- BLAIRSVILLE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MARCH 26, 2025 1. The meeting was called to order by Mrs. Patty Evanko at 5:32 P.M. 2. Pledge to the Flag 3. Moment of Silence 4. Roll Call - The Authority Members present included Mr. John Bertolino, Mrs. Patty Evanko, and Mr. Michael Ritts. Mr. Thomas Lawton and Mr. Daniel Vresilovic were not present. Others in attendance were Ms. Savannah Vernet, Mr. Randy Krause, Bankson Engineers, Mr. Kevin Wilmot, Remington & Vernick, Mrs. Jody Poorbaugh, Manager, and Mr. Thomas Barberich, Sewer Plant Operator. 5. Additions to the agenda - None 6. Public Comments - None 7. PA Coalition for Oral Health: a. Ms. Helen Hawkey Provided fluoride information to the Board. b. Ms. Hawkey will send an email with verbiage on protecting and increasing fluoridation in the water supply. C. 60% of the Pennsylvania population gets fluoride in the water. d. Ms. Hawkey will send a booklet in a PDF file to link to the website. e. Mrs. Poorbaugh will verify that the PA Coalition for Oral Health number is on the website. f. Fluoride occurs naturally in the environment. - 1 Blairsville Municipal Authority Regular Meeting Minutes March 26, 2025 8. Engineer's Report: a. Gibson Thomas Engineering: i. MPS Wet Well Project Proposal - A motion was made by Mr. Ritts and seconded by Mr. Bertolino to put the Comminutor Slab Rehabilitation out for bid. Approved 3/0. ii. Bids are to be open at 10:00 AM on April 16, 2025. iii. The Estimated Project Cost is $180,000.00. b. Bankson Engineers: i. DEP Consent Order - Water Plant - DEP Public Water Supply permit was issued. The Authority has 24 months to complete the project. ii. DEP Letter - construction permit granted - The permit contains eight special conditions regarding construction related activities. iii. Resolution - PA Small Water Grant - A motion was made by Mr. Bertolino and seconded by Mr. Ritts to adopt Resolution #50 to have Bankson Engineers submit the PA Small Water Grant for water distribution system valve replacement project at a total project cost of $304,200.00 with a cost share of $45,630.00. Approved 3/0. Roll Call Vote: Yes No Mr. Bertolino Mr. Ritts Mrs. Evanko iv. EPA Lead & Copper Rule - Project is ongoing. V. SOP - Revised Submission to DEP. - Still no decision from DEP. vi. Section 313 Environmental nfrastructure Program Awarded - Mr. Krause has provided a description of the project to the Army Corp of Engineers. vii. Grant Appropriations Request Grant - Water Plant Rehab = Civil Rights Coordinator Representative is working on the NEPA Environmental Review. 2 Blairsville Municipal Authority Regular Meeting Minutes March 26, 2025 9. Engineer's Report (continued): a. Remington & Vernick Engineers i. Storm Water - None ii. Resolution 49 - PA Small Sewer Grant - A motion was made by Mr. Ritts and seconded by Mr. Bertolino to adopt Resolution 49 to have Remington & Vernick Engineers submit the PA Small Water and Sewer Grant for the East Campbell Street sanitary & storm replacement project with a total project cost of $411,180.72 and a cost share of $61,677.11. Approved 3/0. Roll Call Vote: Yes No Mr. Ritts Mr. Bertolino Mrs. Evanko iii. 85% Capture Rate for CSO's - The annual percentage of capture (relatable to compliance with the regulations for minimum 85% capture) for 2024 was 94.12%. The PADEP was going to require - expensive modeling of the sewer and lift stations during the rain events and predicting what would happen at different rainfalls. We explained to them that because the BMA meters all the outfall CSO's and plant influent there is no need to spend a lot of time and money modeling the system to estimate the volume lost through the CSO, it is captured as an actual number. They conceded that is true. iv. NPDES Permit/LTCP - No update. DEP is still reviewing the draft permit. V. BTSA Tap-in Fees - No update. vi. LSA Grant - East Campbell Drainage Project - Pending vii. Grant - Local Share Account Grant - Martha/McClure - Design work started on Martha Street as a sewer replacement with the survey we are designing the plan and profile, detail, and specs, now with a plan to have out in April. viii. Grant - Local Share Account Grant - S. Liberty Street - The project is complete. Feeding into #1 pump station - Need to monitor the overflow of the rain events for the next several months to see if overflow has decreased. C 3 Blairsville Municipal Authority Regular Meeting Minutes March 26, 2025 10. Solicitor's Report: a. Ms. Vernet is going to check to see ifthe Authority can dig up and replace the gravel if a curb box is located in a gravel driveway. 11. Manager's Report: a. Completed the training for the Appropriations grant. 12. Public Works Manager's Report: a. Fixed fire hydrants on Hart Avenue, South Liberty Street and Market Street. Replaced a shaft on the fire hydrant on Evans Avenue. b. Replaçed two water valves, repaired three water leaks. Two homeowners had to repair their service line due to a leak. C. A sewer tap was installed on South Liberty Street. d. A cylinder was replaced on the garbage truck. 13. Unfinished Business: a. LaMantia Lane Main Sewer line the line is 1600 feet in length. Mrs. Poorbaugh was instructed to get a cost estimate from Santella for trenching & manhole placement. Cost estimate for pipe bursting. b. Waste Management Landfill Closure - Still looking into other options for landfills. C. Drought Surcharge - Will be removed April 1, 2025. d. Fluoride Discussion - Was discussed earlier. 14. New Business: a. Digester Cleaning - Sewer Plant: i. 2015 or 2016 was the last time the digesters were cleaned. ii. Polymer coagulated and caused some issues with drawing sludge. iii. Need to keep an eye on the amount of polymer being added to the system. iv. A motion was made by Mr. Ritts and seconded by Mr. Bertolino to request Remington & Vernick Engineers to prepare the documents for the cleaning of the primary digester at the sewer plant. Approved 3/0. 4 Blairsville Municipal Authority Regular Meeting Minutes March 26, 2025 15. Approval of Minutes: a. Under Public Comments the board requests that it should read that the customer spoke their opinion regarding Fluoride in the water system. b. A motion was made by Mr. Ritts and seconded by Mr. Bertolino to approve the minutes of the regular meeting minutes held on February 26, 2025, as corrected. Approved 2/0/1. Roll Call Vote: Yes No Abstained Mr. Ritts Mrs. Evanko Mr. Bertolino Mrs. Evanko abstained because she was not present at the February meeting. 16. Financial Report/Accounts Payables: a. The Financial Report was given to the Board for review. b. Accounts Payables - Was presented in the amount of $198,672.56. C. A motion was made by Mr. Ritts and seconded by Mr. Bertolino to accept the Financial Report and to pay the bills totaling $198,672.56. Approved 3/0. Roll Call Vote: Yes No Mr. Ritts Mr. Bertolino Mrs. Evanko 17. Executive Session - The Authority went into an executive session at 6:59 P.M. and came out at 7:11 P.M. Personnel issues were discussed. 18. Adjournment - A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 7:11 P.M. - OPV Secretary 5