Minutes 02-20-2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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9 evaluation of ways we can better manage energy across all our facilities. On February 22, 2018, the Board will receive and discuss an update to the Energy Management Plan. Diversity and Inclusion Program We are proceeding with our Implementation Plan for the Employee Diversity and Inclusion Program. Our consultant, VISIONS, Inc., has trained a Diversity Leadership Group, Diversity Recruitment Group and a Diversity Resource Group as well as the OWASA Board of Directors. An organizational assessment has been conducted and results will be reviewed with employees soon. Key activities for 2018 are completion of organization assessment and additional training for OWASA staff. Infrastructure investments Capital investments, including debt payments for capital projects, account for about half of our costs. In 2017, we invested about $13.6 million to renew, replace and improve our infrastructure to maintain the reliability and quality of our services and the structural integrity of facilities. Key accomplishments in 2017 • Replacement of aging water mains on parts of East Rosemary and Henderson Streets, in coordination with Town of Chapel Hill street resurfacing. • Substantial completion of work to replace an aging water main on Hillsborough Street from East Rosemary Street to Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, again in coordination with an upcoming Town roadway project. • Rehabilitation of a deteriorating section of a pressurized sewer in the Hamilton Road and Prestwick Road area, an extremely high priority project in that this pipe carries nearly half of the wastewater flow of the entire service area. • Installation of a new water main from our water storage tank on Hilltop Street to improve system pressures in the Hilltop/McCauley neighborhood. • Completion of needed electrical, controls, and monitoring improvements to the wastewater pump station in the Piney Mountain neighborhood (off of Mt. Sinai Road) • Received approval for nearly $15 million in low-interest loans from the NC Division of Water Infrastructure to serve the design and construction of six capital projects. Key projects planned in 2018 • Completion of rehabilitation and improvements to the wastewater pump station near Cleland Drive, our largest remote wastewater pump station. • Completion of an assessment at our treatment plants to identify and assess risks that would prevent OWASA from providing services that meet or exceed federal, state, local quality requirements. • Replacement of filter media and rehabilitation and improvements to the filtration system used at the Jones Ferry Water Treatment Plant. • Installation of and enhancements to security systems at various remote water supply and storage facilities. • Completion of work in the Heritage Hills Neighborhood, including replacement of water mains on portions of Brandywine and Lexington Roads, and rehabilitation of sewer mains and manholes throughout the neighborhood.