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03-B-(2) Water/SewerMEMORANDUM TO : MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM : MICHAEL E. MALONE, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT : W & S RECOMMENDATIONS OF COUNCILMAN PLATA, RECOMMENDATION NUMBER ONE DATE : MAY 14, 2003 RECOMMENDATION NUMBER ONE: Eliminate $18,000.00 budgeted for a new truck when the old one is still operable. On page three of the minutes of the Special City Council Meeting of September 19, 2002, fourth paragraph (attached hereto and labeled Exhibit I), Councilman Plata questioned the proposed expenditure of $18,000.00 for a new pickup. Mr. Campbell explained that this is a replacement for Unit 217 used by maintenance personnel and that it had 102,000 miles on the odometer after having already rolled over once. It was the consensus of the City Council to cut $5,000.00 from the budget for motor vehicles and this was done, leaving $13,000.00 for the purchase of a smaller pickup. On page 213 of the printed budget, line item 10-0901-82-98-Buildings was shown as $13,000.00 and line item 10-1004-82-99-Motor Vehicles was shown as $18,000.00. These numbers were reversed by mistake and should be corrected to reflect the amounts shown in the capital detail on page 214 following. The actual amount budgeted by Council for the purchase of the vehicle is $13,000.00. At the time the budget was being prepared, imf. Campbell prudently included funding for a replacement pickup since the availability ora substitute from another city department was unknown. I have attached a memorandum from Mr. Campbell dated April 23, 2003, (attached hereto as Exhibit II) which explains that the vehicle to be replaced was towed to the city shop on November 22, 2002, in an inoperable condition. Documentation is also attached concerning the condition of that vehicle and the recommendation of the shop that the vehicle be disposed of rather than repaired. Mr. Campbell's memorandum also explains that on January 7, 2003, Public Works was able to transfer a vehicle to the Utilities department to replace Unit 217 which subsequently has been placed in the city surplus auction, thus the one-time savings of $13,000.00 has already been achieved. MENFmm Attachments: Exhibit I, Exhibit 2 4-22-03-Memo-Mayor and Council-Plata Recommendation One Special City Council Meeting September 19, 2002 Page 3 Mr. Campbell said that compared to last year's budget the Water Production budget will go down seven tenths of 1%. The Wastewater budget is going up 4.3%, and the Lift Station's budget is going down by 4.9%. Mr. Campbell's total budgets will increase by .09%, and he said that is good because they are under a lot of mandates. Mr. Campbell passed around to the City Council two test tubes filled with water. One was filled with drinking water and the other was filled with water that was returned to the creek after it has been treated at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mr. Campbell said there are two places the Water Treatment Plant's budget could be cut. One would be in the electrical account. Another account to cut would be the chemical account. The chemical bids this year were $20,000 cheaper than last year's bids. //'-Councilman Plata questioned the motor vehicle account of $18,000.00. Mr.~ Campbell said that is a replacement vehicle for Unit 217· He explained that this vehicle was being driven by the Water Plant Superintendent when he went to work for the city, and it is still being used by maintenance at this time. He said the vehicle has 102,000 miles on it and it has already rolled over one time. The Council discussed using a mid-size pickup instead of the larger vehicle. It was the consensus of the City Council to cut $5,000.00 from the budget for motor vehicles. ,,_.. The City Council also cut $20,000.00 from the chemical account of the Water Production Division. Mr. Campbell discussed training of the operators and maintenance workers at the Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Plant. He pointed out that these plants are highly regulated by the TNRCC and EPA. The Council also discussed with Mr. Campbell the Wastewater Treatment Plant's MEMORANDUM City of Paris Utilities Department Date: April 23, 2003 To: Michael Malone City Manager From: Herbert H. Campbell ,f ~, ,~ ~ Director of Utilities Re: Vehicle Number 217 In the summer of 2002, we budgeted to have this vehicle replaced. It has 106,530 miles on it and is "junk" condition. On November 22, 2002 this truck was towed to the City shop because it would not crank. The shop could not get it to run. Work was stopped on it and it was placed on the back lot. On January 7, 2003 Public Works transferred to us a 1990 Chevrolet S-15 pick-up (Unit #154). This unit had been previously used by the Animal Control Bie~art~ent and by Maria Pope in Public Works. It was not longer needed by Public World. it is in "Fair" condition and currently has 114792 miles on it. I have attached a copy of the repair estimate made by James Walker, the Shop Supervisor. Also attached is the transfer document. We have not taken bids for a new vehicle even though one is budgeted. RECEIVE APR 2 5 CITY MANA©~L PARIS, TEXA3 EOUIPMENT ACCEPTANCE TRANSFER, REASSIGNMENT 'RELOCATION OR DISPOSAL FORM RECEIVED .i~N I~' 9 ~C,~5 Unit No. i54 Department 43 DIREGTO,q OF UTILITIES Transfer Date 01-07-03 Year Model Make of Vehicle Description Identification No. 1990 GMC S-15 1GTCS14R8M8534490 License No. Radio Yes Insured Yes Date Purchased Cost 591-251 XX No No Title No. Driver Disposltior and Date is transfer, etc., being made? Have all'available manuals, and operating instructions been furnished to receiving party or available at Garage' " Ye~ .... No. What use will be made of equipment in receiving department?.: ' ' ' .......... General condition of equipment [Garage Superintendent) Fair S,gned Original Dept. ~~/~,~~ ' ' Dit,' //~//'~ Si~ned Receiving Dept."-~JL?_~ ~~~ Date].///~/ Signed Garage Dept. Date -- Signe~ Purchasing AgtJ' Date MEMORANDUM TO : MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM : MICHAEL E. MALONE, CITY MANAGER W & S RECOMMENDATIONS OF COUNCILMAN PLATA, SUBJECT : RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO DATE : MAY 14, RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO: Eliminate $40,000.00 budgeted for equipment to remove sludge when conventional methods have worked for years. On pages four and five of the minutes of the S~e¢ial City Council Meeting of September 19, ~002, begi-nmn~ with the fourth Daraara~h (attached hereto as Exhibit I),Coun¢ilman Plata questioned the proposed-expenditure of 5;40,000.00 in line item 10-0414-82-00-Other, sludge removal. Mr. Campbell explained that water treatment plant sludge is collected into two old settlement basins from wh~it was tile Maxey Water Treatment Plant. He smd that we cannot I~et the sludge out of these basins fast enough anti that funds from this line item were budgeted to ~nstall automatic sludge handlinl~ equipment in the bottom of these two basins. The purpose is to scraDe the sludge and keep it mixetFnD-solt can be sprayed on the field. We are recycling, approximately 800,000 gallons of water Der day tlfat otherwise would be pumped to the creek anffwould have to be rep_laced by Dumping hdditidnal water from Pat Mayse la'kc at additional cost. The recycling o~ this wafer saves approximately $66,$00.00 per year. We make beneficial use of this sludge by spraying it on a field atljacent to the plant. There is a new mandate that we refer to as the backwash recycle rule. The rule has been implemented on January 1~' and its purpose is to prevent the ¢ontaminafion of our ari.n,.king yat?? vi tv i ¢cYadu a backwash water with too high a concentration of Giardia and Cryptospormmm, ootn oa serious health problems to some people. There are rules that limtt disposing of sludge by sending it down the creek. We have a permit to apply the sludge to the land adioining the plant which is an efficient and cost effective means of disposal. We have never had an effective way fo keep the sludge in suspension in the basin that we are pumping to the spray field from, so that the solids settle into the bottom of the basin. As these solids~uilil up in the basin, the contaminants are concentrated and there is more chance of spillage over into our water treatment process as we draw the recycle water off the tod to return to the process to save money. The new mandate is more strict about the quality of the recycle water that we are reusing and the funds budgeted are to be used this summer to aitdress this problem. Mr. Campbell i~rudently budgeted $40,000.00 to cover the contingency of purchasing commercial sludge hahdlin~eouiDment designed for this purpose. Again, illustrating the conservative use of resources, Mr.'~C~imi~bell began experimentmo with a cheaper alternative this Dust fall. He ha~l reviously bouaht for salvage value some surplus floating mixer/aerators from John Kraft Sesa¢o ~o .mpan); in P£ris which we have been usina in these basins for severalyears without achieving the desired effect needed to meet this new mantlate. Mr. Campbell has designed some modifications to these floatin~ mixer/aerators and has had a l~rototype fabricated. We have been testina the modified mixer/aeratOrs and believe that the modified version will achieve the desired results. It apl}ears that to fully implement the modifications, less than half of the budgeted $40,000.00 will be needled. The "conventional methods (thaP have worked for ,~ears" referred to by Councilman Plata will .no longer suffice due to the new rule ~l~at has been implemented. An expenditure is necessary to meet the new rule tn effect to avoid a situation where we would be fined and to protect the health ol'tlte citizens · . ................. ~ ~un¢ilmanPlata'snrolectedsavingsof$40,O00.O0 cannot b~ reasonably ~ichieved and meet the rule in an adequate and respon?me manner. it appears that staff will save as much as $20,000.00 or more through their renovation. MEM/mm Attachments: Exhibit L Pictures - Exhibits II and III $-14-0~-Memo-Mayor anti Council-Plata Recommendation Two Special City Council Meeting September 19, 2002 Page 4 account for sidewalks, curbs, street and alley repair. Mr. Campbell said they were obligated to maintain good roads to their plant and to the master lift station. They also have concrete work that they do around the plant. It may not be a curb, but it will be like a curb where you knock-off something on one of the basins and have to do concrete repair. Mr. Campbell explained the $85,000 in the filter beds and valves account for the Water Production Department. He said that amount is to replace the effluent valve controllers on ten valves on the filters. Mr. Campbell said the new rules and regulations require that all of the filters be monitored continuously for the quality of the water output. If you surge the filters, then that water quality can go up and spike the controls that are on the filters, which were put on there eight years ago when the plant was modified. They are wearing out and they are going to upgrade them to better controls. Councilman McCarthy questioned the sidewalks, curbs, street and alley repair account again and Mr. Campbell advised that the street and alley repair is basically for materials that are put on the roads. After discussion, the City Council agreed by a show of hands to cut $6,000.00 from this account. //~Councilman Plata questioned the Account for Sludge Removal at the Water ~ Treatment Plant. Mr. Campbell said two old settlement basins from the Maxey Water Plant were used when the sludge handling facility was put in. Workers cannot get the sludge out fast enough. Mr. Campbell said he wanted to put automatic sludge handling equipment in the bottom of those basins. This will scrape the sludge and keep it mixed up so it can be sprayed on the field. He said there is a new rule called the recycle rule. The water that goes around to backwash the filters goes to a sump and it is pumped back for the sludge to be removed out of it. Then the water is decanted over and goes back to the head of the plant for treatment. If you cannot take the sludge out of the pit efficiently then the water that comes back is a bad quality and they have to shut down the recycle system and dump it into the creek. If you dump into the creek, the water has to meet a certain quality. The city does not have the facility to treat water that goes to the creek so they have to make sure that they recycle all of the water. Special City Council Meeting September 19, 2002 Page 5 He said it is a million gallons of water a day that the city does not have to pump from Pat Mayse Lake. Mayor Pfiester announced that the City Council would take a break at 6:52P.M. Mayor Pfiester reconvened the meeting at 7:02 P. M. City Attorney Schenk said there is a City Council meeting scheduled for September 26, 2002, to vote on the tax rate and the propo~sed budget. Gene Anderson advised the City Council that the tax rate looks like it is going to be .695 cents, which is one and one-half cents below the rollback. A motion was made by Councilman McCarthy, seconded by Councilman Weekly, to approve the changes that were made to the budget tonight. The motion carried 7 ayes, 0 nays. A motion was made by Councilman McCarthy, seconded by Councilman Weekly, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 7 ayes, 0 nays. MICHAEL J. PFIESTER, MAYOR ATTEST: MATTIE CUNNINGHAM, CITY CLERK MEMORANDUM TO : MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM : MICHAEL E. MALONE, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT : W & S RECOMMENDATIONS OF COUNCILMAN PLATA, RECOMMENDATION NUMBER THREE DATE : MAY 14, 2003 RECOMMENDATION NUMBER THREE: Eliminate $100,000.00 sbtudgeted for new valves to be installed while old ones could be rebuilt at the (sic) fraction of the cos. On page four of the minutes of the Special City Council Meeting of September 19, 2002, beginning witli rife second paragraph (attached hereto as Exhibit IL Councilman Plata questioned the proposed expenditure of $85,000.00 in line item 10-0403-82-00-Filter beds and valves. The account was and is budgeted for an $85,000.00 expenditure and is a maintenance account, not capital. Mr. Campbell explained at the meeting in September that part of the funds in this account were to be used to replace the effluent valve CONTROLLERS (not valves) on te.p v.a!yes~.n th.e filters:. Mr: Campbell explained that the new rules and regulations require that an of the hirers De momtoren continuously for the quality of the water ontp~ut.~fhis water quality is charted continuously and is kep. t as a record. Mr. Campbell explained that, ~fyon surge the filters, then the turbidity of tile water wall go up and will show np as a spike on our graphs. Tile magnitude and duration of the spike is now regulated by TCE(}, and if we have a spike ol'a certain magnitude and duration, we will be subject to~ublic notification and possible publication of a "boil water notice". These controls werepuif on there eight years ago when theplant was modified and are wearin~ out. The new filter effluent controllers are more precise anffwill allow the valves to be controlle~d more carefully, avoiding the violation of water quality standards that are newly mandated. At this time, four of the new controllers have been installed and the other effluent valve controllers have already beenpnrchased and are awaiting installation. A large proportion of this maintenance account is budgetedfor thc replacement of filter media which is graduallq washed out over time. I am attaching Exh~it II which hsts all of the items which might at one time or another have to be purchased from this MAINTENANCE account. As you will-see, we are budgeting a modest amount relative to the value of all items that would be purchased from this account iFyou purchased them all at once. Of course, we don't expect to have topnrchase them all at on.ce, we only budget a modest amount to take care of known maintenance andto allow for other contingencies that m~ght occur at any time. There was never any planned expenditure for "valves" being I~udgeted. At this point in the fiscalyear, we are proiecting a total expenditure of approximately $65,000.00 of the $85,000.00 budgeted for a possible sawngs o'f $20,000.00. I surmise that the other $15,000.00 in Councilman Plata's estimated savings by not ~nrc.hasing "valves" could refer to account number 10-0413-82-00 - Hydrants and valves, although only $12,000.00 is budgeted in this line item for the contingency, of the need to repair or replace other valves or hydrants used at the water treatment plant. At tli~s point, no funds have been needed. If no valves or h~.drants are needed this fiscal year, then it is likely that these funds will not be used resulting in a sawngs of $12,000.00. It is possible that between these two accounts,an estimated $32,000.00 may be saved at the end of the year. It will not be possible to save the $100,~00.00 projected by Councilman Plata. MEM/mm ~tachment: Exhibits I a~d II . -03-MemO-Mayor and Council- Plata~ecom m entlatlon Three Special City Council Meeting September 19, 2002 Page 4 account for sidewalks, curbs, street and alley repair. Mr. Campbell said they were obligated to maintain good roads to their plant and to the master lift station. They also have concrete work that they do around the plant. It may not be a curb, but it will be like a curb where you knock-off something on one of the basins and have to do concrete repair. ~Mr. Campbell explained the $85,000 in the filter beds and valves accoun~ Water Production Department. He said that amount is to replace the effluent valve controllers on ten valves on the filters. Mr. Campbell said the new rules and regulations require that all of the filters be monitored continuously for the quality of the water output. If you surge the filters, then that water quality can years ago when the plant was modified. They are wearing out and they are going ~ go up and spike the controls that are on the filters, which were put on there eight to u~pgrade them to better controls. ~ Councilman McCarthy questioned the sidewalks, curbs, street and alley repair account again and Mr. Campbell advised that the street and alley repair is basically for materials that are put on the roads. After discussion, the City Council agreed by a show of hands to cut $6,000.00 from this account. Councilman Plata questioned the Account for Sludge Removal at the Water Treatment Plant. Mr. Campbell said two old settlement basins from the Maxey Water Plant were used when the sludge handling facility was put in. Workers cannot get the sludge out fast enough. Mr. Campbell said he wanted to put automatic sludge handling equipment in the bottom of those basins. This will scrape the sludge and keep it mixed up so it can be sprayed on the field. He said there is a new rule called the recycle rule. The water that goes around to backwash the filters goes to a sump and it is pumped back for the sludge to be removed out of it. Then the water is decanted over and goes back to the head of the plant for treatment. If you cannot take the sludge out of the pit efficiently then the water that comes back is a bad quality and they have to shut down the recycle system and dump it into the creek. If you dump into the creek, the water has to meet a certain quality. The city does not have the facility to treat water that goes to the creek so they have to make sure that they recycle all of the water. Utilities Department _ Water Treatment Division Filter Beds and Valves Account No.: 10-0403-82-00, Repair/Replacement Items That Are Included in this Account Total for All Filters (10) ITEM: Number: Unit Cost: Total Cost: FLOAT SWITCH 10 $ 40.00 $ 400.00 JET NOZZLE 360 $ 2.60 $ 936.00 JET NOZZLES TIPS 360 $ 1.40 $ 604.00 ROD BEARING 30 $ 29.00 , $ 870.00 BEARING ASSEMBLIES 30 $ 163.00 $ 4~890.00 INDICATOR FLAGS 30 $ 15.00 $ 450.00 INDICATOR RODS 30 $ 48.00 $ 1,440.00 TROUGHS ASSEMBMES 60 $ 1,570.10 $ 94,206.00 BOTTOM SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES 10 $10,000.00 $ 100,000.00 VALVE LIMIT SWITCHES 88 $ 90.00 $ 7,920.00 SOLENOID VALVES 62 $ 612.00 $ 37,944.00 EMERGENCY OPERATING CONTROL 24 $ 820.00 $ 19,680.00 VALVES WITH SOLENOIDS DP FLOW CELLS 10 $ 1,400.00 $ 14,000.00 LOSS OF HEAD DP CELLS 10 $ 1,400.00 $ 14,000.00 FILTER CONTROL VALVES AND 51 $ 5,000.00 $ 258,000.00 VALVE ACTUATORS 61 $ 3,000.00 $ 153,000.00 FLOW CONTROL NEEDLE VALVES 22 $ 34.29 $ 754.38 ISOLATION VALVES 150 $ 30.00 $ 4,500.00 BACKWASH FLOW CONTROL I $ 5,139.00 $ 5,139.00 VALVE AND ACTUATOR 1 $ 2,958.00 $ 2,958.00 FILTER MEDIA Anthracite for loss make-up at 10 $ 3,100.00 $ 31,000.00 6" per filter Total: I $ 749,591.38 14-May-03 MEMORANDUM TO : MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM : MICHAEL E. MALONE, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT : W & S RECOMMENDATIONS OF COUNCILMAN PLATA, RECOMMENDATION NUMBER FOUR DATE : MAY 14, 2003 RECOMMENDATION NUMBER FOUR: Cut operators manning the water production plant from 2 people per shift to 1 person per shift. The mission of the water treatment division of the Utilities Department is to produce potable drinking ~vater while protecting the health of the people we serve by treating the drinking water properly while meeting exacting state and federal standards as encompassed in the SafeDrinking Water Act and other regulations, to ensure the protection of the health and safety of our employees, and to perform this task as economically as possible. The size and complexity and operating conditions for the water treatment plant in Paris, Texas, at Lake Crook are considerably different than from the facilities in cities that have been furnished by Councilman Plata for comparison purposes. You will recall that the representatives of OMI, in making their presentation, advised that each city's operation was different. There are very good reasons why our Utilities Department is staffed as it is and this has developed over many years to meet increasing regulatory responsibilities and to operate a greatly expanded operation with more equipment and more tasks to be performed. While the duties have greatly expanded in the past ten years, no additional personnel have been added during this period. The number one reason for having a minimum of two people manning the water production plant each shift is for the health and safety of the public who consumes the water produced and, equally important, to maintain the health and safety of our employees. A secondary reason would be to provide an extra measure of protection for the assets of the water treatment plant to prevent damage to the facility. On one occasion, when I served on the City Council, the only operator at the plant fell asleep one night and failed to turn off pumps which compounded the error of leaving the bonnet off of one of the high service pumps being repaired, thus flooding the water plant and putting the plant out of production for several days. The electric motors had to be pulled from the pumps and shipped to Fort Worth, Texas, to be dried out at a cost of approximately half a million dollars. Fortunately, at the time, the old Camp Maxey svater treatment plant could produce some water for the citizens, but industry was curtailed and the situation was expensive for all concerned. There was a lot of lost production in Paris and a great danger to the public safety because of this simple error. On another occasion, the only operator on duty slipped and fell approximately ten feet off the end of the filter deck and lay unattended for some unknown time before he recovered and resumed his duties. These two actual occurrences I believe effectively demonstrate the need for two personnel to be on duty at both plants during each shift. In addition to the above, I am attaching additional information which details the requirements that are placed on these personnel on a 24/7/365 basis. Mr. Campbell is present to discuss in detail why major staff reductions are not advisable. MEM/mm Attachment: Exhibit 1 5-14-03-Mayor and Council-Plata Recommendation Four CITY OF PARIS UTILITIES DEPARTMENT WATER TREATMENT PLANT TWO PERSONNEL ON SHIFT AFTER HOURS AND WEEKENDS THE TREATMENT PLANT MUST BE MANNED ANYTIME WATER IS BEING TREATED BY A "C" CERTIFIED OPERATOR OR GREATER. AT PRESENT, THE PARIS PLANT MUST BE IN OPERATION 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR, IN ORDER TO MEET DEMAND OR INSURE ADEQUATE STORAGE. IT TAKES ONE YEAR OF HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND PASSING A STATE TEST TO BECOME A "C" CERTIFIED OPERATOR. THE LAW ALSO SAYS THE PARIS PLANT MUST ALSO EMPLOY AT LEAST ONE "B" CERTIFIED OPERATOR. IN THE PAST EIGHTEEN YEARS THE CITY OF PARIS HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ATTRACT OR RECRUIT ANY "B" CERTIFIED OR HIGHER CERTIFIED OPERATORS TO THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT. ALL HAVE BEEN TRAINED HERE ON SITE. IN ORDER TO INSURE THAT ALL WATER QUALITY STATE MANDATES ARE MAINTAINED, OPERATORS COLLECT OVER 167,000 SAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS AND RUN MORE THAN 250,000 ANALYSES PER YEAR. EVERY HOUR OPERATORS COLLECT A SERIES OF SAMPLES FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE PLANT AND SOME SAMPLES MUST BE COLLECTED OFF-SITE DAILY. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF NON-COMPLIANCE OR FINES TO THIS DATE. FOR EXAMPLE ON SATURADAY, DECEMBER 7' 2002, A 20" WATER MAIN RUPTURED. HAD THERE NOT BEEN TWO CERTII~IED WATER PLANT OPERATORS ON SHIleT DURING THAT TIME, THE CITY OF PARIS WATER TREATMENT PLANT WOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED TO ANNOUNCE A PUBLIC NOTIFICATION TO BOIL WATER DUE TO LOW DISTRIBUTION PRESSURE. WATER PLANT PERSONNEL ALSO RECEIVE ALL CALLS FROM THE RACO SCADA SYSTEM WHICH SERVE PRIMARILY WASTEWATER LllVT STATIONS. THE OPERATOR MUST READ THE CALL, WHICH IS 20 LINES OF INFORMATION, AND INTERPRET WHAT ACTION MUST BE TAKEN, IF ANY. ALARM CALLS REQUIRE THE DISPATCHING OF LIFT STATION PERSONNEL. WHEN ANY CONDITION CHANGES AT THE LIFT STATION, THE OPERATOR MUST AGAIN CONTACT LIFT STATION PERSONNEL. MANY OF THESE ARE FOR LOST POWER. AFTER LIFT STATION PERSONNEL HAVE CONFIRMED THIS SITUTATION, THE WATER PLANT OPERATOR MUST CONTACT THE POWER PROVIDER AND ARRANGE FOR REPAIRS. FREQUENTLY, A LOSS OF POWER AFFECTING THE LIFT STATIONS CREATES A POWER OUTAGE OVER A LARGE AREA OF THE POWER GRID AND RESULTS IN A LOSS OF POWER AT GROUND STORAGE, PAT MAYSE PUMP STATION, AND/OR THE TREATMENT PLANT. THE OPERATORS MUST CONTEND WITH THESE PROBLEMS IN ADDITION TO DISPATCHING FOR THE LIFT STATIONS. THE OPERATORS MUST IMPLEMENT A DETAILED WRITTEN PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING POWER OUTAGES ANY TIME THIS OCCURS AND THIS ALSO INVOLVES DEPLOYING EMERGENCY LIGHTS, STARTING THE GENERATOR, RECORDING STORAGE LEVELS, AND SHUT DOWN OF SOME EQUIPMENT AND OTHER DUTIES SPECIFIC TO AREAS AFFECTED BY AN OUTAGE. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE RESPONSE TIME THAT IS ACHIEVED FOR HAVING TWO PERSONNEL ON SHIFT, THE CITY OF PARIS WOULD MOST PROBABLY STILL BE UNDER CERTAIN ADMiNISTRATIVE ORDERS FROM THE STATE FOR WASTEWATER OVERFLOWS AND BYPASSES. THERE WERE MORE THAN 2,600 ALARM CALLS LAST YEAR. FOR EVERY ALARM CONDITION THERE MUST BE A RETURN-TO-NORMAL CALL AND LIFT STATION PERSONNEL AGAIN MUST BE CONTACTED. SOME ALARMS ARE FOR LOW PRESSURE AT THOSE LIFT STATIONS WITH PRESSURE MONITORS AND OFTEN PUBLIC WORKS MUST BE CONTACTED TO CHECK FOR A WATER LEAK IN THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN THE AREA OF THE ALARM. THERE ARE POLL CALLS 3 TIMES A DAY OF ALL EIGHTEEN RACO UNITS TO VERIFY WORKING CONDITIONS, OR 1,095 PER YEAR. THERE ARE ALSO 4 AUTO CALLS PER DAY TO ALSO VERIFY THE WORKING CONDITION OF UNITS, OR 1460 CALLS PER YEAR. OPERATORS ARE THEREFORE READING OVER A HALF MILLION LINES OF DATA PER YEAR FOR THE RACO SYSTEM. WATER PLANT OPERATORS ALSO RECEIVE ALL CALLS FOR SERVICE FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ON WEEKENDS AND AFTER HOURS AND DISPATCH PERSONNEL. LOGS OF ALL ACTIONS MUST BE RECORDED, WITH OVER 800 REQUESTS LAST YEAR. THIS INCLUDES NOTIFYING DIG TEST OF LOCATIONS WHERE PUBLIC WORKS PERSONNEL NEED TO DIG TO REPAIR WATER LINES. IT IS NOT FEASIBLE FOR LESS THAN TWO PERSONS PER SHIFT TO CONSISTENTLY INSURE A SAFE AND ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY FOR THE PUBLIC AT ALL TIMES AND UNDER ALL CONDITIONS. A SINGLE PERSON ON DUTY COULD POSE A RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OR FAILURE TO MEET STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES. WE MUST ADEQUATELY STAFF THE TREATMENT PLANT AT ALL TIMES TO INSURE THE PUBLIC IS NEVER EVEN POTENTIALLY PLACED IN JEOPARDY.