06/05/2007 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 6/5/2007 "Floyd Browne has finished their work on Phase I of the project which will enable us to comply with the requirements imposed on our city by the Ohio EPA. Our WWTP personnel met last week to review their findings, and the report will be provided to the EPA this week." Mr. Ryan continued his letter: "I believe that the issue of how to upgrade our infrastructure for the sewer plant is just one part of a system critical to all who live in the city. Two Saturdays ago, a water main located I believe on Dover Center in Westlake failed. The consequences of such failure are obvious that many are without water. I am sure that it was repaired quickly and all continued on with their lives. Yet what if a much greater failure should occur here. North Olmsted is serviced by a pumping facility that is at least sixty years old. Any one standing at the water tower on Dover Center would soon notice the rust marking and the appearance of being quite worn. We have discussed on a few occasions how to ultimately replace and/or upgrade that part of the water system yet there are no plans. At this point, it appears that the future of water delivery in this system is controlled by a department from the City of Cleveland. I believe we need to know what are the long term plans of the Water Department of the City of Cleveland. Sewer or the water removal system in our city is being addressed as we presently are going forward with a three phase plan, identifying problems and needed improvements, setting out procedures to correct these problems and complete needed improvements, and finally carrying out such procedures using our financial resources. Water delivery will not allow such luxury if the infrastructure fails. We must know what is the life cycle of our pumping facilities, the pipes that carry the water, the life cycle of the North Olmsted pumping facility, and what are the long term plans to upgrade and to insure a major failure will not occur. These issues cross over many of our existing committees starting with Finance through Environmental, Streets and even Recreation. The present procedure in such committees followed that being one question then one answer system does not appear to be getting the job done. I believe the need for a committee limited in purpose to address water delivery and removal in our city would greatly aid in gaining information, participation by Council in setting our goals, and insuring that Council participates in forming plans that lead to the long term goals being accomplished. Pursuant to Rule 8 of Council and the setting out of the term special committee, I will introduce at the next Council meeting a legislative request for a resolution setting up such committee. I am hopeful that all of you will give consideration to this and permit this committee to go forward." Mayor O'Grady commented that this is not about storm and sanitary sewers and water mains. Those are totally different. His administration is not sitting idly by. The WWTP has been upgraded. Council has given the funds for this. There is a plan in place and it is moving forward. He asked Mr. Limpert to come forward to speak on this issue. President Kennedy recognized Mr. Limpert to speak. Councilman Ryan challenged the ruling of the chair to allow Mr. Limpert to speak noting the discussion should be held in the committee which he is asking to be established. That is the whole point of the committee. The challenge to the chair was seconded by Councilman Tallon. Roll call: Ryan, yes; Tallon, yes; Barker, no; Jones, no; Miller, yes; Orlowski, yes; Gareau, abstain as he had been absent from the podium during the discussion. The challenge to the chair 11