treatment Plant
Jeff Haugen told me about an issue that they have had up at the water treatment plant for years. Back when the plant was built it was designed to have central heating for the offices and the work shop. According to everyone that has worked there in the past, the heating system has not worked properly or at all. They have been using small electric heaters to heat all the rooms in the building.
Another heating problem that came up is the propane heaters that heat the water treatment area. There are 4 ceiling mounted heaters in each corner of the plant. None of these heaters are working. I called Columbia Mountain Heating and they have been working trying to get these heaters operational. Finding the right parts has been a challenge as these heaters are getting older.
The problem with any heating source in this area is the corrosive air that plagues this building. The Chlorine gas and moisture is very hard on parts in these heaters. Columbia Mountain hopes to have the parts for the heaters and a new system for the offices up and running as well by week’s end.
Miscellaneous
The leaf pickup went fairly well. Monday we started picking up leafs and by Thursday we were plowing snow. I only received one call from Cabinet Heights, complaining we did not pick up their leaves. Also in the middle of our leaf pickup Knife River called and the UPM winter patch material was ready. Corky, Robert and Jodi drove down to Missoula on the 16th and brought back the material.
DEQ was in town and toured both the Water and Waste Water Treatment plants. Both facilities came back with no big issues. Water Treatment has a discharge permit issue that has been ongoing for many years. We have a solution that DEQ has accepted and we will be taking care of this in the spring.
Waste Water had a problem that could have us in violation. We have an underground storage tank that holds fuel oil for the facility. DEQ requires that we have our operators trained for the possibility of a spill or rupture of the tank. This is a class that the operators can take online and Mike is already working on getting this taken care of.
DEQ also required the city to have a Storm Water discharge permit for the wastewater treatment plant. I contacted Dan Kramer of Montana Rural Water and explained the issue to him regarding the Storm Water permit. Dan told me the permit is for plants that treat a daily average of a million gallons or more. Our daily average is less than a million gallons and after DEQ was contacted the request for the permit was canceled.
Our city crew also assisted in decorating the Christmas tree at the end of Mineral Ave. Along with the experience works guys they replaced lights on all the wreaths and hung them up before the tree lighting on the 25th. Also I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a great New Year.
Jim Hammons