 Here here present. Yes present. Yes That is by our heads gracious creator for your loving kindness For your tender mercies that continue to shower us with blessings We thank you for this gathering today We simply ask that you might continue to allow us to make those decisions that are needful beneficial and That residents of this city might feel that sense Bless us individually and yet bless us collectively We ask it claim it in your name City council discussion item number one the pilot program on anti-violence efforts the honorable Daniel J Recommend me. This is just an update on and We talked about the gangs in peace Program and looking at doing a pilot program and we we talked about the funding source We do have the 28,722 dollars from unclaimed funding that came in That I would like us to consider to put towards the pilot program. There is some community match Money that will be coming in with that which then would allow not only participation for those kids and those youth and the designated communities that are in the proposal but also would cover the Transportation which is the most important. I wanted to bring it up for any further discussion or questions so that we could sit or Putting it on the agenda to approve the pilot program so that we could really See how a long-term program would work With this and this is just one part of it There are multiple meetings going on with several other groups in our community about supporting the program So it's not you know just on the city But I do think it would help if we could try it over the next three months to see the participation How it works and see if it's something that we want to consider long-term There was the proposal the gangs in peace proposal that y'all all received several weeks ago Yes There's 12,278 kids in the city. We're not talking about covering all those We're really focused on Three of our troubled neighborhood Neighborhoods where we could have some opportunity, which is the colony north point and they very mused About 200 kids that would be included in the program we're talking about Total of like 30,000 over three months 28 coming from us that covers transportation plus The basketball program which is after school and in the evenings Where the facilities? They're on Broad River Road That's totally no Nope We don't have a facility in the city to handle the volume But that's totally yeah, they're residents of that the target neighborhood had been the colony Baybury Muse and North Point So the twenty eight thousand dollars would go It's a reimbursable remember it's all reimbursable three months. Yes, sir Is that gonna be sufficient enough to well? There's some other there's some other funding after that Well after that, you know that becomes the question I think this is an example of where we need to pilot programs so that we can understand all we get in the participation our People continuing to do it on a steady basis is are we reaching all those kids without making because original ask as you know Was for a year-long program at 275 thousand dollars Some of that was related. There's about 30,000 in that I believe that went to Working with kids at the elementary school level at Richland one But I believe that's a rich on one ask not a city of Columbia ask I know that as part of The county's twenty million dollars that they're putting out in groups. They're taking applications. This is one that's been put in They're asking the county for for two hundred thousand dollars to cover the kids that they they have Have documented that they will work in those certain neighborhoods in the county So the program will include the entire twenty eight thousand dollars With the possibility of partners coming in at some point Yes, we know there's two non-profits that are committing to some funding to help Balance it out because I think the ask was really around it would have been close to thirty six out thirty seven five I think was a to cover that period of time and that's being made up by outside groups Mr. Mayor, I think this is a wonderful use of funds just what are some of the milestones in your opinion that that would Show that this is a successful path forward to ultimately, you know going out and getting private contributions to continue This program I think part of it Councilman Brennan is is how many kids we get to participate how many times they participate Because there's not only after school, but there's evening and late night, you know on the weekends I think the Participation piece is the biggest piece that I hope because that's being provided as well and built in where others Or always peace-mealing and trying to make it happen I think our milestone would be as if we have targeted 200 kids. How many of those kids do we get? I mean, obviously if we can get over a hundred kids participating on a consistent basis then we've made an impact there now Obviously, we're only paying for the kids who participate not for the kids who don't participate That's why it's a reimbursable which is being funded on the front end and then we'd go back So I think I think our ultimate goal is to to build up the number So that we have a consistency because the next phase in this would be conflict resolution kind of day camps There's also a spring ball soccer They also have baseball programs and then there's some off-site camp where they want to take some of kids That may be more challenged to to give them an opportunity to go through some more one-on-one with Community-based leaders not so much and and the idea is to build it up so that It becomes part of a community activation where the business community individuals and others are really it's not a government program I'm very well thought out. Thank you So anyway, I just wanted to get some feedback. Yeah, miss herbert. Sorry um I just wanted to add And I know I'm bishop davis We he hates when I tell this story that we used to do plays back when I was 19 years old Um, we yesterday yesterday correct correct Um, but even and I have had this discussion with him So I don't have an issue with with making sure my position on this is clear Um, I do believe that it is a great program But because it is not located in the city And because I do think we have to be careful cherry picking different projects to fund We had another application or Proposal that was submitted So I have basically two different groups who Have evidence-based programs that are doing well Who are you know, both asking the city for money and it puts me in a precarious situation To pick or choose, you know one or the other so, um I would prefer that we have a process so that other organizations Um can be considered. I will tell you that But interestingly Tuesday, um, I wasn't here last Tuesday, but someone texts me that was at The city council meeting asking me where did the city find funds? And can we you know, can we approach and can we ask because we're doing x y z And I explained to them what that was a specific and it's a specific pot Um, but for those reasons, um, I cannot support Um giving these particular funds in this fashion to this group And I just didn't want anybody to be surprised when I did that We appreciate your opinion. We'll continue to march on or any other questions So may if the process roars after today you will put this on the agenda for September 26th That'd be the 20th 20th. I'm sorry I have a suggestion that might help council lady Herbert's concern Didn't we put $800,000 in the budget for an anti-violence program? You all haven't voted on the mayor's So gun violence your proposal was around $800,000 for anti-violence which is not enough, but it's a start It's over three years now. Remember it's not a one year Well, uh, I was thinking that since Serving connect has gotten a nine hundred and sixty four thousand dollar Grant to do essentially the same thing that we could take that 800,000 and put it into A fund that would have some procedures to it to do programs like like this one To come I don't think serving connects actually doing what the gun violence program is going to do Which is quarterback and that's why we haven't made our full percent Presentation which we'll do I think I think we're scheduled for later this month Or the first week in October to show the quarterback But if you remember the what we put forth shows that's a coordinating office And the serving connect grant is only targeted to one zip code. It does not cover all the other areas It's very specific on what its charge is done by doj So it's not as simple as just cutting here and cutting there and taking there But I think some of that front those funds could be put into a more Um deliberately allocated Thing for anti gun violence instead of building another office I I think that with 18 growth and gun violence, and I think you'll find um The officers who are in there day to day are looking forward to to having that as a toolbox to help them So I would disagree with with that Um, but you know everybody has has an opinion And mr. Bear, I just would just say I kind of I tend to agree with miss harbert though I do think we have other people asking for For money the mayor of ermo was in here with a program himself and If we're going to do these things I do think there needs to be some type of Deliberation or how you weigh which ones you're going to do which ones you're not going to do And candidly for me Um Supporting the ones that are in the city it would be my number one party Well, I will remind everybody that when we asked to originally when I came up with the unclaimed funds and sent it Around and said that we wanted to help support the basketball league that they were That they were doing the initial reaction from this council was yes We never did it because we didn't get the funds and we found the funds Um I think it's a pilot program that we have to do and if y'all remember you put away $200,000 out of the arpa money for a process for other folks I think we've got to be able to look at some of these programs And pilot them to make sure they're successful before we have a long-term commitment I think this is a wonderful program. I appreciate the mayor from ermo sent it over a proposal But that proposal was dated From 2021 Um, it wasn't even a direct proposal to us. It was just another proposal that came to us So, I mean, there are still some work there for us to find the right shoe for that to fit in You know, I believe this is the right right move for us, but you know, it's up to council as a whole I I am only but one vote Well, mr. Mayor, mr. Mayor I can almost support this but I think there has to be some parameters set um Parameters in terms of I hear both my colleague saying In reference reference in the county issues and the distributions of city funds into the county I think you know that this whole issue of gun violence is Perpetual issue that's not going to go away until we deliberately Do something about this Um So yes, I can support this. I think that there needs to be some additional conversation in terms of partners and partnerships forming That are productive in some kind of way um I think that there has to be a deliberate conversation About whether it's $28,000 or whether it's a hundred thousand dollars Right now we don't have a process We just said that we were going to do this It would seem to me that because of the I want to say the urgency of gun violence in our city We've got to start this ball rolling somewhere Whether it be whether the county is going to buy into this somewhere down the road uh, we've Conversationally talked about this thing But can we collectively say this is what we're going to do to help curtail gun violence? um So yes, I can support that but I think that there needs to be some additional Mr. Mayor, I just wanted to make a full point of clarification. I was trying to help give a little guidance too So the way you all left the discussion With as far as the office of gun violence prevention and the 800 thousand plus Was due to be considered to come out of ARPA funds as well as 200,000 that you all would Consider out of ARPA funds for a process for Some type of process once you all decide what you want to do as far as any other You know initiatives that people would apply for with the notice of funds availability And that sort of things if you wanted it specific to gun violence efforts That and and you could do that we haven't brought the ARPA related funds back to you yet So that was your discussion, but you haven't that's not in place yet That would just be a matter of us bringing it back before the council to vote on that And then as part of your general fund You're already approved budget for this fiscal year. There's about 140 thousand dollars set aside To do a community promotions process like we described you all last time That could be neighborhood Revitalization grants or beautification grants or could be youth programs or whatever you all wanted to do You could say we're we're finally doing all of those things as long as there's a process and we would put out a notice of Funds availability for the community to apply and we I think we even talked about you might have a Ceiling for those grants up to 25,000 or whatever we decide to do to make the funds Go as far as they could so that's where you are as far as opportunities for funding outside of the 28 thousand dollars and 28,770 dollars and 22 cents. I believe that were identified from some treasure funding that we Were able to get reimbursed from the state And that's the funding that me or recommend is referring to which is separate from any of the other items. I just said so I just wanted to give you all some options and Well, we will need to bring that to you Although if you are moving forward with the notice of funds availability for the general fund community promotions We need to get some clarity from you on when you want us to start that process open it up I know there's one group mr. Brennan and I've talked about that's already submitted a request Need a little direction anyway for the agenda on Tuesday And if you're not ready to move this item forward for Tuesday that you know, we're That was why I think the mayor was putting it on here. So we wouldn't know Whether or not to put it on your draft agenda because you know, we're just cranking out agendas every week right now They're rolling So is there enough will for us to put parameters around and add this to the agenda or is the majority of council not prepared I can support it mr. Mayor because number one you found the money I didn't know that that pot of money was available. So I'm pleased to Is there any support to you since you found it And the other reason I can support it is that it's going to do the colony and north point and they are Two of our target areas And I think that even though the program itself might be across the city limits fund Is going to be having a positive input influence on our kids. So I'm willing to vote for it Mr. Mayor I would I would hope that we push this forward towards our agenda for the 20th Uh, I can support that Of course, uh having some cumbers additional conversation with my colleagues. I think it's Violence I hate to say it this way but violence is everywhere Whether it's in the city or in the county folk of dying and We've got to We've got to start this ball rolling some kind So, yes, sir. I would certainly support moving this to our agenda on september 20th I think my suggestion would be that we move forward with it on tuesday But framing in a way that still allows the public to understand what potential future opportunities there are to apply for funds and why we chose to make this exception or allocation to this group um And that type of transparency will help I think Build the case for the the urgency of this issue, but also being consistent about how and what we support in terms of community based funds We're just talking about three months worth of funding though Yeah, I mean you're gonna find the fourth and fifth and sixth month yet on this. Well, I mean part of the purpose Well part of the purpose of doing this is to have a pilot so we can see that the program Actually is working before we make a long-term investment and that's why it's a pilot That's the collection of data the consistency of the participation And then the expectation would be that they would go through a larger Formal process to be receiving more funding next Well, um I'm not saying that I could totally support but one of the things I think um, I could potentially consider Is that they are limited in this amount of money that they get because they're not in the city um, I think that it just setting the precedent of giving funds to organizations outside of the um City limits plus creating in them an expectation that they're going to get ongoing funding um, we'll just create um, some other issues, but I just throw that out for consideration. It's one time found money So we can treat it differently in an emergency situation But I would not want to leave the door open or give an expectation That the city will start because the county has 20 million or is it 2 million or That they've put out Yeah, so I mean and we barely have you know the 200 000. Are we the best people to take on that burden? Just go ahead. Mr. Brown. Mr. May. I support The consensus moving forward to the agenda and I want to make and I want to ask staff this citizens of the city of columbia are citizens of richland county So they have the opportunity those organizations have the opportunity to submit for that 16 million dollars If staff if you could check with the county and and confirm that That that Arpa money is available for organizations within the city of columbia That's something we need to be promoting as well. Just just wanted to make that note, sir For for the record to the proposal we got For the harvison area is a program that Works with kids in the city limit, but is actually not in the city limit as well So just point of reference. I just want to make sure that That as we we move forward in discussions, there's there's a criteria all the way around Would they consider annex? I think in general if this is a one-time special exception and it's a pilot and we're doing our part because two of the You know communities that are most plagued by violence are going to participate I think that's fine But I agree with the server that we can't set the precedent that because we invested now we're going to invest again Especially when we think about some of the policy decisions We've already made for example with food share and things that we decided not to fund because they're not in the city So food share has funding available for them I know but i'm saying that one of the major arguments that we heard about That was that we really want to focus on building up our within the city limits not necessarily, um, you know prioritizing things that may be outside of the city limits Gotta have a little balance though because the we did we certainly don't want to make sure that Is we work to partner in other areas that everybody realizes that we're trying to partner and collaborate so I appreciate thank you all for the feedback. We'll take care of getting the item on your agenda And that brings us to item number two, which is a presentation the consent decree and clean water 2020 program update Mr. Clint shealy our assistant city manager for columbia water And a whole team right clinton Okay, good afternoon Thank you all for the opportunity to speak with you just a little bit about our Where we are with our clean water 2020 program and consent decree compliance I want to introduce the the team that's with us. Of course our utility directors frank Director of utilities frank eskridge is with us and danahiggins our director of engineering from our team We've also got mr. Brian cully with cdm smith They're our lead consultant helping us with the program management and compliance with this consent decree And we've got our legal counsel and mr. Tommy lavender And this young heartly in the back and they're going to address it a little bit in executive session about some of the history and Legalities of the consent decree we'll start off today with um just uh Brian's going to come up and And talk a little bit about some of the more public facing things that are going to be happening in the near future Notifications on where homeowners have or we've noticed through some of the testing that we've done that they've got Faults or breaks in their private sewer laterals and the notification letters that go out There's nothing punitive with that But we are required by the consent decree to notify folks because That's a point where infiltration inflow can get into to our system and potentially create sanitary sewer overflows Then we'll talk about one of our favorite acronyms the sIRR which is the supplemental infrastructure rehabilitation report and that is another Mandated requirement of the consent decree that that brings a large list of projects that we'll have to do and in certain dates for compliance That has to go on public notice And so that work is just now being completed and it will be going on public notice soon So we wanted to talk with y'all about that Then i'll come and just speak in general about some work completed to date before we have the attorneys come up and And speak with us So Brian i'll turn it over to you to brief us on defective private sewer laterals and in the supplemental infrastructure rehab report Thank y'all very much for the opportunity to speak here today Here to go over two very timely topics related to the consent decree And the first one of those is going to be the defective private lateral So as we're out there in the system doing assessments and investigations, we're finding problems That's why we're out there and typically those problems are on the city-owned portion of the sewer system And so we can fix them occasionally We find problems on the private side of the sewer system and just to kind of highlight for anybody not familiar Sewer systems, you have your main pump line that the city owns and operates and then there's a sewer lateral that goes to the actual all museum six or four inch pipe Or six inch pipe that heads towards uh towards the house Once it leaves the right-of-way line and goes on to private property or the easement line That is then the homeowner's ownership Um, and so if there is a defect in there the homeowner is the one that needs to fix that the city does not maintain the private lateral And that's very common. That's all over south carolina Um, and so as we do that the consent decree requires us as we find these private lateral defects to notify the homeowner And so the city typically waits to we have a batch of those notifications ready to go out Puts a letter together and sends that out to the homeowner Requesting that they make the repair and that they notify the city that the repair has been made Now the threshold for what defines where we decide to notify the homeowner Is if the defect is bad enough that groundwater or rainwater can enter the system Which then can lead to inundation of the system or if the wastewater can leave that lateral That's kind of the criteria that we use Just to kind of give you an idea here's a photo of what one of those would look like So there's a a pipeline under the ground there and we're smoke testing And the defect is bad enough that the smoke is leaving the lateral and coming up to the surface of the ground. Yes, sir This is the third round of notifications and several years back now we approved the one of the letters that you were Drafting to send to these people two questions What was the response on the first round notifications? Did the people comply? And the second question is Is there a time limit for them to reply to you you go back and check to see if the Private lateral has been fixed Great question. There is no obligation to fix the lateral some entities will do that columbia has not taken that step They do ask that it be fixed within 90 days When the first round of letters went out we then issued a 90 day extension for those that didn't And no other follow-up was made at one point. I believe after the original 90 day window And don't hold me it might have been six months. Mr. Devall. I apologize. I should have brought that with me Um, I think we had five or six that responded out of maybe a hundred And so the response was not as favorable as we would have preferred Are the notifications batched by council district or by neighborhoods? I'm trying to think about the Council people here are in in november when you third send out the third round of notification Is it going to be in one district or another or is it going to be You're going to pick 10 out of each district Great question. They're batched based on the projects we've done since the last batch went out And so I'm going to go ahead and fast forward real quick and kind of show you the map So um, I'll make sure I don't leave the podium here. You can see the broad river Um, you got saluta river coming over here. So this is the saluta river basin There's several kind of batched up here near near our 20. There's some over in the broad river basin Crane creek area has a number and again this mirrors where we're doing projects We find the defects where we're looking for problems. So typically as they're out there executing a large Capital improvement project. That's when we find the defects and that's why you see them bunched together in certain areas Mr. Councilman Taylor City of columbia To the homeowner and we do that there's a great discussion about that because you could have Renters that are there. We don't want them fixing the property that they don't own and so it goes to the official address of the property owner And like I said, you'll you'll see where they're batched. Um, I do have some detailed maps further back if you'd like But typically before these go out, um, I think it came from clint previously clint will send out a package They'll have a sample letter. It'll have a representative defect sheet We actually show them a photo of the defect So they'll actually get a piece of paper that shows that photo so they'll know where it is and they can follow up with a plumber Hopefully and be a little ahead of the game. It'll show that defect Uh, have the policy in there. Um, and we'll send that to you along with detailed maps of where these Uh locations actually are so you can look at street names and kind of figure out council districts and neighborhoods I would ballpark it somewhere between two to four thousand dollars Yes, sir Some may be less expensive, but if you got to assume it's a Crack down in the middle of your front yard at a pipe that might be two or six or seven feet deep Um, that's usually not a cheap repair Why pay that $59 a year for that? Don't bring it up home Don't get me started Yeah The important thing to know is look for that email from clint shealy before these go out and you'll see a sample of everything and um Like I said that map with the with the neighborhoods on it as well including street names so you can kind of identify that I look the biggest largest set of letters Are headed the lower side of the broad river I think that's councilman Um, here's the crane creek area if you want to see it the crane creek area Mr. McDowell, um If you go back to this Go back to the map. Yes, sir All right, the largest Letters that you're sending out on the other side of they're all in your district And I get through thank you, sir The largest set on the other side of the broad river 94 right here. Yeah, right an idea of location Blue Ridge terrace comes in about right here that road We have crane creek church road There's a detailed map I can we'll share with you If y'all'd like we can share those maps ahead of time or well before right they right before they go out But we're targeting early november want to get those out well before the holidays What's the average cost of a private citizen to fix something like this is that the resistance? Uh, yes, uh, it's not an expense of any plumber nowadays is very difficult to to get and then the costs are expensive I would ballpark it somewhere between 2000 to $4,000 It's uh, it's not not a small expense All right, I'm gonna move on to the second topic for today, which is the supplemental infrastructure Rehabilitation report. This is a very important report that has been years in the making It's going to be submitted to epa in november late november this year And prior to it going to epa for their review and approval It goes out for public comment And so we wanted to speak with you about it before it goes out for public comment We're targeting later this week to actually issue that out for the 30 day comment period Um, this report is is like I said, it's very important Does several things but the most important aspect of it is that it reports out on the Minor system so think of 8 and 12 inch pipes, which aren't real big They're less expensive to fix but they're approximately 90 percent of your system And so now that we've gone through a long period of assessing the condition of it We're now obligated to report to epa What we need to fix we have to follow the guidelines outlined in the consent decree of what that is So this document actually contains the list of projects that we will then be obligated to complete under the epa Correct the private ones are nowhere on any yes, sir. Absolutely And to confirm The epa will decide which one of those projects moves first and the time frame that goes in Correct because when you say obligating the city's significant, I mean we've identified that But epa actually decides which projects get prioritized in the time frame. They're supposed to be completed. It's correct With the supplemental infrastructure we have report. They're all in the same bucket There's an infrastructure. We have report that's the bigger pipes that has different buckets This one has a single bucket for the supplemental because they're all the small pipe fairly similar criticality the bigger pipes No, sir, we're in we have turned the report into epa and are waiting approval on the bigger pipes And we are moving forward with work on the bigger pipes just like you'll hear from clint in a minute We are moving forward with work on these projects as well. We haven't been sitting around not doing anything We've been working on several of the projects that are contained in this list But the list this list will go in and from epa's approval. We have five years To complete the projects. They have to be finished If they are not there's significant penalties per project We'll talk about that a little bit later But there are very significant penalties if we don't complete these within the timeline again There's five years from epa approval And the level of commitment in here when you take these projects and we estimate them We estimate the commitment of the projects in here at 220 million dollars This is a big deal. It's a big report We knew since the very first days of the consent decree This would be a very expensive report with the commitment and again The obligation is in the consent decree to do this. We're following those guidelines and this is this is what we have This is part of the original 750. Yes, sir. This isn't a new number. This is part of our original 750 Correct. If you remember when the 750 was initially envisioned back in 2013 I think we shared it with council in 14 right before the consent decree was signed We had to estimate what was going to be in this report. We didn't know what condition Columbia system was in so we had to make some very educated Estimates back at that time sort of guesstimates almost because we had very limited information of the system's Condition now we know it and this is this is a big day We can be very specific with the list of projects and the cost and so I would say this is in keeping with that Mayor rickman, but the good thing is is that we can be much more specific and have much more You know certainty about it than we did back in 2014 That the 220 million comes out of our rate base like the 750 is part of the 750 We we almost exclusively use cip projects to execute these These amounts Yes, sir We'll speak to that a little bit later because that was um given back in 2014 based on 2012 dollars and did not include inflation We'll talk through adjusting that number. I've got that for you today Should have been a fudge factor in there, right a little bit. Yes, sir. We'll talk about that a little later I remain Comfortable with the initial estimate. I'll leave it that for now. We'll talk more specifics in a little bit so Be that what the original 750 because we're using that number a lot was 2012 dollars no inflation factor at all. So all of it was in 2012 dollars Ryan you keep saying in a little bit. So on several items All right, well, we'll let Clint come up and do the easy part Back to um the the private sewer laterals when we do send those maps out We'll make sure the council district lines Boundaries are overlaid on those so you'll see which of your constituents may be receiving letters and how they're impacted A couple points. We'll flash a little bit of um information in terms of work completed. I wanted to highlight the the Just the fact that we haven't been resting on our laurels We even though projects are included in the infrastructure rehabilitation report or the supplemental report Capacity related projects. We've been working very hard and investing our ratepayers dollars in repairing our sewer system We had two areas along one along crane creek near interstate 20 and and one near lake kathryn that were chronic large volume sanitary sewer overflow Occurrences and that work is complete and so we're really proud of those investments that have been done and we've started you can see part of our Infrastructure rehabilitation and supplemental rehabilitation that we've got 11 projects already complete 27 in the works It's a long list, but we're working down that list and also working on capacity enhancing projects as well A couple of numbers just to share and I won't go through those in detail, but I think just really highlighting that our wastewater system is a is a major How we manage that's a major driver for protecting the environment public help. It's also a major economic growth engine You know, we're really proud of the system and and we've been good actors. We're in compliance. We've met every deadline to date and we've made Just substantial improvements in how we operate and maintain and manage The wastewater collection system. So i'm really proud of our staff. It's vastly Different than it was Whenever we approach the the consent decree We again, we've advanced projects very very quickly We're maintaining almost at 1100 miles of of pipeline And so we've taken a look at the vast majority of that line cleaned the vast majority of those lines and assessed the system We've gone a long way as brian was saying though Um It's really important that we've got this supplemental infrastructure rehabilitation report complete Because that paints more of a total picture I'd say today the picture of the road ahead is clear than it's ever been for us Brian used the term guesstimates earlier in 10 years ago eight years ago We were in that mode of having to guesstimate and y'all are in that mode of having to guesstimate is before I joined the party But right now the the path forward is much clearer than it's ever been So we're in a good point of we know what's ahead of us And that elephant that we've got to eat and the the obligations that we've got to meet So we're going to talk a little bit more about that. Yes, sir Can I ask a question on the pump station rehabilitation talk about 11? One of the ones that keeps and I don't know if it's tied in with the overall Crane creek, which is the Bentley road where we're still having to put containers out there to handle that Where are we in conjunction between the i20 The crane creek in in that Bentley road pump station We do have a pump station upgrades planned for that as well and some of the capacity improvements In our broad river pump station right above right above Bentley their major pump station and y'all approved a design contract Two meetings ago. I think to to invest in that station that's going to alleviate some of those problems and give us a more Resilient that's a large station that sits right on the broad rivers. It's really really a critical asset for us Is there any value as you're looking at that to consider Pumping that towards the broad river plant that the county has to relieve some of that long term Because that's a growing area and and I think you know people there hope it's going to be a growing area With re-investment as things are starting to come online Is that something we ought to be considering as we we look at this? Yes, sir. It's something that we have considered in the past and we're certainly open to considering that again I think the capacities that are available in richland county's treatment facility As well as the complexity of treatment the location of debt discharge with the location of our Water treatment intake is something that needs to be considered as well So certainly open to considering all those options of how we move Waste water throughout our collection system. Yeah, because if I remember that that plant is still under utilized This may this may be a long-term relief for us as a community. So It's something we should look at So it's good to hear the path forward is clear In the work left To meet the consent degree Be done without water rate increases to our customers. No, sir Well, I'm sorry. I I don't want to hastily answer that question. I would say um It depends on how long how long the capital improvement. Yes, sir I mean we'd be talking 30 40 50 years versus the the the requirements we can't do it in the the Current requirements of the consent decree in timeframes without considering some source of funding Yes, sir May I ask a question and of course We look at the effective and it's going back to the cost What's the implications and the impact on a senior citizen? What's the impact of a saint on a senior citizen? Whose property Is impacted by this kind of calamity that's happening on their property? We come up 2000 to $3,000 in repair work What would be the Will there be something To help those residents So if they have the private lateral insurance program, that's an assistance for them. Um, I'm sorry Councilman that that's an assistant For those who are interested in signing up. Yeah, how care that how we're gonna like to hear that hear that But it's it's critical for me That if a senior citizen has those kinds of issues In their property, how can we direct them? That cost is somewhere between two to four thousand dollars It's going to be virtually impossible for senior citizens to Assume that kind of uh, that kind of experience So if you went with a home service Oh, whatever We want to know I want to know What can we do To help someone But has that Yes, sir, if they've got the the private lateral insurance program that helps them Um, we were very strategic in not making our program punitive The consent decree requires us to notify homeowners And and we send the letters and and we ask them to to circle back with us whenever the corrections are made They do add extraneous flow to our system that um during The rain events can be problematic for us Currently, there's no fine structure. There's no Punitive action. There's no lien against property if they don't make the correction But We really need the homeowners to do their part in fixing their the part of the collection system that they own We recognize again, it can be a burden And so there's no fine if you don't do it But we really need our customers to fix their portion of the system when they can Sewage may be escaping into their yard, which could be a public health issue But more generally you see ground water or rain water seeping into the system that can then Potentially contribute to sanitary sewer overflows, which are a public health issue as well I'm sorry. I haven't directly answered your question council. No, you didn't Um the the thing that is critical I'm sorry I'm sorry. No, no, no, she was raising her hand for next So many sidebars around here. All right It's it's very critical. I think And I've seen two instances where I visited a piece of property There was a sewage issue smoke was Billing it billowing up out of the ground They contracted And decided to go with home service Over a period of time they had to pay for that Initially, but then they decided to go with home service and of course, um It would seem to me that we need to be very intentional About when we send a letter out that folk are given the necessary resources that they might be able to employ other than Entering that two thousand to four thousand dollar It And not having any resources at all It becomes it becomes very Volumous in terms of when sewage is seeping up out of the ground and on the yard So it would seem to me that there needs to be something in place That will give folk resources When that happens to them that they are able to No, you're good So this is really helpful and you know, I know we've been talking a lot about the different pieces and work that needs to be done to continue to address our Waste water side of things. I guess my question to you all is so what's next? I mean you mentioned the 30 to 50 year plan and how there's going to need to be Some source of funding, right? And that's an indirect way of saying we need to look at How we're raising revenue for um, you know Our water system and so I'd like to hear, you know, what are what are your suggestions for making sure that we meet You know the consent degree but also Stay true to some of our priorities on council in terms of not continuing to have to burden taxpayers with something that has been I don't know Kicked down the road for years now. We're now we're picking up the pieces being in office. What six seven months And clan I would encourage you to to because this is a newly seated council who's only been through one iteration of a budget cycle Not even necessarily from start to finish from my standpoint, but they will be And I think that'll become more clear to you doctor bustles The approach you'll always hear us talk about the 80 40 split and if we Handle water and wastewater in the way that we have always Because of the consent decree requirements Then scheduling out the Repairs that need to be made I think it'll it'll become probably more understandable to you as we go through this next budget cycle, but those are Just if we were to stay on track with what we've scheduled out to do There shouldn't be an issue like that planning has been done So we do have a plan doctor bustles and we're we're going to speak to that I wanted the attorneys to give you a little bit of context And what the the deadlines may look like moving forward as well But Clint is the Debra Livingston fund available for sewage lateral replacements? If not, we can make it That's a great question. That has been for Bills for for past due bills, but there is a fairly healthy balance in the Debra Christy fund and that's a That's a great suggestion. That is a great suggestion. And I think the staff had made Um In lieu of home server can we use I think the staff had made some recommendations that we implemented about the The um amount of the funds that maybe I had even said, I don't know let's wait But in that in this instance that might make sense. So thank you councilman Some parameters around it. Yes, sir Just a couple of minor things before we we close um and go into further discussion the um Just wanted to share that we've we've made some some staffing changes of our belt line facility, which is Kind of handling just think about anything outside the gate of a treatment plant with our two water treatment plants We're a waste treatment plant. Um, so we've had some leadership changes there And um frank's done a great job and that group is really coalescing and they're working very very well and cohesively Couldn't be more proud of the work they're doing. I think you you're starting to see a Downward trend in work orders and upward trend and being able to retain Staff and and being able to bring some new talent in We're utilizing contractors. You're seeing a little bit of a reduction in sanitary sewer overflows Um and and so that process is working and I also wanted to mention Tiffany couldn't be with us today Her uncle passed away she was she's attending a funeral, but Tiffany's a real star in our organization as well Heading up our customer care group the changes that we made in february have just been life changing for our call takers And our staff and I think for our customers. They've been just just very well received We're answering the phone now and are able to process those very quickly. So thank you for for allowing us to do that as well With that i'll i'll end and then um We can we can move to further discussion Thank you. Thank you client You've done a good job And your team has done a good job. Thank you, sir. I appreciate that decreasing the number of work orders You're doing a good job in You've done a good job in terms of uh Making sure that the general public knows exactly what we're doing and how we do that Um Thank you so very much. Thank you to give our compliments Certainly, we've got a long way to go, but I really appreciate that. Yeah, sir. Thanks. Thank you, sir Thank you client May recommend at this time if council is amenable we can entertain the executive session items Mr. Mr. May I make a motion and we go into executive session for receipt of legal advice related to matters covered by attorney client privilege pursuant to 30-4 as 70 a to clean water 20-20 program Discussion of negotiations innocent to proposed contractual arrangements pursuant to scco 30-4 as 70 a to fire services Is there a second Second We've got a motion and a second Roll please Yes Yes Yes Aye Aye