Town Manager’s Report, June 13, 2024

Application of Bio Solids (sludge)to Farms

On May 13 the Wastewater and Public Works Department teamed to take the sludge to the farms that are licensed to receive the material. One of the properties was the Berry Farm off Carlock Creek Road about one mile northeast of the corporate limits, and the second the Heath Farms off Fox Valley Road about four miles east of the corporate limits near Seven Mile Ford.

102.33 tons were taken to the Heath Farm in 15 truck loads and applied to 13.74 acres. 49.49 tons were taken to the Berry Farm in seven truck loads and applied to 7.32 acres. The applications is strictly monitored by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Their employee, Mr. Andrew Hensley, was on the site.

The sites have to be permitted by DEQ for a number of factors including soils acceptability, being out of the flood plain, not being in areas of karst topography, being in relatively flat land to prevent runoff, etc. etc. A nutrient management plan is also required to be done by DEQ every three years to test the soil conditions for future applications.

The Town also has to have a pollution liability policy. Our carrier, Virginia Risk Sharing Association (VRSA) does not offer the policy directly, but markets it out. Our carrier for the second year is Ascot of Atlanta, Georgia. The old Carrier CHUBB dropped carrying this policy two years ago and VRSA was able to get Ascot as another provider. The premium is $7,500 and is for $2,000,000 of coverage.

In the past it has taken our crews two days to complete the application. This time it took only one in an “all hands on deck” efforts. This time they worked from 6:00 a.m. to around 6:00 p.m. in order to get it done in one day. The crews should be congratulated for their efforts.

Installation of Complete Ultraviolet Disinfection (UV) System at Sewer Treatment Plant

The full UV installation was completed on April 9. To recap the system went out on January 26 and we were able to get a stop-gap repair done on January 30 which allow the waste stream to be treated. This stop-gap repair did not allow for any control monitored. We reported the outage to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the resulting bypass of those three or four days.

The new equipment was speced and ordered shortly thereafter at a cost of $34,571. The equipment came in sooner than expected in mid March from the manufacturer Trojan Technologies. We were then able to schedule the installation by Framark of Johnson City, Tennessee who monitors our electronics of our entire water and sewer operations. This installation was done without having to have another bypass. The completed system allows us to again monitor flows, hours on the banks, system alarms, etc. etc.

Public Hearing on 2024-25 Budget

Follow the Town budget 9 reports, March 2022 to April 2026

You have in your agenda packet a a synopsis of the proposed 2024-25 budget ad announcing the public hearing on the budget on June 13. The ad was run in the Smyth County News on May 29 and June 5, 2024. Included in the synopsis were notices of the proposed utility, general fund increases and the decrease in the real estate rate. As you know an additional Public Hearing was held on the proposed new real estate rate on May 23 as required by the Code of Virginia. Now one appeared at that public hearing.

Following the public hearing the budget cannot be adopted until at least seven days have passed from the date of the budget public hearing. As a result the 2024-25 budget cannot be adopted anytime before 7:00 p.m. on June 20.

Splash Pad Opening and Dog Park Dedication

Follow the splash pad 12 reports, March 2022 to August 2024

At this writing the Splash Pad (or Spray Ground) is scheduled to be opened on Monday, June 10. The fence is to installed the week of June 3. National Pools of Roanoke is scheduled to do the training on June 6. Recreation / Special Events Coordinator Stephen Fields laid out the logistics of the opening and closing of the facility weekdays and weekends. You have a copy of Stephen’s undated memo entitled “Splash Pad Opening and Closing”.

The hours of operations are slated to be from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm. The bathrooms will be locked either by the Police Department or Fire / Emergency Medical Service Staff. In case of lighting the facility will be self enforced since no staff will be present at the facility on a full time basis. The dedication / ribbon cutting for the facility will be determined at Council’s June 13 meeting.

The Dog Park dedication is scheduled to on June 8 at 11:00 at the site, of course. It is being done in conjunction with the Smyth County Chamber of Commerce who the Town is partnering with on “Woof Stock” Day on the north side of the park at the main shelter. This second annual event is a fundraiser in conjunction with Smyth Animal Rescue. It is a fund raiser that will include a pet show and demonstration, and will include vendors, inflatables, etc.