Fort Wayne Sewer Advisory Group Meeting

June 3, 2009

Attending
David Kohli, NEAP – Chair
Ron Smith
Allen Lauer, Sr., NWAP
Rod Vargo, Ludwig Park
City of Fort Wayne staff:
Jeff Morris, Water Pollution Control Maintenance
Wendy Reust, Planning and Design Services
Mary Jane Slaton, Water Resources

Stormwater Sub-Committee

David Kohli called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM

Mary Jane Slaton from City Utilities gave an update on the rain garden program
• City Utilities has hosted 10 workshops for residents who would like to build a garden
with about 300 people attending. A workshop is being held this evening in the Omni
Room
• Attending a workshop is a requirement to receive an incentive – either free plants or a
cash payment from the City
• People who put in a rain garden are asked to register the garden on the City’s website.
About 30 have been registered
• Reviews of the workshops by participant have been excellent
Rod Vargo asked if the City expects to be able to meet its goal of 1,000 residential rain gardens
by 2014. Mary Jane responded that while it is an ambitious goal, the City will work hard to meet
it.

Camp Scott Open House

• An open house event is planned for June 27 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• This will be the second event at the wetlands this year. Two more are planned.
• When we have events people inevitably ask if/when Camp Scott will be open all the time
• Even when the permit requirements for the operation of Camp Scott expire, the City’s
intent is to only have the wetlands open on a limited basis because of the need to prevent
dumping and for public safety
David Kohli indicated that he understands the reasons that the City keeps Camp Scott open only
on a limited basis and he would support a decision to keep it closed. He asked if people can fish
in the pond. At this time the City does not allow fishing, and probably will not in the foreseeable
future.

Sewer Advisory Group

Chairman David Kohli called the Sewer Advisory Group regular meeting to order at 5:50 PM
and thanked all for attending.

Review Council Action on Sewer Rates

On May 26, 2009 City Council held a public hearing, discussed and approved a sewer rate
increase to help fund Fort Wayne’s Long Term Control Plan and Consent Decree. Wendy Reust

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and Mary Jane thanked all of the SAG members who attended the Council hearing and spoke in
favor of the rate increase. The increase will go into effect on July 1.

David stated that he feels people appreciate having the rate increase staggered over five years
rather than being implemented all at one. Rod Vargo observed that people in the Northwest Area
Partnership are resigned to the fact that rates are going up.

Review of Combined Sewer System Improvement Projects – Wendy Reust, PE

Wendy Reust works in City Utilities Planning and Design group and is responsible for
implementing many of the Long Term Control Plan projects to control the trash and debris going
into the rivers as well as the partial sewer separation projects in neighborhoods served by
combined sewers.

Wendy presented a map showing the general kinds of projects City Utilities is planning to
construct to comply with the Consent Decree and to implement the Long Term Control Plan that
will result in the reduction of the number of annual combined sewer overflow events. The City’s
“hybrid” plan includes partial sewer separation in many neighborhoods where it is physically
feasible, cost effective and will help reduce basement backups as well as reducing combined
sewer overflows. This will reduce flow in the system. The second part of the program is
increasing the ability to store wet weather flows at the CSO ponds at the sewage treatment plant
and increasing the plant’s capacity. The third part of the plan is increasing the ability of the
sewer system to collect and carry more flow by building a large interceptor that will essentially
run parallel to the St. Mary’s and Maumee Rivers. This sewer line will pick up sewage that is
currently discharged to the rivers at sewer overflow points and take it to the plant for treatment.

The Long Term Control Plan includes 15 categories of projects. Wendy provided an update on
the areas where work has already been done or where work will be done as a result of the just
approved sewer rate increase:
1. New primary treatment complex at WPC Plant – done.
2. A project to increase the capacity of the new primaries will be bid in 2014.
3. Floatables control demonstration projects at three outfalls (Woodhurst, Wildwood
and Concordia). Each project uses a different technology to remove trash and debris
that would otherwise go to the river when the CSO overflows. The overflow at
Concordia HS may eventually also have satellite disinfection.
4. Sewer separation in the St. Joseph River area. A project for the Woodrow-Vance
area is expected to be bid in July and begin in late summer/early fall.
5. Improvements and operational changes at the CSO ponds to allow them to receive
and store more wet weather flow then send it to the plant for treatment when capacity
is available in the plant.
6. Sewer separation in combined sewer sub-basins where flows will eventually go into
the parallel interceptor. Separation projects will be considered in CSO sub-basins in
the St. Mary’s and Maumee River watersheds.

Wendy also explained that the City is also in the process of selecting a consulting firm that will
assist with program management services for the implementation of the Long Term Control Plan.

Rod Vargo asked if the floatables control projects include any kind of grinder. Wendy responded
that some floatable control measures do grind floatables and put them back in the waste stream to
go to the plant. Rod expressed a concern about the ground material settling out in flatter parts of
the sewer system. Jeff Morris responded that the smaller the particles the more they tend to float,
so settling should not be an issue.

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Departmental Updates
Reports from Mike Kiester in Engineering Support Services and from Jeff Morris in Water
Pollution Control Maintenance are attached.

Jeff reported that he has warning signs for the Hosey Dam that can be put up on the Coombs
Street bridge. However, the bridge is about to be demolished for reconstruction by the County.
Rod asked if there was a way to put the signs up elsewhere on a temporary basis since people are
now boating on the rivers. Jeff will check for a location.

Items from the Floor/Other Issues

Rod Vargo stated that he has a concern about stormwater utility fees being collected from
properties in the floodplain and would like to discuss this topic at a future SAG meeting.

Next Meeting: No meeting is scheduled for August.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Respectfully submitted: Mary Jane Slaton

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