Hey, we’re back after a total system crash! Let’s get back going with today’s Danville Utilities Commission meeting.
Barry Dunkley talks about the water taste and odor problem.
Dawn Witter is not here today. Fred Shanks arrives at 4:10 PM
The cause of the problem has been isolated to an algae bloom. Raw water coming into the treatment plant now has a greenish color due to the algae. Dunkley says that he believes that the odor and taste issue will be cleared in a week. It takes up to 20 days for water to go through the entire system. The city is pumping out odorless and tasteless water now.
Bill Donohue notices that the utility fund is still $18.3 million in the hole and not getting better. Jim Turpin says “Huh?” Donohue is being tough while not liking this budget. Turpin says that you can have a balanced budget and not move on the deficit. Donohue says he’s not comfortable with that. Bill Donohue Gets It.
Danville Utilities has a great rebate program on the purchase of new energy-efficient appliances. It helps reduce electric usage and encourages people to upgrade. Unfortunately, Bob Schasse doesn’t seem to understand how good that the program is and that the low cost of the program is well worth it. Schasse continues on about his doubts on the rebate program while my mind boggles.
I speak in the public comment section about the policy of the $100 reconnection fee after a non-pay disconnect. That’s broken down as $50 for the administrative fee and $50 for the actual reconnection. Danville Utilities doesn’t have to roll a truck anymore because of the smart meters so that $50 fee is clearly punitive (not to mention the $50 administrative fee). I also objected to the policy of not reconnecting until 1PM. My speech seems to catch the commission members off guard and they say they’ll discuss it in the next meeting.
We move to city council chambers for the utility rate analysis.
Dawn Lund from Utility Financial Services goes over a 742,185 page report (not really, but it seems that way). The bottom line is that water and sewer rates need a small increase. Electric rates are recommended to stay flat for 2015 & 2016, with a 1.5% increase in 2017, 2018 and 2019. That’s for the base rates only and doesn’t mean other costs would increase. Bill Donohue continues to push hard on the $18 million deficit and Lund is grilled pretty hard on her presentation. Taking bad advice from rate consultants is what led to this deficit and it’s good to see the members asking tough questions.
This meeting hits the three-hour mark after Lund fastforwards through the presentation. The reason this part was held in City Council chambers was so that it could be televised and recorded, but there’s no way that anybody could follow along with all of the technical information.
We’re done! We’ve got more coming up on SouthsideCentral.
Open your tap and flush the water out.
This should be at no charge to customers. The taste is foul. Restaurants are getting complaints. This should be done now! !!!!
I asked about hydrant flushing and was told that would over be effective in dead-end neighborhoods. Barry Dunkley also said that the current water demand is running the water plant 24/7 already.
Apparently, South Boston is having the same issues. Several complaints from residents in recent days.
I wonder why the city can not turn off the street lights along 58 during high demand periods when we are asked to turn off our lights and turn our heat down. Wouldn’t turning off a few street lights help this situation. If they are not set up so they can be turned off then put a switch on them so it can happen.
Apparently the city has a 3 week supply of water if it takes 20 days to flush it out.
No. Some areas use more water than others.
Some households use more water than others. Still have a 20 day supply of water.