WEBVTT 00:00:06.740 --> 00:00:09.070 This work session of the Texas Water Development Board 00:00:09.070 --> 00:00:10.030 is called to order. 00:00:10.030 --> 00:00:13.500 The time is 1:32 PM. 00:00:13.500 --> 00:00:15.350 For the record I'm chairwoman, Brooke Paup. 00:00:15.350 --> 00:00:18.600 And with me today is director Kathleen Jackson. 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:20.553 Welcome y'all. Ashley, the first item. 00:00:22.470 --> 00:00:24.610 Chairwoman, the first item on the agenda today 00:00:24.610 --> 00:00:26.543 is welcome and introductions. 00:00:28.090 --> 00:00:30.530 Well y'all thank you so much for joining us today. 00:00:30.530 --> 00:00:35.530 I know it's a interesting time to be traveling and to be 00:00:35.750 --> 00:00:37.490 doing things in person. 00:00:37.490 --> 00:00:40.630 So we're all very grateful that the four of you 00:00:40.630 --> 00:00:42.543 joined us in person in Austin. 00:00:44.160 --> 00:00:48.120 This amps initiative is truly a feather in the cap of TWDB. 00:00:48.120 --> 00:00:53.120 Thanks in part to the visionary leadership of our resident 00:00:53.760 --> 00:00:56.750 engineer on the Board, Ms. Kathleen Jackson. 00:00:56.750 --> 00:00:59.480 I'm so delighted to have you here to see and hear what 00:00:59.480 --> 00:01:02.210 our contracts are saying with the boots on the ground 00:01:02.210 --> 00:01:05.300 and how you feel that we could better improve 00:01:05.300 --> 00:01:07.020 the amp's process. 00:01:07.020 --> 00:01:10.313 So with that, I will turn it over to Ms. Jackson. 00:01:12.435 --> 00:01:14.230 It's a pleasure and an honor 00:01:14.230 --> 00:01:18.860 to be able to have this work session with our contractors. 00:01:18.860 --> 00:01:21.840 And of course we have those that are participating on not 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:24.130 only here in person, but also virtually. 00:01:24.130 --> 00:01:26.750 And I think as many of you know, 00:01:26.750 --> 00:01:28.720 really since I came on the Board, 00:01:28.720 --> 00:01:33.150 I've had a real passion for small and rural communities. 00:01:33.150 --> 00:01:37.050 And with any initiative, the question is always, 00:01:37.050 --> 00:01:40.780 well, tell us about the case for action. 00:01:40.780 --> 00:01:43.710 And I think in this particular case, 00:01:43.710 --> 00:01:47.080 the story kind of begins with traveling around Texas 00:01:47.080 --> 00:01:50.330 and visiting with the small and rural communities 00:01:50.330 --> 00:01:52.780 and with the big cities and the million sized cities. 00:01:52.780 --> 00:01:56.390 And what you kind of noticed right off the bat is 00:01:56.390 --> 00:01:58.870 when you ask them about asset management, 00:01:58.870 --> 00:02:01.780 the big cities have all their engineers on staff. 00:02:01.780 --> 00:02:04.530 They have, a whole line of consultants 00:02:04.530 --> 00:02:05.640 and the small community 00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:07.700 I mean, oftentimes it's just one person 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:11.300 and many times they wear many different hats. 00:02:11.300 --> 00:02:14.737 And so if you ask them about, 00:02:14.737 --> 00:02:17.470 "What is your experience with asset management?" 00:02:17.470 --> 00:02:19.460 They said, "Well, we desperately need it." 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:22.830 I mean, oftentimes they didn't know 00:02:23.770 --> 00:02:25.993 where their assets even were. 00:02:27.290 --> 00:02:31.850 Maybe they had a drawing from years ago in the back room. 00:02:31.850 --> 00:02:34.410 Maybe it was just an operator that had kind of everything 00:02:34.410 --> 00:02:35.490 in their head. 00:02:35.490 --> 00:02:39.310 And so that was the first thing that you heard is that 00:02:39.310 --> 00:02:43.760 we could really utilize and benefit from just kind of 00:02:43.760 --> 00:02:46.450 knowing what our assets are to begin with. 00:02:46.450 --> 00:02:49.000 And then secondly, when you ask them, 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:52.500 if they had any kind of game plan moving forward to do their 00:02:52.500 --> 00:02:55.176 investments in terms of projects 00:02:55.176 --> 00:02:59.440 or knowing what was the condition of their facilities, 00:02:59.440 --> 00:03:03.860 their equipment, again that was something that just 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:07.663 was beyond what their capabilities were. 00:03:09.218 --> 00:03:13.380 And then if you went on to kind of talk a little bit about 00:03:13.380 --> 00:03:15.470 the operational integrity aspect of it, 00:03:15.470 --> 00:03:17.990 which was their operating procedures 00:03:17.990 --> 00:03:21.610 they'd bring out this great legal binder, 00:03:21.610 --> 00:03:24.410 which of course needs to be in place. 00:03:24.410 --> 00:03:26.257 And oftentimes they said, 00:03:26.257 --> 00:03:28.520 "Well, it hasn't been updated in a while." 00:03:28.520 --> 00:03:32.090 So many, many challenges with a small community. 00:03:32.090 --> 00:03:37.090 And I think in looking at this your desire is that 00:03:38.303 --> 00:03:41.370 they would have all of the resources 00:03:41.370 --> 00:03:44.550 that a big city would have, or a middle-sized city. 00:03:44.550 --> 00:03:46.720 And particularly in asset management. 00:03:46.720 --> 00:03:51.220 And even those that had maybe done some asset management 00:03:51.220 --> 00:03:55.100 training that consisted of going to a one day seminar 00:03:55.100 --> 00:03:58.750 and at the end, I walk out with a piece of paper 00:03:58.750 --> 00:04:01.530 with a lot of websites on it. 00:04:01.530 --> 00:04:04.790 So I think it was pretty clear from the beginning 00:04:04.790 --> 00:04:08.660 that what was really needed was human capital. 00:04:08.660 --> 00:04:13.630 What was really needed was the expertise of the engineering 00:04:13.630 --> 00:04:17.160 community to come in and sit down with these communities 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:19.790 and take on a role that really the water development 00:04:19.790 --> 00:04:21.650 Board had never taken on before 00:04:22.520 --> 00:04:27.090 to be able to provide this resource to the community 00:04:27.090 --> 00:04:31.140 so that they in turn could be proactive 00:04:31.140 --> 00:04:32.690 rather than reactive. 00:04:32.690 --> 00:04:37.260 And we hope that the benefit that comes from this 00:04:37.260 --> 00:04:39.560 is fewer calls in the middle of the night, 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:41.280 where the equipment that has failed, 00:04:41.280 --> 00:04:44.300 and then you have absolutely no choice except to repair it 00:04:44.300 --> 00:04:46.150 at whatever cost it is. 00:04:46.150 --> 00:04:48.130 So having a better handle, 00:04:48.130 --> 00:04:51.130 having that game plan to be able to move forward 00:04:51.130 --> 00:04:54.260 and as opportunities become available, 00:04:54.260 --> 00:04:57.030 or they come and they work with the water development Board 00:04:57.030 --> 00:05:00.810 is they're actually able to invest in their facilities 00:05:00.810 --> 00:05:05.010 to make their systems more reliable and resilient 00:05:05.010 --> 00:05:07.350 and at the same time, kind of that one, two punch where 00:05:07.350 --> 00:05:09.770 we know operational integrity is not just 00:05:09.770 --> 00:05:11.180 the steel and the structure, 00:05:11.180 --> 00:05:14.120 but it says operation and maintenance procedures 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:17.290 that need to be updated and really, really pleased 00:05:17.290 --> 00:05:19.670 that I think we're gonna talk about some things 00:05:19.670 --> 00:05:22.890 that were innovative that was done as a part of 00:05:22.890 --> 00:05:25.910 this pilot project and kind of both of those fronts, 00:05:25.910 --> 00:05:28.270 both on the facilities management standpoint, 00:05:28.270 --> 00:05:31.350 as well as on the operating and maintenance side of it. 00:05:31.350 --> 00:05:34.938 So just really, really appreciate the staff, 00:05:34.938 --> 00:05:38.210 the work that they've put in to developing 00:05:38.210 --> 00:05:39.850 the pilot initiative. 00:05:39.850 --> 00:05:41.930 I appreciate all the thoughts and ideas and input 00:05:41.930 --> 00:05:43.960 that we got from across the state, 00:05:43.960 --> 00:05:47.400 as well as the energy and the talent 00:05:47.400 --> 00:05:51.180 and the commitment of the firms that came in 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:53.460 and worked with these small communities 00:05:53.460 --> 00:05:55.760 to do this initial pilot program. 00:05:55.760 --> 00:05:58.610 And of course my hope is that going forward, 00:05:58.610 --> 00:06:01.680 this program that was new and different than anything we had 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:04.970 done before will become kind of a natural consequence 00:06:04.970 --> 00:06:09.220 of our day-to-day operation and become a real benefit, 00:06:09.220 --> 00:06:10.870 not only to the Board, 00:06:10.870 --> 00:06:13.960 but also to the small communities across the state 00:06:13.960 --> 00:06:15.793 that can benefit from it. 00:06:16.780 --> 00:06:19.944 So excited to have this work session. 00:06:19.944 --> 00:06:22.810 I'm so excited about this program and really look forward 00:06:22.810 --> 00:06:26.410 to hearing from y'all what works, 00:06:26.410 --> 00:06:27.970 what maybe didn't work as well, 00:06:27.970 --> 00:06:32.970 what would you add, just again from an AMP standpoint. 00:06:33.700 --> 00:06:34.770 You were boots on the ground. 00:06:34.770 --> 00:06:37.313 You were working with the communities is Brooke said, 00:06:38.510 --> 00:06:41.250 your thoughts and ideas are something that for this program 00:06:41.250 --> 00:06:43.360 we really wanna take and integrate. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:45.670 And in that whole vein of continuous improvement, 00:06:45.670 --> 00:06:46.560 move forward with. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:48.303 So excited to be here. 00:06:49.830 --> 00:06:51.660 I've known to echo what Kathleen said, 00:06:51.660 --> 00:06:52.950 thank you all for being here. 00:06:52.950 --> 00:06:55.490 And I just wanted to compliment Jessica and her team 00:06:55.490 --> 00:06:58.560 for working with Ms. Jackson and coming up with 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:01.090 an initiative that again, I said, 00:07:01.090 --> 00:07:04.610 it's a feather in our cap because it is a risk mitigation 00:07:04.610 --> 00:07:08.900 tool that also helps preserve taxpayer dollars 00:07:08.900 --> 00:07:09.900 through asset management. 00:07:09.900 --> 00:07:13.860 And it provides customer service to these small communities 00:07:13.860 --> 00:07:17.410 that desperately need a little bit more help. 00:07:17.410 --> 00:07:20.600 So I'm very eager to hear what you all are saying 00:07:21.530 --> 00:07:23.430 within the communities that you've helped. 00:07:23.430 --> 00:07:26.720 And with that, just an FYI, 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:30.620 I'm gonna leave it to Patrick Katie, Patrick, 00:07:30.620 --> 00:07:32.790 to lay out our logistics and protocols 00:07:32.790 --> 00:07:35.230 a little later in the meeting. 00:07:35.230 --> 00:07:37.800 I'm gonna ask everyone now to very briefly 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:40.860 introduce yourselves, please just state your name, 00:07:40.860 --> 00:07:43.140 your firm, and the city you assisted. 00:07:43.140 --> 00:07:45.380 We'll start with our in-person guests 00:07:45.380 --> 00:07:48.900 and I'll prompt each virtual guests one by one. 00:07:48.900 --> 00:07:49.733 When I call your name, 00:07:49.733 --> 00:07:51.960 please turn your camera on and go ahead 00:07:51.960 --> 00:07:53.930 and turn your cameras off when done, 00:07:53.930 --> 00:07:56.840 just to make sure the whole system doesn't crash, 00:07:56.840 --> 00:07:58.840 because we don't really want that today. 00:08:00.100 --> 00:08:01.750 Sir, Scott. 00:08:01.750 --> 00:08:03.695 All right. My name is Scott Mura. 00:08:03.695 --> 00:08:05.190 You need to speak in this. 00:08:07.076 --> 00:08:09.480 Do I need to push a button or anything or is it good, 00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:12.250 My name is Scott Moran with five M associates, 00:08:12.250 --> 00:08:14.610 formerly within Mar B group. 00:08:14.610 --> 00:08:17.410 I'm in a little different situation here 00:08:17.410 --> 00:08:19.980 'cause I was the engineer in charge of putting 00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:21.540 this together. 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:22.920 Now that I'm out on my own, 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:24.980 I'm now the city engineer for Holland. 00:08:24.980 --> 00:08:28.490 So I'm representing the city today. 00:08:28.490 --> 00:08:31.110 So I've kinda got a little bit different perspective 00:08:31.110 --> 00:08:34.080 being on the other side of the table now, 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:35.590 since this has been completed. 00:08:35.590 --> 00:08:38.650 So I'll be able to provide that when we get to our part. 00:08:38.650 --> 00:08:40.420 So you were an asset management engineer 00:08:40.420 --> 00:08:42.070 and then became the city engineer. 00:08:42.070 --> 00:08:43.453 That's a win, I think. 00:08:44.523 --> 00:08:45.490 I bet you have some thoughts. 00:08:45.490 --> 00:08:46.540 I do. I do. 00:08:48.910 --> 00:08:50.300 Elston Johnson. 00:08:50.300 --> 00:08:52.540 I'm Elston Jonson with Elston Johnson associates, 00:08:52.540 --> 00:08:55.977 and we assisted MRB group with the city of Holland. 00:08:55.977 --> 00:08:58.670 And so we provided systems assets management, 00:08:58.670 --> 00:09:01.593 and more of the operational aspects of the program. 00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:04.810 Well, thank you. Lady buck. 00:09:04.810 --> 00:09:07.660 Lady Buck with KSA engineers. 00:09:07.660 --> 00:09:10.510 And I was the project manager for the city of Pittsburgh. 00:09:11.980 --> 00:09:12.880 And Chris Nance. 00:09:14.810 --> 00:09:18.050 I'm Chris Nance with Park Hill out of El Paso. 00:09:18.050 --> 00:09:23.040 And we assisted the town of Anthony, Texas. 00:09:23.040 --> 00:09:26.180 Wonderful. And now we'll call on our virtual participants. 00:09:26.180 --> 00:09:27.463 Tracy Hicks. 00:09:29.450 --> 00:09:30.453 Hi everyone. 00:09:31.844 --> 00:09:34.844 (system scratching) 00:09:42.079 --> 00:09:45.720 Tracy, just that you know that your microphone 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:48.700 sounds a little wonky. 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:53.700 So if you can go ahead and unplug it and plug it back in. 00:09:55.506 --> 00:09:58.506 (system scratching) 00:10:01.800 --> 00:10:04.750 I'm gonna skip to Joe Treyho 00:10:12.270 --> 00:10:13.703 Joe, are you there? 00:10:22.040 --> 00:10:24.063 All right, let's go to Eric Hall. 00:10:25.642 --> 00:10:28.630 So my name's Eric Hall and I'm with HR green 00:10:28.630 --> 00:10:31.670 and I'm going to kind of turn my cam on see if it works. 00:10:31.670 --> 00:10:35.003 And we worked with the city of Blanco, Texas. 00:10:35.930 --> 00:10:36.763 Glad to be here. 00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:41.530 Thank you. Can you turn your camera on so we could. 00:10:41.530 --> 00:10:43.830 Obviously it's not working. I just drive it. 00:10:45.764 --> 00:10:47.783 That's all right, Rebecca Sant. 00:10:50.560 --> 00:10:52.130 Okay. Hi everyone. 00:10:52.130 --> 00:10:57.130 I'm Rebecca Sant I worked with Eric and the city of Blanco. 00:11:01.150 --> 00:11:02.893 Wonderful. Thank you for being here. 00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:07.283 Mike Liska. 00:11:10.810 --> 00:11:13.360 Karen's, Mike Liska had a death in the family 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:15.100 cannot make it today. 00:11:15.100 --> 00:11:18.827 Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Janet Shegat. 00:11:21.330 --> 00:11:23.713 Very good on pronouncing my last name. 00:11:25.380 --> 00:11:28.433 I'm Janet Shegat and I'm with MRB group. 00:11:30.130 --> 00:11:34.290 We worked on the city of Holland and I'm here. 00:11:34.290 --> 00:11:36.610 Mr. Beach could not be here this afternoon. 00:11:36.610 --> 00:11:37.863 He's in the hospital. 00:11:40.030 --> 00:11:40.870 Thanks Janet. 00:11:40.870 --> 00:11:43.670 Hope he's doing better. Thank you. 00:11:43.670 --> 00:11:45.183 He's in surgery right now, so. 00:11:51.110 --> 00:11:52.593 Phillip Gibbons. 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:01.733 Good afternoon, everyone. This is Phillip Gibbons. 00:12:03.700 --> 00:12:05.700 Director Jackson how are you. 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:10.640 I work with the city of Holland as a management specialist. 00:12:12.800 --> 00:12:16.093 Wonderful. Thank you for being here. Steve Walden. 00:12:20.718 --> 00:12:21.551 Hi, this is Steve Walden, 00:12:21.551 --> 00:12:23.670 It didn't look like these iPads 00:12:23.670 --> 00:12:26.650 cameras are working, but it's good to be with you today. 00:12:26.650 --> 00:12:29.560 And I'm part of Steve consulting and we worked with the MRB 00:12:29.560 --> 00:12:31.070 group on city of Holland. 00:12:32.810 --> 00:12:34.380 Thanks for being here, Steve. 00:12:34.380 --> 00:12:35.833 Let's go back to Tracy Hicks. 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:45.300 Hey, this is Blake Bogan with a KSA. 00:12:45.300 --> 00:12:47.070 I'll probably be speaking on behalf of Tracy 00:12:47.070 --> 00:12:48.470 since it's mic is off. 00:12:48.470 --> 00:12:50.793 We've both represented the city of Elkhart. 00:12:52.760 --> 00:12:54.310 Wonderful. Thank you so much. 00:12:55.977 --> 00:12:59.610 I believe we still have Joe Treyho left. 00:12:59.610 --> 00:13:02.000 Oh, can you hear me now? 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:03.220 We can. 00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:06.700 Thank you. This is Joe Treyho in Corpus Christi, 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:08.670 where they are IDR group of engineers 00:13:08.670 --> 00:13:11.403 and I assisted the city of Three Rivers. 00:13:14.910 --> 00:13:16.213 Wonderful. Thank you. 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:18.523 There you are. 00:13:18.523 --> 00:13:20.853 All right. I'm obviously a home. 00:13:22.021 --> 00:13:25.040 A family member tested positive a couple of days ago. 00:13:25.040 --> 00:13:27.250 I'm clear with the COVID, but she had tested positive. 00:13:27.250 --> 00:13:30.230 So I'm in quarantine workable today. 00:13:30.230 --> 00:13:31.890 Hopefully be better. 00:13:31.890 --> 00:13:33.870 Thank you. I finally got on Board here. 00:13:33.870 --> 00:13:37.603 The Mike youth would not let go, never let go. 00:13:38.680 --> 00:13:41.350 Thank you. Thanks for being here. 00:13:41.350 --> 00:13:43.170 The way of the world is either IT problems 00:13:43.170 --> 00:13:44.470 or COVID problems right now. 00:13:44.470 --> 00:13:47.958 So thank you, Joe. 00:13:47.958 --> 00:13:49.108 Thank you. Thank you. 00:13:50.040 --> 00:13:53.370 Well with that, Ashley, the next item, please. 00:13:55.450 --> 00:13:57.190 Chairwoman, I'm in the next item on the agenda 00:13:57.190 --> 00:13:59.050 is amps initiative. 00:13:59.050 --> 00:14:01.570 And Jessica Pena will address the Board 00:14:01.570 --> 00:14:03.233 and the group on this item today. 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:06.780 Good afternoon, for the record I'm Jessica Pena 00:14:06.780 --> 00:14:08.920 of the Executive Administrator staff. 00:14:08.920 --> 00:14:11.450 As director Jackson and other Board members were conducting 00:14:11.450 --> 00:14:13.510 their site visits that she spoke about, 00:14:13.510 --> 00:14:15.600 an internal evaluation of efficiencies 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:18.660 was also being conducted that would help assist staff 00:14:18.660 --> 00:14:21.410 expedite the application review process. 00:14:21.410 --> 00:14:23.990 We noticed that staff spent more time processing 00:14:23.990 --> 00:14:26.570 applications on systems that were operating 00:14:26.570 --> 00:14:29.530 in a reactive mode with deadlines and requirements 00:14:29.530 --> 00:14:31.500 that were results of enforcement actions 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:33.150 or compliance issues. 00:14:33.150 --> 00:14:34.310 As we work with customers, 00:14:34.310 --> 00:14:36.830 we often heard that some could not present an accurate 00:14:36.830 --> 00:14:39.810 picture of line location because of lost records 00:14:39.810 --> 00:14:41.730 or records that never existed, 00:14:41.730 --> 00:14:43.900 or perhaps components were only replaced 00:14:43.900 --> 00:14:47.100 after something had been broken or our sister agency, 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:49.180 the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 00:14:49.180 --> 00:14:50.040 or at a federal level, 00:14:50.040 --> 00:14:52.740 the Environmental Protection Agency had mandated 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:55.020 replacement or expansions. 00:14:55.020 --> 00:14:59.020 Not only that, but we also observed in some areas, 00:14:59.020 --> 00:15:01.120 often one person was wearing many hats. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:03.910 For example, the senior administrator might also be 00:15:03.910 --> 00:15:06.570 the water operator and often held that title 00:15:06.570 --> 00:15:09.100 and those responsibilities for many years, 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:11.280 which often led to operation voids, 00:15:11.280 --> 00:15:14.050 if that person suddenly retired and had maintained 00:15:14.050 --> 00:15:17.280 that operation manual in their cerebral libraries. 00:15:17.280 --> 00:15:18.550 Instances like this, 00:15:18.550 --> 00:15:20.710 combined with observations by our Board members 00:15:20.710 --> 00:15:23.790 in the field, let us to explore how to help systems 00:15:23.790 --> 00:15:25.637 discover and understand their systems 00:15:25.637 --> 00:15:28.820 and the needs associated with operating and maintaining 00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:31.160 those systems that could allow them to shift to more of 00:15:31.160 --> 00:15:33.320 a proactive management of those assets 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:35.260 in their communities budgets, 00:15:35.260 --> 00:15:36.480 while at the same time, 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:39.020 creating a readily available pipeline of projects 00:15:39.020 --> 00:15:41.920 for our state revolving fund programs. 00:15:41.920 --> 00:15:44.520 Out of those two efforts, the case for implementing 00:15:44.520 --> 00:15:47.730 the asset management for small systems or the AMs initiative 00:15:47.730 --> 00:15:49.160 was launched. 00:15:49.160 --> 00:15:50.380 In developing the program, 00:15:50.380 --> 00:15:53.670 we work closely with the TCEQ to ensure that plans were 00:15:53.670 --> 00:15:55.780 created in accordance with their small business 00:15:55.780 --> 00:15:58.460 and governmental assistance sections guidance 00:15:58.460 --> 00:16:00.640 on managing small public water systems 00:16:00.640 --> 00:16:03.560 and managing small domestic wastewater systems. 00:16:03.560 --> 00:16:06.200 The TCEQ assisted with promoting the program 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:08.820 and helped provide a list of potential small systems 00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:10.840 for this pilot program. 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:13.540 We also consulted with the environmental protection agency 00:16:13.540 --> 00:16:15.324 about our proposed plan. 00:16:15.324 --> 00:16:18.450 EPA region six was very supportive of this initiative 00:16:18.450 --> 00:16:22.230 and has shared this program with other regions six members. 00:16:22.230 --> 00:16:24.590 As you know, the Board is also a member of the council 00:16:24.590 --> 00:16:26.510 of infrastructure financing authorities, 00:16:26.510 --> 00:16:29.340 which is made up of all 50 clean and drinking water state 00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:32.010 revolving fund programs across the nation. 00:16:32.010 --> 00:16:36.940 TWDB staff has presented on the innovative initiative 00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:39.440 at its annual conference and positive responses 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:41.600 have been received thus far. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:43.650 And that brings us to where we are today. 00:16:45.660 --> 00:16:48.460 Thanks Jessica. With that, I'll hand it over to Patrick. 00:16:53.742 --> 00:16:55.440 Patrick, next item please. 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:57.650 Yes. Chairwoman, the third item on the agenda 00:16:57.650 --> 00:17:00.230 is overview of AMs pilot initiative, 00:17:00.230 --> 00:17:02.790 and that is Patrick Hating. 00:17:02.790 --> 00:17:04.410 All right, good afternoon, everyone. 00:17:04.410 --> 00:17:05.780 And thank you for joining us. 00:17:05.780 --> 00:17:09.450 My name is Patrick Hating and I am the relatively new 00:17:09.450 --> 00:17:12.310 coordinator for the amps program here at the Texas 00:17:12.310 --> 00:17:14.260 water development Board. 00:17:14.260 --> 00:17:17.680 The pilot phase of amps consisted of six projects, 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:22.680 three wastewater and three water systems for small systems 00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:27.470 representing the six different regions of Texas. 00:17:27.470 --> 00:17:30.060 Once the participant systems are selected 00:17:30.060 --> 00:17:32.360 with assistance from TCEQ, 00:17:32.360 --> 00:17:35.380 the systems chose a contractor to work with 00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:38.340 from a list of qualified contractors, 00:17:38.340 --> 00:17:40.120 which was created through a request 00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:42.430 for qualifications process. 00:17:42.430 --> 00:17:44.830 The contractors and systems then work together 00:17:44.830 --> 00:17:47.152 to create an asset management plan 00:17:47.152 --> 00:17:50.040 to not only take stock of the infrastructure 00:17:50.040 --> 00:17:53.070 that's in place and assess its condition, 00:17:53.070 --> 00:17:56.630 but also reviewed budget information, operating procedures, 00:17:56.630 --> 00:17:59.210 rural compliance, and several other elements 00:17:59.210 --> 00:18:02.270 pertaining to the management and operation of the system. 00:18:02.270 --> 00:18:05.070 With all that information gathered and reviewed, 00:18:05.070 --> 00:18:08.180 the plans were drafted to maintain the operational integrity 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:10.540 of the system and to plan for the future. 00:18:10.540 --> 00:18:13.930 I'm excited to hear more from the participants 00:18:13.930 --> 00:18:17.010 in today's work session about how these projects went 00:18:17.010 --> 00:18:18.510 from their perspective. 00:18:18.510 --> 00:18:22.130 But before we get into more in-depth discussion 00:18:23.219 --> 00:18:24.720 on the amps pilot, 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:27.510 I wanted to briefly remind everyone here 00:18:27.510 --> 00:18:30.730 about the other opportunities available through amps 00:18:30.730 --> 00:18:34.970 that can be found in the clean water and drinking water 00:18:34.970 --> 00:18:39.350 state revolving fund intended use plans or IUPs. 00:18:39.350 --> 00:18:42.270 Within the IUPs, there are two other funding sources 00:18:42.270 --> 00:18:43.940 related to amps. 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:47.503 The first is a 0% interest loan of up to $100,000 00:18:49.620 --> 00:18:52.150 to prepare an asset management plan, 00:18:52.150 --> 00:18:56.133 which meets the criteria in the scope of work for amps. 00:18:57.010 --> 00:18:59.740 This funding is available for all systems, 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:03.743 not just small systems that are eligible for SRF funding. 00:19:04.770 --> 00:19:09.110 The second is a 0% interest loan of up to $500,000 00:19:09.110 --> 00:19:13.270 for a portion of the total water development Board funding 00:19:13.270 --> 00:19:16.850 for a project if the system has implemented substantially 00:19:16.850 --> 00:19:19.130 all of the asset management components 00:19:19.130 --> 00:19:21.650 in the amp scope of work. 00:19:21.650 --> 00:19:26.610 This funding is available only for the small systems 00:19:26.610 --> 00:19:30.053 that would also be eligible for the amps program. 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:36.330 The small system does not have to have been a participant 00:19:36.330 --> 00:19:37.960 in the amps program, 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:42.960 but it must be eligible to be part of the program 00:19:42.990 --> 00:19:45.210 and have an asset management plan that meets 00:19:45.210 --> 00:19:47.420 the amp's scope of work. 00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:51.400 So both of these funding sources are applied for the same 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:54.023 way as other SRF funding requests. 00:19:55.090 --> 00:19:59.340 And so basically we have one funding opportunity for SRF 00:19:59.340 --> 00:20:03.000 eligible systems to create an asset management plan 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:05.810 and another funding opportunity for small systems 00:20:05.810 --> 00:20:08.520 that already have created and are implementing 00:20:08.520 --> 00:20:09.793 an asset management plan. 00:20:11.690 --> 00:20:14.420 And then although we are having this meeting today 00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:19.210 to get input from y'all for the future projects, 00:20:19.210 --> 00:20:23.120 one change that has already been made to amps 00:20:23.120 --> 00:20:26.150 is that the total amount of funding per project 00:20:26.150 --> 00:20:31.150 has been increased from 75,000 to 100,000 per project. 00:20:31.930 --> 00:20:35.290 And then another change is that a section pertaining 00:20:35.290 --> 00:20:38.870 to emergency preparedness, weatherization 00:20:38.870 --> 00:20:42.603 and resiliency is now being required as part of the plan. 00:20:43.490 --> 00:20:46.330 So we look forward to hearing all your thoughts 00:20:46.330 --> 00:20:50.270 on the amps pilot and suggestions for forthcoming 00:20:50.270 --> 00:20:52.183 arounds of amps. 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:58.880 So next we will ask the pilot phase contractors 00:20:59.430 --> 00:21:03.220 to give a brief summary of their projects. 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:06.500 After that, we will then go into the discussion part 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:08.930 of the meeting. 00:21:08.930 --> 00:21:11.830 We'll have five initial questions to ask 00:21:11.830 --> 00:21:13.593 to a specific contractor, 00:21:15.889 --> 00:21:18.140 and then there'll be opened up to the group 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:20.340 for any further input. 00:21:20.340 --> 00:21:22.470 After those initial five questions, 00:21:22.470 --> 00:21:23.990 we will have some additional questions 00:21:23.990 --> 00:21:27.210 that we'll just be open to all the participants 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:31.280 who would like to offer their input. 00:21:31.280 --> 00:21:34.200 We asked that for the folks joining us virtually 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:37.620 that you have your camera off, if you're not speaking, 00:21:37.620 --> 00:21:39.293 and if you are speaking, 00:21:40.566 --> 00:21:42.510 we need you to have your camera on 00:21:42.510 --> 00:21:46.130 and also turn on your camera if you would like to speak 00:21:46.130 --> 00:21:50.010 and that will give us the cue that you would like to speak 00:21:50.010 --> 00:21:50.843 on an item. 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:53.470 And so with that, I thank everyone. 00:21:53.470 --> 00:21:55.320 And I look forward to the discussion. 00:21:59.130 --> 00:22:00.973 Sorry, I'm not done yet. 00:22:02.030 --> 00:22:04.790 So first, can we have the representative 00:22:04.790 --> 00:22:07.430 from the city of Anthony project, 00:22:07.430 --> 00:22:10.133 give his a brief summary of the project? 00:22:13.790 --> 00:22:17.730 So we help Anthony water utility 00:22:17.730 --> 00:22:22.730 and Anthony is located on the Texas border at exit 08 on Y10 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:27.363 about 852 miles down the road from Beaumont. 00:22:29.800 --> 00:22:32.190 We had two primary phases. 00:22:32.190 --> 00:22:35.610 One was developing a GIS inventory 00:22:35.610 --> 00:22:40.610 using some templates available for water utilities. 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:45.680 But the key focus that we we're gonna talk about 00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:51.710 is using the EPA cups program, the checkup program 00:22:51.710 --> 00:22:53.780 for small systems. 00:22:53.780 --> 00:22:57.510 This was a software developed by the EPA 00:22:57.510 --> 00:23:00.220 for a lot of the intended purposes 00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:03.690 of this pilot program that small systems could use 00:23:03.690 --> 00:23:06.813 for their water and wastewater utilities. 00:23:07.930 --> 00:23:10.640 One of the advantages of that is 00:23:11.610 --> 00:23:14.380 it's a combined asset management software 00:23:14.380 --> 00:23:17.100 and a computerized maintenance management system. 00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:18.950 So they can log work orders, 00:23:18.950 --> 00:23:22.113 assign those work orders to assets and track histories. 00:23:24.469 --> 00:23:28.487 That's a pretty advanced feature for some free software. 00:23:30.395 --> 00:23:34.880 There was a lot of free and thorough training materials 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:35.923 available for it. 00:23:37.030 --> 00:23:40.110 And again, it has a lot of the similar features 00:23:40.110 --> 00:23:42.553 to enterprise software. 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:46.600 One of the negatives about this is that 00:23:46.600 --> 00:23:48.950 there was no GIS integration and that's partially why 00:23:48.950 --> 00:23:53.820 we chose to develop a GIS inventory outside of cups. 00:23:53.820 --> 00:23:57.350 It is wastewater and water utility specific. 00:23:57.350 --> 00:23:59.300 So it doesn't have some of the features 00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:05.150 to integrate things like street and drainage departments, 00:24:05.150 --> 00:24:06.653 and it is a legacy software. 00:24:07.690 --> 00:24:11.343 So it isn't being currently developed. 00:24:12.280 --> 00:24:17.280 It has a few key features such as an add an asset inventory 00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:21.557 where you can use to store materials, 00:24:23.950 --> 00:24:25.260 schedules of replacement. 00:24:25.260 --> 00:24:29.513 There's an ONM calendar that shows reporting requirements, 00:24:30.530 --> 00:24:34.030 but also any sort of recurring events associated 00:24:34.030 --> 00:24:35.800 with particular assets. 00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:38.790 And then at the end, once you input all that data, 00:24:38.790 --> 00:24:42.170 it will give you financial performance metrics 00:24:42.170 --> 00:24:47.170 and produce template reports 00:24:48.030 --> 00:24:52.730 that show one of the reports is the asset checkup 00:24:52.730 --> 00:24:54.320 that shows your high risk assets 00:24:54.320 --> 00:24:56.700 and when they need to be replaced. 00:24:56.700 --> 00:25:01.700 And then also a full carbon mike's cups report, 00:25:02.710 --> 00:25:05.580 which is a full asset management document 00:25:05.580 --> 00:25:08.450 that lets you fill in certain blanks, 00:25:08.450 --> 00:25:13.450 but produces a pretty thorough asset management plan. 00:25:15.930 --> 00:25:16.763 Sure. 00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:22.470 Can I ask some questions. Yes, absolutely. 00:25:27.421 --> 00:25:30.671 You need to be speaking into the mic. 00:25:31.943 --> 00:25:34.790 It's not something they can just pick up and start 00:25:34.790 --> 00:25:38.480 and learn took a lot of like an expert like you 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:40.030 to help them through the whole process. 00:25:40.030 --> 00:25:41.650 It was pretty daunting. 00:25:41.650 --> 00:25:44.153 There's a lot of stuff there almost too much stuff there. 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:46.650 It is thorough. 00:25:46.650 --> 00:25:51.650 I think it is one of maybe the more accessible, 00:25:52.560 --> 00:25:55.880 I mean, because I think to compare that accurately, 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:57.480 you would compare it to an enterprise software 00:25:57.480 --> 00:26:02.170 and that's gonna be also the same kind of challenges. 00:26:02.170 --> 00:26:04.720 But as far as that goes, 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:07.220 I think a lot of that available training material, 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:12.890 a lot of the presentations that you can find online 00:26:12.890 --> 00:26:16.350 can walk you through it fairly slowly 00:26:16.350 --> 00:26:20.353 and introduce you to the concepts of asset management. 00:26:21.330 --> 00:26:23.460 If I remember Jessica Jessica, we kind of looked at that. 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:25.960 We were figuring out a template to use for an amp. 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:27.290 You of look at that and black, 00:26:27.290 --> 00:26:28.820 that was just a little too much it's time. 00:26:28.820 --> 00:26:30.973 So I want him to TCEQ standards. 00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:32.973 Okay. Thanks. 00:26:32.973 --> 00:26:35.543 So is there a cost for cups. 00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:38.490 The software itself is free. 00:26:38.490 --> 00:26:41.740 Like I mentioned, it is a legacy software, 00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:43.793 so it's not currently being developed. 00:26:44.970 --> 00:26:47.950 I think there was a patch that needed to be installed 00:26:48.846 --> 00:26:52.340 to run on up-to-date windows, 00:26:54.260 --> 00:26:58.460 but it is freely available 00:26:58.460 --> 00:27:00.980 and all those training materials are also freely available. 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:02.840 I know that was one of the things that you really wanted 00:27:02.840 --> 00:27:05.300 to kind of focus on with Anthony, 00:27:05.300 --> 00:27:06.870 that opportunity to use cups. 00:27:06.870 --> 00:27:10.720 And so what's your assessment now 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:13.290 that you've actually gone through the process? 00:27:13.290 --> 00:27:16.170 I mean, if you had the option to do this, 00:27:16.170 --> 00:27:18.650 or is there some communities that this is a good fit for 00:27:18.650 --> 00:27:21.343 as opposed to maybe go on the other route? 00:27:21.343 --> 00:27:25.060 I think when you, when you compare it to again, 00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:26.230 like an enterprise software 00:27:26.230 --> 00:27:27.930 that they would be investing with, 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:35.470 obviously the cost of the software is gonna eat 00:27:35.470 --> 00:27:40.470 into the time spent more efficiently training 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.570 or learning about. 00:27:43.570 --> 00:27:48.570 So if you can at the early phase of trying to get into, 00:27:50.080 --> 00:27:51.340 some software package, 00:27:51.340 --> 00:27:55.550 I think investing in the time to populate the data 00:27:55.550 --> 00:27:56.933 is more important, 00:27:57.830 --> 00:28:01.183 even if that is in the long-term, 00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:04.060 that's not the best solution. 00:28:04.060 --> 00:28:07.640 I think long-term, we would like to see more communities 00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:10.630 get into enterprise asset management software. 00:28:10.630 --> 00:28:12.520 But in the short term, 00:28:12.520 --> 00:28:16.260 I think learning it in a free environment 00:28:16.260 --> 00:28:18.693 is a lower risk alternative. 00:28:22.580 --> 00:28:24.003 Alright, thank you, Chris. 00:28:24.870 --> 00:28:28.070 And now we'll turn it over to the folks 00:28:28.070 --> 00:28:29.993 from the city of Blanco project. 00:28:36.570 --> 00:28:41.310 Hi, I thought somebody else was online. 00:28:41.310 --> 00:28:44.010 Quick before we started Blanco with a question 00:28:44.010 --> 00:28:45.160 maybe for Anthony. 00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:46.810 I don't know if anybody saw that. 00:28:52.473 --> 00:28:55.360 Rebecca, can you repeat yourself? I'm sorry. 00:28:55.360 --> 00:28:56.530 Oh, no, I'm sorry. 00:28:56.530 --> 00:28:57.980 I hope you can hear me. Okay. 00:28:59.135 --> 00:29:01.810 Erick, it looks like you have your camera on. 00:29:01.810 --> 00:29:05.943 So did you have a question for the other consultants. 00:29:14.600 --> 00:29:15.850 Can you hear me Philip? 00:29:18.992 --> 00:29:19.920 I was trying to unmute it, 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:21.620 but instead I was muted by the webinar, 00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:23.430 so I couldn't unmute it. 00:29:23.430 --> 00:29:25.740 No, I was just wanting to come in on cups. 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:28.300 I, as a participant in the stakeholder with the group, 00:29:28.300 --> 00:29:30.720 with EPA and the development of cups, 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:32.630 and I have personally used cups. 00:29:32.630 --> 00:29:36.030 Of course, you may just to be sure everybody's aware 00:29:36.030 --> 00:29:39.110 that EPA announced some time ago that they will no longer 00:29:39.110 --> 00:29:40.550 support cups. 00:29:40.550 --> 00:29:44.070 So if someone were to download it and start using it 00:29:44.070 --> 00:29:45.880 and they get an earlier 00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:48.990 or a more current version of windows or apple, 00:29:48.990 --> 00:29:51.050 cups may not work anymore 00:29:51.050 --> 00:29:54.140 unless they maintain a computer that have that. 00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:56.960 But also I worked with TCEQ in development of 00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:00.390 their asset management tool, XL based tool. 00:30:00.390 --> 00:30:02.150 And I think that's much more appropriate 00:30:02.150 --> 00:30:04.800 for the small systems that we're targeting with amps. 00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:07.960 An excellent point. Thank you. 00:30:09.990 --> 00:30:13.433 Right, Rebecca, your city Blanco project. 00:30:17.830 --> 00:30:21.020 If Eric was in unmute himself. 00:30:21.020 --> 00:30:23.140 Yeah, I'm unmuted now. 00:30:23.140 --> 00:30:25.640 I had a hard time eating myself. 00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:27.610 So let me just make a couple of comments, Rebecca, 00:30:27.610 --> 00:30:29.830 and then I'll pass it over to you. 00:30:29.830 --> 00:30:33.520 I'd say overall Blanco's located, 00:30:33.520 --> 00:30:35.330 let me see her if that's okay. 00:30:35.330 --> 00:30:37.330 Hey Eric, if you could turn on your camera, 00:30:37.330 --> 00:30:40.900 that would be beneficial for all. 00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:43.813 I'm having difficulty doing that for some reason. 00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:46.100 It's not working for me. 00:30:49.450 --> 00:30:52.860 I can continue on or we can let Rebecca take this on. 00:30:52.860 --> 00:30:54.280 If that would be better. 00:30:54.280 --> 00:30:56.320 I mean, let me just make a couple of comments 00:30:56.320 --> 00:30:58.890 and then I'll pass it over to Rebecca. 00:30:58.890 --> 00:31:01.480 This particular project is located just 00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:06.480 west of Johnson city and it is central Texas. 00:31:07.280 --> 00:31:10.010 It was a wastewater asset management program. 00:31:10.010 --> 00:31:11.870 Erick, you did a great job on that project, 00:31:11.870 --> 00:31:14.400 and I know we're down we visited many times, 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:17.940 but because of the rules of the forum, 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:20.230 Rebecca's probably gonna have to take. 00:31:23.670 --> 00:31:26.363 Okay,, I hope you guys can hear me okay. 00:31:28.110 --> 00:31:30.640 As we mentioned, we did the city of Blanco. 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:34.350 It was their wastewater plan that we were looking at. 00:31:34.350 --> 00:31:38.713 What we did, we also developed a GIS system with the city. 00:31:39.610 --> 00:31:41.890 We used the NASSCO type reviews 00:31:41.890 --> 00:31:43.560 and we actually did a bunch of field work. 00:31:43.560 --> 00:31:46.440 So kind of go in and look at all their assets 00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:48.550 and to help them find them, 00:31:48.550 --> 00:31:51.240 which I think everybody would probably say 00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:52.780 was the biggest part of this project 00:31:52.780 --> 00:31:56.270 was helping cities identify and locate where things are 00:31:56.270 --> 00:31:58.483 not just the condition that they were in. 00:31:59.790 --> 00:32:04.550 I think what we did unique and fun for this project 00:32:04.550 --> 00:32:06.810 that the city has really enjoyed is 00:32:06.810 --> 00:32:10.860 they do have a GIS dashBoard that they can use. 00:32:10.860 --> 00:32:14.250 We had a couple of days with one of three apps, 00:32:14.250 --> 00:32:15.840 a workforce app, 00:32:15.840 --> 00:32:20.130 so that the city can go in and they have it on their phone. 00:32:20.130 --> 00:32:23.200 They have it on their desktop and they can make changes 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:27.810 anytime they want to to share the different condition 00:32:27.810 --> 00:32:29.040 of the asset. 00:32:29.040 --> 00:32:31.330 And so just look at where things are. 00:32:31.330 --> 00:32:34.900 And so even part of that workforce app is that 00:32:34.900 --> 00:32:39.150 they could mark stuff or this line is needed to be jutted, 00:32:39.150 --> 00:32:42.470 or we just jutted this line and they can mark that 00:32:42.470 --> 00:32:44.630 and it is available for them to see. 00:32:44.630 --> 00:32:47.400 I couldn't figure out how to share my screen 00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:49.630 because I have access to their system too. 00:32:49.630 --> 00:32:53.580 But it's available that it could be shown easily. 00:32:53.580 --> 00:32:57.740 Automat things will be highlighted for where 00:32:57.740 --> 00:33:01.550 like poor conditioned assets are, what needs to be done, 00:33:01.550 --> 00:33:04.170 different material types for the sewer lines 00:33:04.170 --> 00:33:06.010 and all of that. 00:33:06.010 --> 00:33:09.046 I think the city has enjoyed using that enough that, 00:33:09.046 --> 00:33:13.360 and that they are planning on expanding it. 00:33:13.360 --> 00:33:17.210 I guess they had another consultant do some water stuff 00:33:17.210 --> 00:33:18.630 for them in VIS. 00:33:18.630 --> 00:33:22.790 And so we're gonna put that into their system 00:33:22.790 --> 00:33:26.600 and they're looking into adding some street characterization 00:33:26.600 --> 00:33:27.433 as well. 00:33:27.433 --> 00:33:32.433 so they're excited to show this so easily to use it 00:33:32.580 --> 00:33:36.400 going forward, that they really kind of expanding that. 00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:39.080 And I think this tool is great for them to do that 00:33:40.139 --> 00:33:45.139 and I think that's all I really kind of wanted to say. 00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:49.740 So we can open it up or questions. 00:33:49.740 --> 00:33:53.460 I should say too I'm sorry I couldn't be there in person. 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:57.030 I also have a COVID exposure in our house. 00:33:57.030 --> 00:33:58.800 So here we are. 00:33:58.800 --> 00:34:01.100 Very glad we can do this stuff electronically. 00:34:02.840 --> 00:34:03.730 Well, thank you, Rebecca. 00:34:03.730 --> 00:34:06.290 Just as a gentle reminder, 00:34:06.290 --> 00:34:08.310 to all those participating virtually 00:34:08.310 --> 00:34:10.960 that Texas open meetings act requires 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:13.110 all virtual participants to have their camera 00:34:13.110 --> 00:34:15.150 and their microphone both turned on 00:34:15.150 --> 00:34:19.350 in order to be in compliance with the open meetings statute. 00:34:19.350 --> 00:34:22.440 So all those in the virtual world, 00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:25.110 please turn on your cameras if you can. 00:34:25.110 --> 00:34:27.270 Just correcting Rebecca and maybe Chris too. 00:34:27.270 --> 00:34:31.420 So I remember seeing a presentation by a guy who was doing a 00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:35.230 GIS survey of the existing system he had as built plans 00:34:35.230 --> 00:34:38.010 and still they were finding there was things were way off 00:34:38.010 --> 00:34:40.750 Nashville plans did y'all run into that same thing. 00:34:40.750 --> 00:34:41.583 Yes. 00:34:44.600 --> 00:34:46.560 Go ahead, Rebecca. You can go first. 00:34:46.560 --> 00:34:47.393 I'm sorry. 00:34:48.793 --> 00:34:51.840 Yes, we did not actually look at old plants. 00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:54.150 Like we did everything in the field. 00:34:54.150 --> 00:34:57.220 So we had the city came with us to do 00:34:57.220 --> 00:35:00.030 the initial characterization and the identification 00:35:00.030 --> 00:35:00.863 of assets. 00:35:00.863 --> 00:35:03.090 We had somebody come and they kind of just showed us 00:35:03.090 --> 00:35:04.750 where all the manholes were. 00:35:04.750 --> 00:35:07.710 So we did everything field verification 00:35:07.710 --> 00:35:08.910 as part of this project. 00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:12.520 But yeah, so that's very common. So thank you. 00:35:12.520 --> 00:35:16.210 So there was an article, I think in the Blanca county news 00:35:16.210 --> 00:35:18.470 that said that y'all actually identified or looked 00:35:18.470 --> 00:35:22.800 for 200 manning holes in Blanco, Texas. 00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:27.033 That's a small, super small community to have 200 manholes. 00:35:28.781 --> 00:35:31.657 I think they have (crosstalk) 00:35:33.673 --> 00:35:36.140 Sir, I was just gonna add that makes a lot of sense 00:35:36.140 --> 00:35:39.360 from a wastewater a standpoint where you can physically see 00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:40.840 most of the assets. 00:35:40.840 --> 00:35:45.840 On the water side, we found that going off record maps 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:49.110 fortunately, we were in the position with a working history 00:35:49.110 --> 00:35:52.062 with the town of Anthony, that we were in possession 00:35:52.062 --> 00:35:54.820 of a lot of their record drawings that other small towns 00:35:54.820 --> 00:35:56.860 that we've worked with don't have. 00:35:56.860 --> 00:35:58.900 And because that's the case, 00:35:58.900 --> 00:36:03.040 we were able to digitize that network from those old maps. 00:36:03.040 --> 00:36:07.450 But there were still several instances 00:36:07.450 --> 00:36:10.550 where things had been replaced and there was no record. 00:36:10.550 --> 00:36:14.080 We tried as best when it was appropriate to go back 00:36:14.080 --> 00:36:18.120 to primary resources rather than maps generated from maps, 00:36:18.120 --> 00:36:20.680 generated from other maps. 00:36:20.680 --> 00:36:23.840 And so that was pretty key, 00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:28.840 but that also allowed us to save time and money 00:36:29.190 --> 00:36:31.566 as opposed to surveying everywhere. 00:36:31.566 --> 00:36:32.816 That's right. 00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:37.300 Alright, great. 00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:38.253 Thank you, Rebecca. 00:36:39.300 --> 00:36:43.853 Now we'll go to the city of Elkhart project. 00:36:48.520 --> 00:36:49.500 Hey everybody, can you hear me? 00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:50.763 This is Blake Madison. 00:36:51.740 --> 00:36:53.290 Yes, sir. We can hear you. 00:36:54.720 --> 00:36:56.470 I'll present for myself and Tracy 00:36:56.470 --> 00:36:58.560 on behalf of the city of Elkhart. 00:36:58.560 --> 00:37:00.610 We completed an asset management plan 00:37:00.610 --> 00:37:02.320 for the city of Elkhart, 00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:04.470 and it's already kind of been put into place 00:37:04.470 --> 00:37:07.750 and the city has definitely seen the importance of it. 00:37:07.750 --> 00:37:10.770 We're doing a couple of big projects in the city now, 00:37:10.770 --> 00:37:12.970 probably bigger projects than they've ever done in the past. 00:37:12.970 --> 00:37:15.903 We're installing some big transmission lines, 00:37:17.090 --> 00:37:20.550 10 and 12 inch that go throughout the city a lot bigger 00:37:20.550 --> 00:37:25.550 than what a typical city this size would have. 00:37:25.650 --> 00:37:29.350 They've experienced a lot of volume and pressure issues 00:37:29.350 --> 00:37:32.210 in town because the two well sides were located 00:37:32.210 --> 00:37:33.980 in a way that their transmission lines 00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:35.600 were significantly undersized. 00:37:35.600 --> 00:37:39.080 So we upsize those as well as put in pressure tanks 00:37:39.080 --> 00:37:41.540 and we're taking out their elevated storage tank 00:37:43.450 --> 00:37:48.450 it's an antique type facility that became a bit of a hazard 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:51.660 to the city because it's so old. 00:37:51.660 --> 00:37:53.640 They had to make a decision whether they wanna convert it 00:37:53.640 --> 00:37:55.990 to a pressure tank type of system 00:37:55.990 --> 00:37:58.683 or an elevated storage type system. 00:38:00.610 --> 00:38:02.120 When we were going through those projects, 00:38:02.120 --> 00:38:05.480 I think it was very critical and important for a city staff 00:38:05.480 --> 00:38:08.400 to understand we need to know where lines are. 00:38:08.400 --> 00:38:12.480 We need to know critical facilities. 00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:16.080 We need to know the status of them because they were going 00:38:16.080 --> 00:38:18.150 through a staff transition at the start 00:38:18.150 --> 00:38:21.880 and throughout the majority of this asset management plan, 00:38:21.880 --> 00:38:26.307 it came very apparent to us that the asset management plan 00:38:26.307 --> 00:38:30.190 was something that KSA and the city needed to work 00:38:30.190 --> 00:38:32.820 to make sure the information that we were providing 00:38:32.820 --> 00:38:34.770 for future generations would be accurate 00:38:34.770 --> 00:38:37.424 and one that could be used in the future. 00:38:37.424 --> 00:38:40.850 So although that was very inconvenient, 00:38:40.850 --> 00:38:43.770 it was also very convenient to a point that 00:38:43.770 --> 00:38:45.450 it was taken seriously by the city 00:38:45.450 --> 00:38:47.650 and the city helped us out tremendously. 00:38:47.650 --> 00:38:49.600 And it was just previously mentioned, 00:38:49.600 --> 00:38:51.250 we studied the city's water system. 00:38:51.250 --> 00:38:56.160 So the lack of system maps and lack of GIS system 00:38:56.160 --> 00:38:59.640 was very tough to help us locate water distributions lines 00:38:59.640 --> 00:39:02.720 since water distribution is a lot harder to locate 00:39:02.720 --> 00:39:05.040 than sanitary sewer is. 00:39:05.040 --> 00:39:08.480 So we were able to gather past mapping. 00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:10.500 We didn't develop a GIS system, 00:39:10.500 --> 00:39:15.500 but we did develop a DWG drawing of the city's water system. 00:39:16.690 --> 00:39:18.910 We can use that in the future for locating future 00:39:18.910 --> 00:39:21.680 improvements, as well as a water distribution 00:39:21.680 --> 00:39:22.773 modeling as well. 00:39:23.980 --> 00:39:26.530 I think our asset management planning really provided 00:39:26.530 --> 00:39:28.973 like a realistic approach to the city. 00:39:29.870 --> 00:39:32.220 Can sometimes be an eye-opener for 00:39:32.220 --> 00:39:34.230 the status of what your system is and what it's gonna 00:39:34.230 --> 00:39:36.490 take to continue to operate it. 00:39:36.490 --> 00:39:39.470 But I think the main point I wanted to make was 00:39:39.470 --> 00:39:42.620 staff transitions, city council transitions, 00:39:42.620 --> 00:39:45.160 leadership management transition. 00:39:45.160 --> 00:39:47.410 Those are the kinds of things that 00:39:47.410 --> 00:39:52.410 when they come up, put a damper on improvement projects, 00:39:53.260 --> 00:39:55.250 as well as maintenance of the system overall. 00:39:55.250 --> 00:39:59.280 So that would be one point that I think it's really a point 00:39:59.280 --> 00:40:00.650 of emphasis for the city of Okra. 00:40:00.650 --> 00:40:02.760 They took it seriously because of the transitions 00:40:02.760 --> 00:40:04.743 they were undergoing at the time. 00:40:06.790 --> 00:40:08.440 And their asset management plan helped them 00:40:08.440 --> 00:40:10.416 to kind of stay on track through the transitions 00:40:10.416 --> 00:40:11.895 of the staff. 00:40:11.895 --> 00:40:12.728 It did. 00:40:14.410 --> 00:40:16.030 I think Eric called in, 00:40:16.030 --> 00:40:17.480 He's the new public works director 00:40:17.480 --> 00:40:20.430 and he came in the new public works director 00:40:21.401 --> 00:40:22.480 didn't leave a whole lot of information for him. 00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.550 So he was a bit lost. 00:40:23.550 --> 00:40:26.300 So this was a bit of a blessing to him, 00:40:26.300 --> 00:40:29.100 for us to be working on assisting map 00:40:29.100 --> 00:40:31.810 and inventory or table where everything is 00:40:31.810 --> 00:40:34.360 and how long things have been in the ground, 00:40:34.360 --> 00:40:36.270 when things need to be replaced. 00:40:36.270 --> 00:40:38.650 'Cause I think if it weren't for something like this, 00:40:38.650 --> 00:40:40.940 it would've been very hard for him to keep up 00:40:40.940 --> 00:40:43.040 with the system and know where things are. 00:40:44.622 --> 00:40:45.455 Thank you. 00:40:50.510 --> 00:40:52.740 Excellent. So thank you, Blake. 00:40:52.740 --> 00:40:53.623 Thank y'all. 00:40:55.480 --> 00:40:58.200 Tracy's on, did you have anything to add? 00:40:58.200 --> 00:40:59.363 No, that's it. 00:41:02.110 --> 00:41:03.990 Okay, well, good to see you. 00:41:03.990 --> 00:41:04.823 The same. 00:41:06.080 --> 00:41:06.913 Hey Karl. 00:41:07.930 --> 00:41:11.403 And so next, we'll go to the city of Holland project. 00:41:13.830 --> 00:41:15.040 I'll start us off here 00:41:15.040 --> 00:41:17.570 and then we've got a couple of other team members 00:41:17.570 --> 00:41:19.780 that are got Elston here to my left 00:41:19.780 --> 00:41:23.263 and a couple online that they can jump in and add to it. 00:41:24.680 --> 00:41:26.590 Ours was kind of a multifaceted. 00:41:26.590 --> 00:41:30.170 It was the asset acquisition, the management, 00:41:30.170 --> 00:41:33.513 we did ONM manual for the city. 00:41:34.700 --> 00:41:37.630 We kind of had the exact same issue that Elkhart had 00:41:37.630 --> 00:41:39.993 in the turnover of staff. 00:41:41.070 --> 00:41:43.830 We've got a new mayor, new council of 00:41:43.830 --> 00:41:45.770 as soon as this project was completed, 00:41:45.770 --> 00:41:48.060 the public works director retired 00:41:48.060 --> 00:41:50.200 along with two staff members. 00:41:50.200 --> 00:41:54.470 So the public works department who normally has four staff 00:41:54.470 --> 00:41:56.690 members now has two. 00:41:56.690 --> 00:42:00.480 So they are very much in a reactive mode right now. 00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:03.400 So that's why they couldn't attend today. 00:42:03.400 --> 00:42:06.610 But yeah, giving them updated maps, 00:42:06.610 --> 00:42:11.610 updated, ours was geared more towards the wastewater side. 00:42:12.040 --> 00:42:13.870 But while our survey crew were out, 00:42:13.870 --> 00:42:17.340 they also picked up all of the valves, fire hydrants, 00:42:17.340 --> 00:42:21.323 any asset on the utility side that they could come up with. 00:42:22.260 --> 00:42:25.130 But the issue that we came across was how do we get that 00:42:25.130 --> 00:42:27.639 data into the staff's hands? 00:42:27.639 --> 00:42:30.973 Asary has some products that you can get online. 00:42:32.110 --> 00:42:36.870 You talked about DWG, but that requires extra software. 00:42:36.870 --> 00:42:39.970 What we ended up doing was putting into a KMZ, 00:42:39.970 --> 00:42:41.403 a Google earth format. 00:42:42.310 --> 00:42:44.840 So what that enabled them to do is they could have that 00:42:44.840 --> 00:42:48.130 on there, they all use Google Earth, they do what that was. 00:42:48.130 --> 00:42:51.340 They could open the KMC, click on a manhole. 00:42:51.340 --> 00:42:54.580 It brought up a picture of the manhole where it was 00:42:54.580 --> 00:42:55.610 in the city 00:42:55.610 --> 00:42:58.780 and we also opened the manhole, took a picture down. 00:42:58.780 --> 00:43:00.900 Now they could see what the inside looked like. 00:43:00.900 --> 00:43:03.790 And also see what kind of pipes were coming in, 00:43:03.790 --> 00:43:05.990 what condition it was. 00:43:05.990 --> 00:43:08.810 So that's really helped the city out when they've got line 00:43:08.810 --> 00:43:13.550 blockage work order for a wastewater 00:43:13.550 --> 00:43:15.330 is not working correctly. 00:43:15.330 --> 00:43:17.950 They can pull up that Google earth, 00:43:17.950 --> 00:43:19.770 click on the manhole of where they think 00:43:19.770 --> 00:43:20.630 they've got the problem. 00:43:20.630 --> 00:43:23.570 Now they know what size line? Is it PVC? 00:43:23.570 --> 00:43:24.910 Is it clay? 00:43:24.910 --> 00:43:26.740 Now they've got a better understanding 00:43:26.740 --> 00:43:29.473 before they even stepped foot outside that door. 00:43:30.578 --> 00:43:31.728 So that was a big hill. 00:43:32.900 --> 00:43:34.020 Can I jump in? 00:43:34.020 --> 00:43:37.720 So what I'm hearing from all of y'all is the lack of current 00:43:37.720 --> 00:43:40.600 or updated maps was truly a hindrance to you 00:43:40.600 --> 00:43:43.890 when you first jumped in to help these communities. 00:43:43.890 --> 00:43:47.250 And it sounds like you all have each individually found 00:43:47.250 --> 00:43:50.160 different solutions for that mapping component. 00:43:50.160 --> 00:43:52.400 It's more of just a compliment to you all. 00:43:52.400 --> 00:43:54.330 I guess you guys worked with the community 00:43:54.330 --> 00:43:58.400 and found the best way to get that data to the community 00:43:58.400 --> 00:44:01.860 and in a way that they could actually use it 00:44:01.860 --> 00:44:04.330 in a manner that was helpful. 00:44:04.330 --> 00:44:06.150 So well done to you all. 00:44:06.150 --> 00:44:07.350 'Cause that's not an easy feat. 00:44:07.350 --> 00:44:09.250 We've been dealing with mapping issues 00:44:09.250 --> 00:44:11.110 with our flood program for quite some time. 00:44:11.110 --> 00:44:14.800 And they're pervasive within the state as well. 00:44:14.800 --> 00:44:16.050 Do you have a comment, Jeff? 00:44:16.050 --> 00:44:17.370 I was wondering your perfect world. 00:44:17.370 --> 00:44:19.793 What hurts somebody used in. 00:44:19.793 --> 00:44:23.690 In a perfect world what's the best mapping software. 00:44:23.690 --> 00:44:25.940 Ain't it a GIS top software. 00:44:25.940 --> 00:44:28.740 It's gonna be dependent upon the city. 00:44:28.740 --> 00:44:31.550 Every city has different capabilities. 00:44:31.550 --> 00:44:32.903 The cities I work with, 00:44:33.740 --> 00:44:36.170 I'll say they're technologically challenged. 00:44:36.170 --> 00:44:40.720 So make it as easy as possible to access the data. 00:44:40.720 --> 00:44:41.553 They'll use it. 00:44:41.553 --> 00:44:43.683 If it's hard, cumbersome, they're not gonna use it. 00:44:43.683 --> 00:44:48.003 So it's not a very easy system that works best. 00:44:49.231 --> 00:44:50.910 Not to my experience. 00:44:51.750 --> 00:44:56.453 there is not a one software catch-all for everybody. 00:44:57.490 --> 00:44:59.380 I love EZRI, I love what they do. 00:44:59.380 --> 00:45:00.920 You've got a lot of capabilities. 00:45:00.920 --> 00:45:02.700 It's extremely powerful. 00:45:02.700 --> 00:45:05.400 But if you've got a rural city that 00:45:05.400 --> 00:45:08.900 now has two staff members that they're lucky, 00:45:08.900 --> 00:45:11.260 if you can get them to print a word document, 00:45:11.260 --> 00:45:13.400 trying to get them to learn a new software 00:45:13.400 --> 00:45:17.460 and try to go fix water line breaks, wastewater clogs, 00:45:17.460 --> 00:45:19.820 it's pretty cumbersome for them. 00:45:19.820 --> 00:45:23.250 Why isn't there a catchall for these small communities? 00:45:23.250 --> 00:45:24.730 It sounds like this would be something 00:45:24.730 --> 00:45:28.150 that a company would actually wanna put out a product for. 00:45:28.150 --> 00:45:31.050 It seems like it's needed and wanted, 00:45:31.050 --> 00:45:33.640 something that is user-friendly and easy 00:45:33.640 --> 00:45:34.930 for these smaller communities. 00:45:34.930 --> 00:45:38.366 Why hasn't someone develop that catchall? 00:45:38.366 --> 00:45:40.830 There's others that have tried to get into the market. 00:45:40.830 --> 00:45:42.780 And I will say, I don't wanna say try. 00:45:42.780 --> 00:45:46.030 They are in the market. We use global mapper quite a bit. 00:45:46.030 --> 00:45:51.030 It's I call Esri the Cadillac of GIS global mappers, 00:45:52.080 --> 00:45:53.700 kind of the scaled down version of that. 00:45:53.700 --> 00:45:55.600 It's not as robust, 00:45:55.600 --> 00:45:58.880 but it's also in my opinion and more user friendly. 00:45:58.880 --> 00:46:02.530 They have, again, they can export it to mango maps. 00:46:02.530 --> 00:46:07.430 That is an online data sharing house. That's available. 00:46:07.430 --> 00:46:10.120 But again, it's another piece of software 00:46:10.120 --> 00:46:11.800 that you've got to get somebody to use. 00:46:11.800 --> 00:46:14.787 And that's kind of the disconnect that I'm seeing when 00:46:14.787 --> 00:46:18.430 you've got staff members that have been with the city 00:46:18.430 --> 00:46:20.660 for 20 plus years, that's all they know, 00:46:20.660 --> 00:46:22.280 that's all they wanna do. 00:46:22.280 --> 00:46:24.883 Now bring in technology into this, 00:46:28.247 --> 00:46:30.050 I don't want this to sound negative at all, 00:46:30.050 --> 00:46:34.140 but the younger generation that embraces technology, 00:46:34.140 --> 00:46:35.600 once they start moving up, 00:46:35.600 --> 00:46:38.640 the technology will become more of a mainstay 00:46:38.640 --> 00:46:40.193 in these smaller cities. 00:46:41.170 --> 00:46:44.123 Smaller cities struggle to maintain their staff. 00:46:45.350 --> 00:46:48.100 If you've got somebody that's AA license 00:46:48.100 --> 00:46:50.190 that can handle the water wastewater, 00:46:50.190 --> 00:46:52.890 they can go to a bigger city and make twice as much. 00:46:52.890 --> 00:46:55.635 Small city can not compete with that. 00:46:55.635 --> 00:46:57.330 What they typically end up doing is 00:46:57.330 --> 00:47:00.440 they just move the next guy up into the position 00:47:01.624 --> 00:47:03.810 that's all they know is their city. 00:47:03.810 --> 00:47:06.470 They haven't experienced anything else. 00:47:06.470 --> 00:47:10.230 The state is experiencing something quite similar as well. 00:47:10.230 --> 00:47:13.020 It is not just isolated to smaller communities. 00:47:13.020 --> 00:47:15.274 It is everywhere. 00:47:15.274 --> 00:47:19.614 How you implement that and how you get that to the staff, 00:47:19.614 --> 00:47:21.364 that's the million dollar question. 00:47:22.519 --> 00:47:27.519 Each place is work city, like Brook said, you got that. 00:47:28.350 --> 00:47:29.183 That's correct. 00:47:29.183 --> 00:47:32.330 I've got other cities that I would have no problem 00:47:32.330 --> 00:47:36.557 showing them the Esri and they could run with that. 00:47:36.557 --> 00:47:38.230 And they're all excited about it. 00:47:38.230 --> 00:47:42.610 Another city you talk about GIS and their eyes glaze over, 00:47:42.610 --> 00:47:45.650 they want a hard paper map, which is good, 00:47:45.650 --> 00:47:49.840 but the paper map it's outdated the minute you put it. 00:47:49.840 --> 00:47:52.120 So where do you go from there? 00:47:52.120 --> 00:47:54.680 And you know, the paper maps for Holland, 00:47:54.680 --> 00:47:58.500 I believe they were 1992 is what they were using. 00:47:58.500 --> 00:48:00.973 So yeah, they were extremely outdated. 00:48:02.724 --> 00:48:03.900 Their a waterline break. 00:48:03.900 --> 00:48:05.692 They'd go out search for a few hours, 00:48:05.692 --> 00:48:09.580 And hopefully they see a water bubbling up 00:48:09.580 --> 00:48:13.443 and that is their location to the utilities. 00:48:15.430 --> 00:48:18.703 One comment I just wanted to add on that is, 00:48:18.703 --> 00:48:20.597 I think the best system is the one that's used 00:48:20.597 --> 00:48:25.597 If that's excel spreadsheet or Google earth, 00:48:27.380 --> 00:48:30.320 or the technological limitations, 00:48:30.320 --> 00:48:34.983 aren't as important as the use and accuracy of that. 00:48:36.230 --> 00:48:37.850 But it sounds like that 00:48:37.850 --> 00:48:41.070 what was identified from the communities as being like 00:48:41.070 --> 00:48:44.870 their top priority was kind of knowing and understanding 00:48:44.870 --> 00:48:45.703 their assets. 00:48:45.703 --> 00:48:48.810 So in every case, that was your top priority. 00:48:48.810 --> 00:48:51.100 And then what you found was that it wasn't 00:48:51.100 --> 00:48:54.380 a one size fits all, or one system fits all, 00:48:54.380 --> 00:48:57.610 but again, to your point, whoever could use it the best. 00:48:57.610 --> 00:49:02.500 And I think I remember the vision that y'all had 00:49:02.500 --> 00:49:05.880 on your particular system was not only that you would go out 00:49:05.880 --> 00:49:08.580 and use Google earth and take a picture of the as is, 00:49:08.580 --> 00:49:11.880 but as an operator in the future made a change, 00:49:11.880 --> 00:49:13.970 they take a picture with their cell phone 00:49:13.970 --> 00:49:16.440 and be able to come back to literally the office 00:49:16.440 --> 00:49:18.913 and be able to input that data. 00:49:20.150 --> 00:49:21.960 Further to your point, I think that they've said 00:49:21.960 --> 00:49:24.440 the operator of the future will have a valve wrench 00:49:24.440 --> 00:49:27.040 in one hand and an iPad in the other. 00:49:27.040 --> 00:49:31.600 So, this is, in my mind, a great start towards that, 00:49:31.600 --> 00:49:34.330 and the other thing that I think was a requirement 00:49:34.330 --> 00:49:36.670 that we have to take into consideration is 00:49:36.670 --> 00:49:40.060 that whatever software was developed, 00:49:40.060 --> 00:49:41.940 the requirement was that that was a leave behind 00:49:41.940 --> 00:49:44.040 and that belonged to the community. 00:49:44.040 --> 00:49:48.340 So that was something else to kind of take into account. 00:49:48.340 --> 00:49:50.660 Well, and another thing I would say is 00:49:50.660 --> 00:49:53.420 we really stress to the city that this is a living, 00:49:53.420 --> 00:49:54.480 breathing document. 00:49:54.480 --> 00:49:56.020 This is not something you just do, 00:49:56.020 --> 00:49:59.520 put it up on the shelf and then come back five, 10 years, 00:49:59.520 --> 00:50:02.190 pull it out and try to do something with it. 00:50:02.190 --> 00:50:05.020 It's only as good as the data you put into it. 00:50:05.020 --> 00:50:07.800 So it has to keep moving forward 00:50:07.800 --> 00:50:09.570 and you have to keep updating it. 00:50:09.570 --> 00:50:13.547 And I think the cities know that, they understand that. 00:50:13.547 --> 00:50:16.570 And the problem is how do they keep doing that? 00:50:16.570 --> 00:50:19.330 But what is the process for doing that. 00:50:19.330 --> 00:50:22.890 For them, once this program gets it set up, 00:50:22.890 --> 00:50:24.920 what's the next step for them? 00:50:24.920 --> 00:50:27.610 And that's a big question that we had 00:50:27.610 --> 00:50:28.760 from Holland is that, 00:50:28.760 --> 00:50:31.990 Alright great, we have all this information, 00:50:31.990 --> 00:50:35.533 what do we do with it when we replaced this line. 00:50:36.710 --> 00:50:38.370 How does all of that get done? 00:50:38.370 --> 00:50:40.950 And what's the funding mechanism for that? 00:50:40.950 --> 00:50:43.502 Then I don't know if that's something that 00:50:43.502 --> 00:50:45.359 water development Board has thought about 00:50:45.359 --> 00:50:48.960 in a recurring funding for that. 00:50:48.960 --> 00:50:53.240 If it's something the city can pony up part of that, 00:50:53.240 --> 00:50:55.760 or some other funding mechanism 00:50:55.760 --> 00:50:57.007 to help a city out with that, 00:50:57.007 --> 00:50:59.720 'cause this was a big undertaking. 00:50:59.720 --> 00:51:01.830 And it's a lot of great data in, 00:51:01.830 --> 00:51:05.980 from my perspective as the engineer that I love it 00:51:05.980 --> 00:51:08.163 and want it to keep living forward, 00:51:09.290 --> 00:51:11.273 but how does that happen with the city? 00:51:12.700 --> 00:51:15.950 Do they budget that and their annual budgets, 00:51:15.950 --> 00:51:17.730 which are already razor thin 00:51:17.730 --> 00:51:21.000 and less don't have as many staff 00:51:21.000 --> 00:51:23.510 and with all the issues that's occurring. 00:51:23.510 --> 00:51:24.810 That's kind of the balance, isn't it? 00:51:24.810 --> 00:51:26.880 I mean, what's the investment in what kind of investment 00:51:26.880 --> 00:51:29.770 can we do that will keep it kind of moving forward? 00:51:29.770 --> 00:51:32.440 And that's part of why we asked you all here to give us 00:51:32.440 --> 00:51:35.300 your thoughts and ideas, because y you're kind of like 00:51:35.300 --> 00:51:37.750 the experts who are doing that and have to deal with it, 00:51:37.750 --> 00:51:38.850 kind of going forward. 00:51:39.820 --> 00:51:41.430 Scott, did you have any of your colleagues 00:51:41.430 --> 00:51:44.033 that wanted to speak to your project? 00:51:46.141 --> 00:51:48.480 We've got a few more, for example, we did-- 00:51:48.480 --> 00:51:50.469 Sorry, someone interrupted you. So. 00:51:50.469 --> 00:51:55.080 We also did the asset management plan using TCEQ format 00:51:55.940 --> 00:51:59.190 had that put together operation and maintenance manual 00:51:59.190 --> 00:52:00.650 was put together. 00:52:00.650 --> 00:52:02.063 What else am I missing? 00:52:03.340 --> 00:52:06.870 We also just gave them a kind of a snapshot 00:52:06.870 --> 00:52:09.100 of whether you are compliance files with TCEQ, 00:52:09.100 --> 00:52:10.360 both water and wastewater. 00:52:10.360 --> 00:52:13.120 And we went ahead and added since this system 00:52:13.120 --> 00:52:15.540 was more of a natural systems upon system. 00:52:15.540 --> 00:52:18.330 So it was not a lot of the mechanical parts to it. 00:52:18.330 --> 00:52:21.940 We went ahead and did a water source vulnerability, 00:52:21.940 --> 00:52:23.200 the kind of assessment with them, 00:52:23.200 --> 00:52:26.200 just to make sure that they are aware of where they are 00:52:26.200 --> 00:52:28.490 from a standpoint of source and look into the future 00:52:28.490 --> 00:52:30.520 of how to manage that. 00:52:30.520 --> 00:52:32.060 They're in a regional group and just, 00:52:32.060 --> 00:52:34.330 I had opportunity to talk with that regional group. 00:52:34.330 --> 00:52:37.670 And so we just wanted to make sure we kind of gave them 00:52:37.670 --> 00:52:39.390 we were in there and had opportunity to time 00:52:39.390 --> 00:52:42.290 and give them kind of a holistic picture of their utility. 00:52:44.430 --> 00:52:47.884 And I know we have a question on the TCEQ amps coming up. 00:52:47.884 --> 00:52:50.130 I don't know if Phillip wants to Roach that now, 00:52:50.130 --> 00:52:51.850 but I'm sure he may have a lot to say 00:52:51.850 --> 00:52:53.903 on our number one question. 00:52:55.260 --> 00:52:58.070 We'll go ahead and go to the other communities 00:52:58.070 --> 00:52:59.843 before we start with those. 00:53:00.930 --> 00:53:02.340 Thank y'all. 00:53:02.340 --> 00:53:05.653 Next, we'll go to the city of Pittsburgh project. 00:53:07.240 --> 00:53:08.462 Thank you. 00:53:08.462 --> 00:53:12.010 So the city of Pittsburgh at the kickoff meeting 00:53:12.010 --> 00:53:15.770 had already invested with the Texas council of government 00:53:15.770 --> 00:53:18.570 to handle their GIS that they were working on. 00:53:18.570 --> 00:53:19.863 What they were finding out is 00:53:19.863 --> 00:53:22.030 they were using their existing maps 00:53:23.132 --> 00:53:24.937 to enter the data into the GIS 00:53:24.937 --> 00:53:27.040 and of course, it wasn't always lining up 00:53:27.040 --> 00:53:28.710 with where they wanted to be. 00:53:28.710 --> 00:53:31.162 So we talked about two or three things 00:53:31.162 --> 00:53:32.140 with the kickoff meeting. 00:53:32.140 --> 00:53:34.740 One was to go ahead and get the asset management plan 00:53:34.740 --> 00:53:37.743 based on the TCEQ format. 00:53:38.775 --> 00:53:40.160 It's a wastewater project, 00:53:40.160 --> 00:53:42.510 so we looked at the why the operation and maintenance manual 00:53:42.510 --> 00:53:44.120 at the wastewater plant, 00:53:44.120 --> 00:53:46.600 and then the GIS kept coming up as well. 00:53:46.600 --> 00:53:49.950 So we partnered with the city where the city went out, 00:53:49.950 --> 00:53:51.640 located the manholes. 00:53:51.640 --> 00:53:53.790 We actually brought out through survey data 00:53:54.643 --> 00:53:57.420 just two survey equipment where we could just 00:53:57.420 --> 00:54:01.860 hit a point, attach photos of the manholes, 00:54:01.860 --> 00:54:03.970 condition of the manholes with it 00:54:03.970 --> 00:54:06.130 and enter that data very quickly. 00:54:06.130 --> 00:54:10.510 So with the city locating the manholes and us coming back in 00:54:10.510 --> 00:54:12.610 doing the measurements and doing the pictures 00:54:12.610 --> 00:54:15.790 and actually giving them a true GIS point. 00:54:15.790 --> 00:54:18.070 They were able to get that information back to 00:54:18.070 --> 00:54:21.410 the East Texas council of governments 00:54:21.410 --> 00:54:22.830 who was managing their GIS system 00:54:22.830 --> 00:54:25.520 and then we were once again, 00:54:25.520 --> 00:54:30.520 blessed a lot of their historical maps drawings plans. 00:54:30.650 --> 00:54:35.620 And so we were able to help them be able to attach that 00:54:35.620 --> 00:54:38.960 information to their GIS in the appropriate point 00:54:38.960 --> 00:54:40.519 so they can do the same thing where they could click 00:54:40.519 --> 00:54:42.423 on the system and work it. 00:54:43.660 --> 00:54:44.610 That was part of it. 00:54:44.610 --> 00:54:48.360 The other part of that the city was really interested 00:54:48.360 --> 00:54:49.760 in was of course an inventory of all 00:54:49.760 --> 00:54:54.760 their mechanical equipment and lift stations, 00:54:55.630 --> 00:54:59.567 as well as their wastewater plant and operations. 00:54:59.567 --> 00:55:02.877 So we were able to document that as well 00:55:04.580 --> 00:55:06.890 as part of the maintenance plan. 00:55:06.890 --> 00:55:09.900 And then we were also able to link that back to the GIS 00:55:09.900 --> 00:55:11.123 so that they could have, 00:55:12.466 --> 00:55:15.890 they got a lift station and I know what age the pumps are, 00:55:15.890 --> 00:55:16.760 what size they are, 00:55:16.760 --> 00:55:19.090 who manufactured them and things like that. 00:55:19.090 --> 00:55:20.780 That has got to be a living document 00:55:20.780 --> 00:55:22.603 to keep that information up-to-date, 00:55:24.217 --> 00:55:26.710 but it's the same song, different verse. 00:55:26.710 --> 00:55:30.720 They were in the same situation where a lot of their staff 00:55:30.720 --> 00:55:33.590 is aging out, ready to retire. 00:55:33.590 --> 00:55:36.570 And so this has helped them transition. 00:55:36.570 --> 00:55:38.770 And I think that's one of the main reasons they were really 00:55:38.770 --> 00:55:41.910 interested in this project was to get that transition so 00:55:41.910 --> 00:55:44.540 they could retain that knowledge and some of them besides. 00:55:44.540 --> 00:55:46.010 I like the story you elaborate 00:55:46.010 --> 00:55:49.173 that you've mentioned earlier, something besides that. 00:55:51.290 --> 00:55:53.580 So you actually had some pretty positive outcomes 00:55:53.580 --> 00:55:56.450 from the approach you had from the operating manual 00:55:56.450 --> 00:55:58.010 as I recall. 00:55:58.010 --> 00:55:58.880 We did. 00:55:58.880 --> 00:56:03.880 So we took it as a tube approach since we already had a lot 00:56:04.300 --> 00:56:05.910 of the operation and maintenance manual 00:56:05.910 --> 00:56:08.410 and had a lot of the information to update, 00:56:08.410 --> 00:56:09.460 we actually approached it, 00:56:09.460 --> 00:56:12.690 well, we went back in with the AA operator 00:56:12.690 --> 00:56:14.350 that was on our staff to go back in 00:56:14.350 --> 00:56:19.320 and help them to prepare an abbreviated manual if you will, 00:56:19.320 --> 00:56:21.500 so that they wouldn't be staring at a book. 00:56:21.500 --> 00:56:23.040 that was four inches thick. 00:56:23.040 --> 00:56:26.440 They were staring at a short abbreviated manual 00:56:27.530 --> 00:56:30.760 and then have that operator actually go through 00:56:31.620 --> 00:56:33.530 and train their staff at the time, 00:56:33.530 --> 00:56:36.900 plus document maintenance 00:56:36.900 --> 00:56:40.350 and what was really required to keep it operating. 00:56:40.350 --> 00:56:42.820 It's kind of an executive summary for operators, 00:56:42.820 --> 00:56:44.973 so to speak and then-- It was. 00:56:44.973 --> 00:56:47.440 It was an executive summary for owner manual 00:56:48.320 --> 00:56:50.910 that they could carry around with them. 00:56:50.910 --> 00:56:52.770 And then some checklist as well. 00:56:52.770 --> 00:56:53.603 We did. 00:56:53.603 --> 00:56:55.180 We had checklists and that owner manual 00:56:55.180 --> 00:56:57.040 where they daily operations. 00:56:57.040 --> 00:56:58.930 This is what you check off, this is what you do, 00:56:58.930 --> 00:57:02.790 whether that daily, weekly, monthly, how that works, 00:57:02.790 --> 00:57:05.730 as well as our operator was able to take 00:57:05.730 --> 00:57:08.130 and he was, he was a biologist as well. 00:57:08.130 --> 00:57:11.723 So he was able to take his microscope 00:57:11.723 --> 00:57:15.680 and be able to show them exactly what the process 00:57:15.680 --> 00:57:17.320 would look like when it started to go bad. 00:57:17.320 --> 00:57:20.780 So if you see this type of bug and it looks this way, 00:57:20.780 --> 00:57:22.713 then this is your reaction to it. 00:57:24.960 --> 00:57:28.360 Have you seen any real life examples 00:57:28.360 --> 00:57:31.230 of having that manual in place 00:57:31.230 --> 00:57:33.970 and having a transition occur and. 00:57:33.970 --> 00:57:37.840 When we talked to the city manager at the follow-up, 00:57:37.840 --> 00:57:41.150 they had a staff member that was out in another portion 00:57:41.150 --> 00:57:44.250 of the operations that moved to the wastewater plant 00:57:44.250 --> 00:57:46.210 and was able to take that manual and actually 00:57:46.210 --> 00:57:51.210 follow it through and said that the transition 00:57:51.210 --> 00:57:53.910 to actually come up to speed with operating that plant 00:57:53.910 --> 00:57:58.100 was significantly quicker than it would have been otherwise. 00:57:58.100 --> 00:58:00.840 And so they were extremely happy with that. 00:58:00.840 --> 00:58:03.063 And that was that same thing people aging out, 00:58:03.063 --> 00:58:05.913 this is a way to get them back in sooner. 00:58:06.780 --> 00:58:07.930 So again, kind of twofold, 00:58:07.930 --> 00:58:09.940 not only knowing where your assets are, 00:58:09.940 --> 00:58:12.150 identifying what's needed to be done for the upgrades, 00:58:12.150 --> 00:58:15.190 but also this importance of for compliance 00:58:15.190 --> 00:58:18.350 and for long-term sustainability of the asset, 00:58:18.350 --> 00:58:21.750 having that executive summary for operators, 00:58:21.750 --> 00:58:23.420 and then also that maintenance check 00:58:23.420 --> 00:58:25.270 that they're doing on a routine basis. 00:58:25.270 --> 00:58:26.830 Absolutely. Excellent. 00:58:26.830 --> 00:58:30.740 And you would think that a checklist and executive summary 00:58:30.740 --> 00:58:33.210 would be something that is just basic maintenance, 00:58:33.210 --> 00:58:36.260 but obviously it was a very proactive approach for you all 00:58:36.260 --> 00:58:38.783 and really helped with your staff. 00:58:40.620 --> 00:58:42.270 And we just realized when we showed them 00:58:42.270 --> 00:58:43.130 the O an M manual, 00:58:43.130 --> 00:58:45.880 or when we brought it back up and we opened it up, 00:58:45.880 --> 00:58:48.380 it's like it was saying their eyes glazed over it, 00:58:48.380 --> 00:58:49.420 that thick book. 00:58:49.420 --> 00:58:52.060 And we thought this has gotta be something 00:58:52.060 --> 00:58:53.190 that doesn't happen with. 00:58:53.190 --> 00:58:55.166 So we tried to scale it down to something 00:58:55.166 --> 00:58:58.050 that was manageable, 00:58:58.050 --> 00:58:59.660 that you could take in without having 00:58:59.660 --> 00:59:02.107 to spend three weeks reading it. 00:59:02.107 --> 00:59:04.260 So the value of those outside eyes coming in, I mean, 00:59:04.260 --> 00:59:07.210 something that you would think is just very basic 00:59:07.210 --> 00:59:09.673 hadn't occurred to 10 cartoons. 00:59:11.170 --> 00:59:12.470 That's great. Thank you. 00:59:14.830 --> 00:59:15.830 All right. Thank you, Annie. 00:59:15.830 --> 00:59:18.963 And finally, we'll get to the city of Three Rivers. 00:59:25.680 --> 00:59:26.780 Yes. This is Joe Treyho. 00:59:26.780 --> 00:59:27.653 Can you hear me? 00:59:29.220 --> 00:59:32.090 Yes sir. Hear you and see you. 00:59:32.090 --> 00:59:33.830 Maybe back in? 00:59:33.830 --> 00:59:35.210 Well, thank you very much instance, 00:59:35.210 --> 00:59:38.610 cause you so far and shows the small towns, 00:59:38.610 --> 00:59:41.710 even though they're small and what can find Three Rivers, 00:59:41.710 --> 00:59:43.980 they're very proactive in trying to keep up 00:59:43.980 --> 00:59:45.840 with system actually. 00:59:45.840 --> 00:59:50.100 And we first started out, we have this little problems, 00:59:50.100 --> 00:59:53.883 maps and information, gathering them all together. 00:59:57.417 --> 01:00:00.167 What was fortunate for us as the city manager 01:00:02.000 --> 01:00:04.550 been there many years and kind of worked his way up 01:00:06.261 --> 01:00:08.310 it was a utility storage along the way. 01:00:08.310 --> 01:00:12.580 So as we went through and cataloged all the equipment, 01:00:12.580 --> 01:00:15.303 the motors, pumps work hours, lines, 01:00:16.640 --> 01:00:20.750 there was a small town pride in keeping up our system, 01:00:20.750 --> 01:00:24.100 making sure that the able body product to the citizens, 01:00:24.100 --> 01:00:26.233 of course meet all PCG requirements, 01:00:27.260 --> 01:00:32.260 would help them with the short term, mid term, long term, 01:00:33.757 --> 01:00:36.790 one to five years, five to 10 and beyond. 01:00:36.790 --> 01:00:41.630 And I think that one of the items that came up was a number 01:00:41.630 --> 01:00:43.570 called by Patrick to stand, 01:00:43.570 --> 01:00:47.950 kind of do a interim review about about a year later 01:00:47.950 --> 01:00:48.840 and went down there. 01:00:48.840 --> 01:00:51.310 And I really hadn't talked to the manager. 01:00:51.310 --> 01:00:53.470 We had call back. 01:00:53.470 --> 01:00:56.050 They did say that they were using it. 01:00:56.050 --> 01:00:59.460 And it was pleasant to see that they actually were following 01:00:59.460 --> 01:01:01.920 through with the first-year requirements 01:01:01.920 --> 01:01:03.573 and that's air pumps, motors. 01:01:04.550 --> 01:01:07.450 I think the other thing that was good was going out there 01:01:07.450 --> 01:01:11.040 and meeting with them and discussing all their challenges, 01:01:11.040 --> 01:01:13.860 the course, budgetary departments. 01:01:13.860 --> 01:01:18.860 They were able to keep pumps and pumps and motors as needed. 01:01:19.410 --> 01:01:23.510 If they needed something to be sent off. They had a backup. 01:01:23.510 --> 01:01:25.470 One of the good things about Three Rivers is that 01:01:25.470 --> 01:01:28.530 it's located close to of course at the dam 01:01:28.530 --> 01:01:31.660 to the west is down at Three Rivers. 01:01:31.660 --> 01:01:35.580 So they're not only able to take water from basically dam 01:01:35.580 --> 01:01:37.580 where their system, 01:01:37.580 --> 01:01:40.350 they also have a right to the river 01:01:40.350 --> 01:01:42.150 and they have that as a backup 01:01:42.150 --> 01:01:43.837 and they actually keep up some backup plant pumps 01:01:43.837 --> 01:01:47.990 that they actually run periodically to be sure 01:01:47.990 --> 01:01:51.930 just in case their system fails at the dam, 01:01:51.930 --> 01:01:55.780 they can simply draw from the river while their pumps 01:01:55.780 --> 01:02:00.780 set to them or repaired or whatever services they have. 01:02:03.242 --> 01:02:07.990 The other usual issues of line breaks, older lines. 01:02:07.990 --> 01:02:10.690 We have a lot of system. 01:02:10.690 --> 01:02:14.750 They gave us the information and updated that with them. 01:02:14.750 --> 01:02:19.750 And I think the report as we put it together, 01:02:20.610 --> 01:02:22.180 it actually helps them, again, 01:02:22.180 --> 01:02:25.990 that's been discussed quite a bit on the alternatives 01:02:25.990 --> 01:02:30.810 and that way they're looking at their system 01:02:30.810 --> 01:02:34.850 and it's also been stated, this is a living document, 01:02:34.850 --> 01:02:37.210 actually it's useful. 01:02:37.210 --> 01:02:39.410 And many times some of these reports 01:02:39.410 --> 01:02:42.000 that I've personally done in the past, 01:02:42.000 --> 01:02:43.830 they go back to something, you said, insert Board. 01:02:43.830 --> 01:02:47.630 It's simply stuck up on the shelf and not really usable. 01:02:47.630 --> 01:02:49.173 This one is really been used. 01:02:50.070 --> 01:02:52.540 And they keep up with it for their budgeting 01:02:52.540 --> 01:02:55.590 or their longterm and evaluation systems 01:02:55.590 --> 01:02:59.000 and ensure that they're up-to-date and where they're headed. 01:02:59.000 --> 01:03:01.500 One of the items that read to you out there, 01:03:01.500 --> 01:03:06.500 they had a pumping station that was not really good at it. 01:03:06.720 --> 01:03:09.840 It looked all right when we reviewed it a year ago, 01:03:09.840 --> 01:03:12.695 but it wasn't scheduled to have actually any maintenance 01:03:12.695 --> 01:03:16.690 or replacements or any improvements. 01:03:16.690 --> 01:03:18.400 And actually some of the system bit, 01:03:18.400 --> 01:03:21.007 some of it failed and they actually went ahead 01:03:21.007 --> 01:03:23.950 and replaced the good pumps and bought a backup. 01:03:23.950 --> 01:03:27.660 And actually ahead of schedule and felt like this 01:03:30.182 --> 01:03:32.880 our plan helped them prepare for that. 01:03:32.880 --> 01:03:36.400 And of course it keeps effective. 01:03:36.400 --> 01:03:38.310 It's an unexpected tool. 01:03:38.310 --> 01:03:40.773 It helps them with their inventory, 01:03:41.670 --> 01:03:42.770 what is the project worth? 01:03:42.770 --> 01:03:44.393 Is it worth moving forward? 01:03:45.343 --> 01:03:46.470 I think it gives them alternatives, 01:03:46.470 --> 01:03:49.910 because if they go back to the same old way of doing things, 01:03:49.910 --> 01:03:50.743 simply replace replace it. 01:03:50.743 --> 01:03:52.910 And they can look at maybe doing an alternative 01:03:52.910 --> 01:03:57.260 or change a purchase plane or a line or through a line. 01:03:57.260 --> 01:04:00.490 I think it gives them a sense of 01:04:00.490 --> 01:04:02.490 what's the re painting life of the system. 01:04:02.490 --> 01:04:04.380 And what's the return on investment. 01:04:04.380 --> 01:04:06.320 What's the best thing to do. 01:04:06.320 --> 01:04:10.540 Again, that's on their budgeting and costing 01:04:10.540 --> 01:04:13.493 and a lot of them are looking at for sustainability. 01:04:14.420 --> 01:04:19.420 And then in working out there with them, 01:04:19.703 --> 01:04:24.230 that they do look at the condition versus performance, 01:04:24.230 --> 01:04:26.783 so they can really get quite a bit out of it. 01:04:27.975 --> 01:04:29.980 They push it, but they know enough to keep 01:04:29.980 --> 01:04:34.520 a spare pump motor equipment as a backup. 01:04:34.520 --> 01:04:36.670 So I was impressed with that. 01:04:36.670 --> 01:04:37.745 And then the-- 01:04:37.745 --> 01:04:38.870 And one of the things that you mentioned 01:04:38.870 --> 01:04:42.330 in your conversation had to do with implementation. 01:04:42.330 --> 01:04:45.360 So what would you say that was in this asset management plan 01:04:45.360 --> 01:04:50.260 that really was meaningful or different 01:04:50.260 --> 01:04:55.260 or enabled them to actually implement it? 01:04:55.420 --> 01:04:57.120 Because as you mentioned earlier, 01:04:57.120 --> 01:04:58.310 implementation was the key. 01:04:58.310 --> 01:05:00.630 You gave a couple of examples of implementation, 01:05:00.630 --> 01:05:03.843 but could you just expand on that a little bit? 01:05:04.920 --> 01:05:07.970 Well, in preparing this, we actually inventory, 01:05:07.970 --> 01:05:11.090 obviously everybody did inventory, the entire system, 01:05:11.090 --> 01:05:14.120 we rated it and we actually set out 01:05:14.120 --> 01:05:17.767 entire Excel spreadsheets of year one items, year two, 01:05:17.767 --> 01:05:20.900 and they ha they have all their equipment lines 01:05:20.900 --> 01:05:22.670 in one location. 01:05:22.670 --> 01:05:25.970 And that's what helps them know. 01:05:25.970 --> 01:05:29.130 They weren't guessing at a certain item. 01:05:29.130 --> 01:05:32.740 They actually have a field and they had their maps. 01:05:32.740 --> 01:05:35.370 They have a feel of their entire system 01:05:36.597 --> 01:05:40.730 and what it takes to prepare for a project 01:05:40.730 --> 01:05:42.240 and other implementing a repair. 01:05:42.240 --> 01:05:45.360 And what isn't horizon as for other 01:05:45.360 --> 01:05:48.420 future modifications or improvements. 01:05:48.420 --> 01:05:51.400 So I think put this whole booklet together for him 01:05:51.400 --> 01:05:54.370 and include ONM and things like that. 01:05:54.370 --> 01:05:58.380 Budgeting also the managers that didn't help them 01:05:58.380 --> 01:06:01.697 help prepare the emergency preparedness plan 01:06:01.697 --> 01:06:03.210 that the TCEQ is required. 01:06:03.210 --> 01:06:05.400 So it's turned out to be helpful for that. 01:06:05.400 --> 01:06:07.670 So I think it gets a long range, 01:06:07.670 --> 01:06:09.800 look at their entire system. 01:06:09.800 --> 01:06:13.390 And although it's static once a year, 01:06:13.390 --> 01:06:16.550 they do keep up and they don't have any exotic software 01:06:16.550 --> 01:06:17.383 that they all mentioned. 01:06:17.383 --> 01:06:19.513 They have the simple Excel sheets, 01:06:21.286 --> 01:06:22.380 but they do keep up with it. 01:06:22.380 --> 01:06:24.092 They do keep up with their system 01:06:24.092 --> 01:06:27.309 and they're very aware of what the system can do 01:06:27.309 --> 01:06:29.230 and where they have their problems. 01:06:29.230 --> 01:06:33.430 And this simply a tool to help them categorize everything 01:06:33.430 --> 01:06:35.230 and remember where everything is at. 01:06:36.137 --> 01:06:39.280 Excellent point is that it's a tool or something 01:06:39.280 --> 01:06:40.940 these operators are gonna be able to use 01:06:40.940 --> 01:06:43.680 and the city's gonna be able to use for years to come. 01:06:43.680 --> 01:06:45.865 That's a great summary. Thank you. 01:06:45.865 --> 01:06:46.782 Yes, ma'am. 01:06:48.874 --> 01:06:50.527 I think Patrick we've heard from everyone? 01:06:50.527 --> 01:06:53.070 Yes. Ashley, next item, please. 01:06:54.739 --> 01:06:56.710 Chairwoman, the next item on the agenda 01:06:56.710 --> 01:07:00.160 is amps pilot initiative projects round table discussion 01:07:00.160 --> 01:07:02.440 with invited participants. 01:07:02.440 --> 01:07:04.380 Perfect. I will start. 01:07:04.380 --> 01:07:07.680 The AMS program has used the asset management plan format 01:07:07.680 --> 01:07:10.030 that is suggested by the TCEQ. 01:07:10.030 --> 01:07:12.500 Do you feel that this is the best format to use 01:07:12.500 --> 01:07:15.760 or is there another format that is better? 01:07:15.760 --> 01:07:18.440 And are there any specific elements from other formats 01:07:18.440 --> 01:07:20.990 that you feel would be beneficial to add to the elements 01:07:20.990 --> 01:07:22.643 of the TCEQ format? 01:07:24.957 --> 01:07:27.633 I believe I will let Philip answer that one. 01:07:32.409 --> 01:07:33.473 Let's see. There we go. 01:07:35.850 --> 01:07:39.373 Hi, chairwoman, director Jackson. 01:07:40.490 --> 01:07:42.540 I'm madam happy to discuss that area. 01:07:42.540 --> 01:07:47.054 I think that the TCEQ tool is an excellent tool. 01:07:47.054 --> 01:07:52.054 Again, I'm speaking in regards to the small systems 01:07:52.160 --> 01:07:55.100 that we are targeting the small rural systems. 01:07:55.100 --> 01:07:57.573 Number one, because it's Excel based and then many of them, 01:07:57.573 --> 01:08:00.260 not all of them already have Excel 01:08:00.260 --> 01:08:04.643 and have some a basic knowledge on how to use the tool. 01:08:05.860 --> 01:08:09.780 It also gives them a step by step guide on how to use it 01:08:11.010 --> 01:08:14.980 as well as TCEQ can provide assistance 01:08:14.980 --> 01:08:18.000 to the FMT assistance program. 01:08:18.000 --> 01:08:20.770 Yes, as individual citizens may need it for follow-up 01:08:20.770 --> 01:08:23.610 or a further instruction, that can be used 01:08:23.610 --> 01:08:26.990 in conjunction with the Boards effort 01:08:28.310 --> 01:08:30.340 to keep the program going. 01:08:30.340 --> 01:08:33.830 The only other asset management tool that I have used 01:08:33.830 --> 01:08:36.393 is the Cubs program, which I spoke about earlier. 01:08:37.250 --> 01:08:39.570 And the reason why I wouldn't primarily wouldn't recommend 01:08:39.570 --> 01:08:43.230 it is because it's no longer be supported by EPA. 01:08:43.230 --> 01:08:45.100 So if someone were to go through the process 01:08:45.100 --> 01:08:47.770 of setting it up and then later on, when they get an update 01:08:47.770 --> 01:08:50.170 in their operating system, 01:08:50.170 --> 01:08:52.120 then they want work for. 01:08:52.120 --> 01:08:57.120 So that's why I asked what the asset management tool. 01:08:57.190 --> 01:09:00.830 Just as a side note is that once our team started discussing 01:09:00.830 --> 01:09:04.740 Holland, even though the scope of work was for wastewater, 01:09:04.740 --> 01:09:07.090 we went ahead and included the asset management plan 01:09:07.090 --> 01:09:11.750 for both water and wastewater, just as an added value, 01:09:11.750 --> 01:09:14.010 'cause we thought there would be a benefit to the city. 01:09:14.010 --> 01:09:15.460 So our whole team agreed on that 01:09:15.460 --> 01:09:18.400 and we went forward with that. 01:09:18.400 --> 01:09:22.150 One very, very, I think, important benefit to us 01:09:22.150 --> 01:09:25.530 having the asset measure plan completed form this fact that 01:09:25.530 --> 01:09:27.780 Scott mentioned is that they now have a turnover. 01:09:27.780 --> 01:09:30.970 CEO's secretary has gone public works to where it has gone, 01:09:30.970 --> 01:09:32.230 operator's gone. 01:09:32.230 --> 01:09:34.283 So we can now have a tool that's already been developed 01:09:34.283 --> 01:09:36.860 that we can take out to the current staff 01:09:36.860 --> 01:09:39.360 and sit down and just train them on how to use it. 01:09:40.990 --> 01:09:44.453 In terms of speaking to the issue of follow-up, 01:09:45.400 --> 01:09:49.170 this can be incorporated into their annual budget cycle, 01:09:49.170 --> 01:09:51.800 maybe two or three months before they actually get 01:09:51.800 --> 01:09:53.820 into the full blown budget cycle. 01:09:53.820 --> 01:09:55.870 They go out and about at a minimum once a year, 01:09:55.870 --> 01:09:58.150 update the asset management plan 01:09:58.150 --> 01:10:01.860 and then use that annual funding amount 01:10:01.860 --> 01:10:04.567 is gonna be needed to fund the asset management tool 01:10:04.567 --> 01:10:06.770 and to incorporate it into their budget, 01:10:06.770 --> 01:10:10.330 as well as a registry so that they can go about saying 01:10:10.330 --> 01:10:11.250 how they're gonna fund it. 01:10:11.250 --> 01:10:14.120 So those are ways you can look at keeping it going as well 01:10:14.120 --> 01:10:17.243 as potentially filing a funding process for it. 01:10:19.050 --> 01:10:20.430 The other thing I liked about, 01:10:20.430 --> 01:10:23.120 I've worked with numerous small systems 01:10:23.120 --> 01:10:26.320 under the TCEQ FMT assistance program 01:10:26.320 --> 01:10:29.040 and actually providing one-on-one assistance in setting up 01:10:29.040 --> 01:10:30.600 the asset management program. 01:10:30.600 --> 01:10:32.950 And many of them, we actually took it 01:10:32.950 --> 01:10:34.710 from five years to 10 years. 01:10:34.710 --> 01:10:36.580 So once we do the five-year projects, 01:10:36.580 --> 01:10:40.240 get that set up because it's Excel base is hardly any effort 01:10:40.240 --> 01:10:42.400 whatsoever to extended another five years 01:10:42.400 --> 01:10:44.313 and go out to 10 years. 01:10:45.180 --> 01:10:47.080 'Cause Manda asked us life is gonna be longer 01:10:47.080 --> 01:10:47.913 than five years. 01:10:47.913 --> 01:10:50.750 So I found that 10 years was much more appropriate 01:10:50.750 --> 01:10:52.820 in a lot of cases, but we start with the five, 01:10:52.820 --> 01:10:55.800 but they don't have anything and then go with the 10. 01:10:55.800 --> 01:10:57.700 So that'd be my comments there. 01:10:57.700 --> 01:10:59.280 Did I answered a lot of the questions 01:10:59.280 --> 01:11:01.493 or is there courses additional? 01:11:02.550 --> 01:11:05.130 No, I believe you thoroughly answered the question. 01:11:05.130 --> 01:11:06.585 Thank you. 01:11:06.585 --> 01:11:08.203 I didn't have a follow-up though. 01:11:10.060 --> 01:11:13.720 You mentioned the right study. 01:11:13.720 --> 01:11:17.040 And what I recall is that 01:11:17.040 --> 01:11:19.653 not only did y'all kind of move forward and do the water 01:11:19.653 --> 01:11:20.870 and the wastewater, 01:11:20.870 --> 01:11:23.810 which was kind of expanding and thank you very much, 01:11:23.810 --> 01:11:26.020 the scope for that small community, 01:11:26.020 --> 01:11:31.020 but you also, I wanna remember data robust right study. 01:11:31.380 --> 01:11:33.820 And could you speak to that a little bit? 01:11:33.820 --> 01:11:35.660 And I know that wasn't necessarily a requirement. 01:11:35.660 --> 01:11:38.160 It was only to identify whether one was needed, 01:11:38.160 --> 01:11:39.890 but any thoughts there 01:11:41.386 --> 01:11:44.160 on the value of that and how you might approach that 01:11:44.160 --> 01:11:45.603 in other situations? 01:11:46.720 --> 01:11:49.620 Yes, what I did was review their current rates 01:11:49.620 --> 01:11:52.010 and to see if the current ways will support 01:11:52.010 --> 01:11:55.110 the asset management plan is terms of funding. 01:11:55.110 --> 01:11:57.190 And I found that it did not. 01:11:57.190 --> 01:11:59.970 But we didn't actually do a full blown study. 01:11:59.970 --> 01:12:04.683 I did recommend to them to reach out to TCEQ, 01:12:05.660 --> 01:12:08.300 'cause I didn't do race studies under the PUC assistance 01:12:08.300 --> 01:12:10.343 program as well for small systems. 01:12:11.210 --> 01:12:13.990 So they could get a race started done through that 01:12:13.990 --> 01:12:16.360 assistance program at no cost. 01:12:16.360 --> 01:12:18.543 That was quite a switch over and leaving them the staff. 01:12:18.543 --> 01:12:21.440 So I don't think that actually got followed up on 01:12:22.543 --> 01:12:24.877 and then I detailed as well in my written report, 01:12:24.877 --> 01:12:27.260 all of the business we had and so forth, 01:12:27.260 --> 01:12:30.020 but we just revealed the rates and compared it to whether 01:12:30.020 --> 01:12:33.840 or not they had the funds to go forward 01:12:33.840 --> 01:12:35.220 and find the assets as needed, 01:12:35.220 --> 01:12:37.400 but not a full blown rate study. 01:12:37.400 --> 01:12:38.860 Thank you. 01:12:38.860 --> 01:12:40.230 Yes, ma'am 01:12:40.230 --> 01:12:43.113 All right. I will turn it over to Ms. Jackson. 01:12:44.530 --> 01:12:46.330 We have another comment. 01:12:46.330 --> 01:12:48.090 Eric, did you have air call? 01:12:48.090 --> 01:12:49.850 Did you have something to add to this question? 01:12:49.850 --> 01:12:51.260 Yeah, I appreciate that. 01:12:51.260 --> 01:12:52.160 I finally made it. 01:12:53.520 --> 01:12:56.100 I do have a comment. I agree with what he said. 01:12:57.760 --> 01:13:00.350 I think we ought to try to keep it as simple as possible 01:13:00.350 --> 01:13:04.850 to start with basically getting the mapping 01:13:04.850 --> 01:13:06.450 and the base mapping together. 01:13:06.450 --> 01:13:10.260 And asset conditions is a big enough task. 01:13:10.260 --> 01:13:12.170 If we stick with something simple 01:13:12.170 --> 01:13:14.320 and it's kind of programmed that the TCEQ 01:13:14.320 --> 01:13:16.190 has a place to start with, 01:13:16.190 --> 01:13:20.323 I would really highly recommend we do that going forward. 01:13:24.240 --> 01:13:25.073 Thanks Eric. 01:13:28.157 --> 01:13:29.060 So I know in a perfect world, 01:13:29.060 --> 01:13:32.380 you do water and wastewater for this, 01:13:32.380 --> 01:13:33.370 but if you had to pick, 01:13:33.370 --> 01:13:34.870 is it more important to water or wastewater 01:13:34.870 --> 01:13:37.240 or does it depend on the type of water you're treating 01:13:37.240 --> 01:13:40.860 and groundwater versus surface water or is, does it matter. 01:13:40.860 --> 01:13:43.180 That is a tough question, man. 01:13:43.180 --> 01:13:46.200 But again, that's gonna be based on the city. 01:13:46.200 --> 01:13:50.790 A lot of cities hit what's what their citizens can see 01:13:50.790 --> 01:13:52.570 and that's water. 01:13:52.570 --> 01:13:53.930 If you've got a water line break, 01:13:53.930 --> 01:13:57.070 citizens are without water, that's gonna take priority. 01:13:57.070 --> 01:14:00.290 Wastewater as long as they can drain the bathtub, 01:14:00.290 --> 01:14:02.540 flush commode, it's out of sight out of mind. 01:14:03.600 --> 01:14:06.910 So typically the wastewater system is the one that gets put 01:14:06.910 --> 01:14:08.480 on the back burner. 01:14:08.480 --> 01:14:11.380 The water systems are typically the ones 01:14:11.380 --> 01:14:15.410 that take priority and are the ones that, 01:14:15.410 --> 01:14:18.520 I would say, have newer infrastructure. 01:14:18.520 --> 01:14:21.370 'Cause that seems to be the priority for a lot of cities. 01:14:22.290 --> 01:14:24.610 So yeah, picking one or the other 01:14:24.610 --> 01:14:26.020 from an engineering standpoint, 01:14:26.020 --> 01:14:28.673 I would say wastewater 'cause its' always neglected. 01:14:30.860 --> 01:14:32.630 It's always the one looking for funding. 01:14:32.630 --> 01:14:35.663 It's a very harsh environment and it's expensive. 01:14:36.780 --> 01:14:41.050 The water side is, again, it's the one that's focused on 01:14:41.050 --> 01:14:41.883 the most. 01:14:41.883 --> 01:14:44.840 So it typically has a little better infrastructure 01:14:44.840 --> 01:14:45.970 than the wastewater. 01:14:45.970 --> 01:14:47.113 That's my opinion. 01:14:48.403 --> 01:14:50.180 You think most of them already have kind of an idea 01:14:50.180 --> 01:14:51.950 on the water because it's newer, 01:14:51.950 --> 01:14:54.050 but they really ignored the wastewater. 01:14:54.050 --> 01:14:58.080 So in our aspect, wastewater we're better 01:14:58.080 --> 01:15:00.380 because nobody does anything. 01:15:00.380 --> 01:15:02.090 That's exactly right. 01:15:02.090 --> 01:15:03.261 Yeah. It's only an issue 01:15:03.261 --> 01:15:04.990 unless the city has got a lift station 01:15:04.990 --> 01:15:06.440 wastewater treatment plant 01:15:06.440 --> 01:15:10.030 those two are the items that the city focuses on. 01:15:10.030 --> 01:15:12.560 'Cause that's something, they hit a button, turn it off, 01:15:12.560 --> 01:15:15.859 turn it on and change all and do the normal maintenance. 01:15:15.859 --> 01:15:18.350 That's pretty easy. 01:15:18.350 --> 01:15:21.170 It's hard to do maintenance on wastewater lines 01:15:21.170 --> 01:15:25.040 when you have no idea what condition they're in. 01:15:25.040 --> 01:15:27.500 They seem to be flowing, so, okay let's not mess with it. 01:15:27.500 --> 01:15:28.580 It's working. 01:15:28.580 --> 01:15:29.760 So let's not touch it. 01:15:29.760 --> 01:15:32.310 One thing we see is that they'll have an overflow 01:15:33.160 --> 01:15:36.270 not overflow, but they're plants to capacity. 01:15:36.270 --> 01:15:38.100 So let's say most of the bigger plan. 01:15:38.100 --> 01:15:41.300 Well, it may be just because you have so much I and I 01:15:41.300 --> 01:15:44.140 you don't know about so and building a plant is expensive. 01:15:44.140 --> 01:15:45.660 It's heck. It is. 01:15:45.660 --> 01:15:49.170 And addressing INI is kind of a, in my opinion, 01:15:49.170 --> 01:15:50.970 it's a double-edged sword. 01:15:50.970 --> 01:15:54.400 You address INI yes, you are getting rid of your peaks 01:15:54.400 --> 01:15:57.430 but you're also probably losing wastewater. 01:15:57.430 --> 01:15:59.040 So your average is may go up. 01:15:59.040 --> 01:16:01.950 So it's a catch 22, I get it. 01:16:01.950 --> 01:16:04.050 But at the same time, it's something that does need 01:16:04.050 --> 01:16:04.910 to be addressed. 01:16:04.910 --> 01:16:07.430 And that's where I tell my cities, 01:16:07.430 --> 01:16:09.230 that's where the focus needs to be is 01:16:09.230 --> 01:16:12.730 let's go hit your system, not just build a wastewater plant, 01:16:12.730 --> 01:16:14.223 just to treat storm water. 01:16:15.260 --> 01:16:16.720 It's a better use of your funds. 01:16:16.720 --> 01:16:17.553 I agree. 01:16:17.553 --> 01:16:19.070 So y'all did both together. 01:16:19.070 --> 01:16:23.100 So is there any synergies associated with maybe doing 01:16:23.100 --> 01:16:24.250 them both at the same time, 01:16:24.250 --> 01:16:27.370 as opposed to doing wastewater and then following it up 01:16:27.370 --> 01:16:28.860 with water later? 01:16:28.860 --> 01:16:31.000 Well the asset management side 01:16:31.000 --> 01:16:32.630 we mobilized our survey crew. 01:16:32.630 --> 01:16:35.623 They were at with the survey equipment anyway. 01:16:36.560 --> 01:16:38.880 It took them a little bit longer 'cause it's more assets 01:16:38.880 --> 01:16:41.383 to pick up but at the same time, 01:16:41.383 --> 01:16:45.010 I think he mentioned the city staff can go around with you. 01:16:45.010 --> 01:16:48.230 We actually had a golf cart they rode around with us, 01:16:48.230 --> 01:16:50.937 pointing out where everything was. 01:16:50.937 --> 01:16:52.690 And that's another thing I've seen the city 01:16:52.690 --> 01:16:55.550 will implement wireless water meters. 01:16:55.550 --> 01:16:56.880 Well, after a few years, 01:16:56.880 --> 01:16:59.390 you're no longer gonna the meter anymore. 01:16:59.390 --> 01:17:02.330 That person leaves. Now where's the water meter. 01:17:02.330 --> 01:17:04.290 Well, with this asset management 01:17:04.290 --> 01:17:05.820 we've located the water meters. 01:17:05.820 --> 01:17:07.693 Now we know where they are and that's something 01:17:07.693 --> 01:17:09.650 that can carry over to the next person. 01:17:09.650 --> 01:17:11.240 And nobody's on the ground even looking for leaks 01:17:11.240 --> 01:17:12.390 and stuff like that too 01:17:13.812 --> 01:17:15.670 And I think from a staffing standpoint, I mean, 01:17:15.670 --> 01:17:16.801 especially in the smaller systems, 01:17:16.801 --> 01:17:18.940 they're gonna do both water and wastewater. 01:17:18.940 --> 01:17:22.240 And so it's best to have them work with you on that. 01:17:22.240 --> 01:17:25.760 And if it works this, there's not a major issue, 01:17:25.760 --> 01:17:29.640 one of the other, then this is a good idea to look at both, 01:17:29.640 --> 01:17:31.960 if you can and provide input on that 01:17:31.960 --> 01:17:34.260 and help them out with that while we're there. 01:17:36.260 --> 01:17:38.170 For city staff, it's putting out fires 01:17:38.170 --> 01:17:41.050 and when the public is yelling that they don't have water, 01:17:41.050 --> 01:17:43.040 that's gonna be their number one priority. 01:17:43.040 --> 01:17:45.443 That's where they're gonna wanna spend the money. 01:17:45.443 --> 01:17:47.693 And again, with this asset management plan, 01:17:47.693 --> 01:17:51.009 I think it was pretty eye-opening to the city of Holland. 01:17:51.009 --> 01:17:53.030 they've got a lift station that was put in, 01:17:53.030 --> 01:17:54.560 in the mid nineties. 01:17:54.560 --> 01:17:58.140 So it's getting to a point where it's going to have 01:17:58.140 --> 01:18:00.770 to get a significant amount of work done to it. 01:18:00.770 --> 01:18:03.439 It's nearing the end of its life expectancy. 01:18:03.439 --> 01:18:04.272 And that was something, 01:18:04.272 --> 01:18:07.180 again that was out of sight out of mind. 01:18:07.180 --> 01:18:09.760 Now this has come up with asset management plan. 01:18:09.760 --> 01:18:12.160 We have replacement cost built into it to show them 01:18:12.160 --> 01:18:14.010 what it's gonna cost to build it. 01:18:14.010 --> 01:18:16.510 Now they've got something to plan for in that five, 01:18:16.510 --> 01:18:18.320 10 year plan. 01:18:18.320 --> 01:18:22.750 So instead of waiting until it actually falls apart, 01:18:22.750 --> 01:18:24.440 and then now you've got to spend everything 01:18:24.440 --> 01:18:26.070 under an emergency. 01:18:26.070 --> 01:18:27.893 That's what we're trying to prevent. 01:18:30.040 --> 01:18:31.370 Excellent comments. 01:18:31.370 --> 01:18:34.000 I will turn it to Ms. Jackson for the next question. 01:18:34.000 --> 01:18:35.960 So question number two. 01:18:35.960 --> 01:18:39.070 Is it better to use asset management software 01:18:39.070 --> 01:18:42.120 that has a lot of features specific to water or wastewater 01:18:42.120 --> 01:18:45.810 operations or another software that might have 01:18:45.810 --> 01:18:48.470 less features, but has the ability to be used 01:18:48.470 --> 01:18:52.530 for other city infrastructure operations as well? 01:18:52.530 --> 01:18:54.940 What are some of the ways that small towns can use 01:18:54.940 --> 01:18:57.630 the products from amps in other areas 01:18:57.630 --> 01:18:59.040 of the city's operation? 01:18:59.040 --> 01:19:03.210 And we thought first off if maybe Anthony, 01:19:03.210 --> 01:19:06.163 the city of Anthony and Parkhill could comment on that. 01:19:08.140 --> 01:19:09.890 So the first part of the question 01:19:11.110 --> 01:19:13.700 regarding asset management software 01:19:13.700 --> 01:19:17.260 specific to water and wastewater, certainly when, 01:19:17.260 --> 01:19:19.240 from what I've seen in the marketplace, 01:19:19.240 --> 01:19:22.870 most asset management enterprise asset management software 01:19:22.870 --> 01:19:26.630 is designed for municipal assets. 01:19:26.630 --> 01:19:30.030 It's a broad range it's designed. 01:19:30.030 --> 01:19:34.240 And so I think definitely that makes a lot of sense 01:19:34.240 --> 01:19:36.190 that we're seeing more of that 01:19:36.190 --> 01:19:39.680 than just asset management programs 01:19:39.680 --> 01:19:42.030 designed specifically for water and wastewater. 01:19:43.460 --> 01:19:45.770 Ultimately, as I said before, 01:19:45.770 --> 01:19:50.490 the best option is the one that people will use, 01:19:50.490 --> 01:19:55.240 obviously the more people using it in your organization 01:19:55.240 --> 01:20:00.240 that justifies the investment in that software more. 01:20:01.950 --> 01:20:06.560 And so I would say yes 01:20:08.310 --> 01:20:10.920 it's probably better to invest in something 01:20:10.920 --> 01:20:15.190 that has more broad use. 01:20:15.190 --> 01:20:19.570 And I think definitely from the standpoint of whatever 01:20:19.570 --> 01:20:23.393 system that you're using, 01:20:25.170 --> 01:20:28.963 the mindset and education of kind of learning to wait, 01:20:30.370 --> 01:20:32.840 first of all, accurately inventory, 01:20:32.840 --> 01:20:36.130 the things you're responsible for and rating 01:20:36.130 --> 01:20:41.130 that based on it's service life and replacement costs, 01:20:42.010 --> 01:20:45.683 and then using those to budget for replacement, 01:20:46.830 --> 01:20:50.180 just that mindset could apply to all sorts of departments. 01:20:50.180 --> 01:20:55.180 It doesn't if it's even other assets 01:20:56.110 --> 01:21:00.630 like vehicles or things that have that same mentality 01:21:00.630 --> 01:21:02.516 of understanding what you own, 01:21:02.516 --> 01:21:05.520 when you need to replace it and what condition it's in. 01:21:05.520 --> 01:21:09.440 So just the AMs process and just kind of the education 01:21:09.440 --> 01:21:12.880 that goes in with the city leadership to start thinking, 01:21:12.880 --> 01:21:15.140 as you said, in that mindset and applying it, 01:21:15.140 --> 01:21:17.040 not just to water and wastewater, 01:21:17.040 --> 01:21:20.140 but to other assets within the community, I think 01:21:20.140 --> 01:21:21.453 that's an excellent point. 01:21:23.870 --> 01:21:24.740 Any other comment. 01:21:24.740 --> 01:21:28.113 Oh, your camera's on. Okay. So Rebecca. 01:21:29.370 --> 01:21:31.210 Yeah. I just wanted to add to that, 01:21:31.210 --> 01:21:34.640 that I think roads and stuff is pretty important 01:21:34.640 --> 01:21:37.260 'cause a lot of water and wastewater lines are under roads, 01:21:37.260 --> 01:21:41.220 or even like indigenous with norms systems. 01:21:41.220 --> 01:21:44.830 And so using a software or being aware 01:21:44.830 --> 01:21:47.480 of just your assets and water and wastewater, 01:21:47.480 --> 01:21:50.560 and then seeing that you need a road repair cities 01:21:50.560 --> 01:21:54.330 can really get a lot more benefit. 01:21:54.330 --> 01:21:57.720 I think in that sense of time, a couple of things together, 01:21:57.720 --> 01:22:00.620 I think a complete streets kind of thing. 01:22:00.620 --> 01:22:02.813 So this just wanted to add that. 01:22:04.000 --> 01:22:06.020 And I guess we see that oftentimes somebody is gonna 01:22:06.020 --> 01:22:08.697 replace the street then knowing the condition 01:22:08.697 --> 01:22:12.270 of the wastewater systems is valuable and vice versa. 01:22:12.270 --> 01:22:13.400 So that if you're doing one, 01:22:13.400 --> 01:22:15.250 you might consider the other doesn't necessarily mean 01:22:15.250 --> 01:22:17.823 you're gonna do both, at least you've considered it. 01:22:20.460 --> 01:22:22.410 I'll move on to question three. 01:22:22.410 --> 01:22:25.550 One way to promote more participation is to request more 01:22:25.550 --> 01:22:28.300 representation from the system at the kickoff meeting 01:22:28.300 --> 01:22:30.220 of the contract, for example, 01:22:30.220 --> 01:22:32.900 requesting representative from the city council, 01:22:32.900 --> 01:22:35.190 city management and utility management to be present 01:22:35.190 --> 01:22:36.160 at the meeting. 01:22:36.160 --> 01:22:38.600 Do you think this increased in diverse participation 01:22:38.600 --> 01:22:40.420 in the process has beneficial? 01:22:40.420 --> 01:22:41.410 Yes. (chuckles) 01:22:41.410 --> 01:22:44.050 Do you have any other ideas to promote 01:22:44.050 --> 01:22:47.180 the continuity of the asset management process 01:22:47.180 --> 01:22:49.180 from the system after the contract ends? 01:22:52.810 --> 01:22:54.916 So you stole my answer, which was yes. 01:22:54.916 --> 01:22:57.650 (members laughs) 01:22:57.650 --> 01:22:58.700 I thought I was done? 01:23:00.330 --> 01:23:03.330 Now, in our case, in this situation, 01:23:03.330 --> 01:23:07.503 what bringing in the council member, the mayor in this case, 01:23:08.410 --> 01:23:10.610 and a lot of the operations managers, 01:23:10.610 --> 01:23:14.100 we were able to understand how they were operating 01:23:14.100 --> 01:23:16.100 in what systems they already had in place 01:23:16.100 --> 01:23:18.270 so we could piggyback onto that 01:23:18.270 --> 01:23:21.023 so that they didn't have to learn a new system. 01:23:21.023 --> 01:23:24.180 They can utilize what they were doing right there. 01:23:24.180 --> 01:23:28.043 What had also led to that I didn't say, 01:23:29.170 --> 01:23:31.700 something others have said is they realized how important 01:23:31.700 --> 01:23:33.500 this was at the end of the day. 01:23:33.500 --> 01:23:35.910 So after getting the wastewater system in, 01:23:35.910 --> 01:23:39.370 then they started locate their water valves throughout town 01:23:39.370 --> 01:23:42.030 so that they could find that and start getting 01:23:42.030 --> 01:23:44.060 that documented to a better location, 01:23:44.060 --> 01:23:46.990 where they were narrowing it down to less than a 30 foot 01:23:46.990 --> 01:23:48.343 radius or area. 01:23:50.183 --> 01:23:53.180 So those things were very important 01:23:53.180 --> 01:23:56.200 to get the process going in, to getting buy-in 01:23:56.200 --> 01:23:57.390 from everybody that was there. 01:23:57.390 --> 01:23:59.980 That's the other big thing is once you get the buy-in 01:23:59.980 --> 01:24:03.100 and they're excited about the project, 01:24:03.100 --> 01:24:05.900 then they'll actually utilize it in the future. 01:24:05.900 --> 01:24:07.273 If you'd ever get buy in, 01:24:08.160 --> 01:24:11.260 our experience has been that it doesn't work as well, 01:24:11.260 --> 01:24:12.093 if at all. 01:24:14.220 --> 01:24:15.540 You can't do things in a vacuum. 01:24:15.540 --> 01:24:17.500 You really have to have everyone involved, 01:24:17.500 --> 01:24:20.810 all your stakeholders and all your city leadership involved. 01:24:20.810 --> 01:24:24.453 You do, you have to have everybody involved and everybody, 01:24:25.290 --> 01:24:27.840 you may not always get everybody in total agreement, 01:24:27.840 --> 01:24:29.580 but you need to get them in enough agreement 01:24:29.580 --> 01:24:33.537 that we can move forward together as a group. 01:24:33.537 --> 01:24:34.670 And then that case, 01:24:34.670 --> 01:24:37.230 it may be that each city's operating a little bit different 01:24:37.230 --> 01:24:38.520 than the next city down the road. 01:24:38.520 --> 01:24:40.380 But it does also, as we've mentioned here, 01:24:40.380 --> 01:24:44.280 it's based on familiarity as well as 01:24:44.280 --> 01:24:48.520 your skill sets and what you can do once you understand. 01:24:48.520 --> 01:24:52.500 So another question was how important it is early on 01:24:52.500 --> 01:24:55.360 to get engagement from management. 01:24:55.360 --> 01:24:57.420 So this is maybe a trick question, 01:24:57.420 --> 01:25:00.930 but how important is it to get engagement from the folks 01:25:00.930 --> 01:25:02.970 who are boots on the ground and they're out there 01:25:02.970 --> 01:25:04.180 in our operators? 01:25:04.180 --> 01:25:07.120 Well, it's extremely important to get buy-in 01:25:07.120 --> 01:25:09.859 for the management because the management 01:25:09.859 --> 01:25:12.980 is a big part of the budget to get you the resources 01:25:12.980 --> 01:25:15.563 that you need to handle the project. 01:25:16.422 --> 01:25:19.300 So as the management was bought in, 01:25:19.300 --> 01:25:21.120 or as they get bought into it, 01:25:21.120 --> 01:25:23.390 they'll budget money to something they understand 01:25:23.390 --> 01:25:25.067 and they were able to participate in 01:25:25.067 --> 01:25:28.060 and they had had input into creating. 01:25:28.060 --> 01:25:31.630 And so we feel that that is real important 01:25:32.570 --> 01:25:35.993 just for the process to continue and not wasted effort. 01:25:36.940 --> 01:25:40.060 I think what's so many unmet needs within the city 01:25:40.060 --> 01:25:42.610 to convince city leadership, 01:25:42.610 --> 01:25:46.410 to include these infrastructure costs within these 01:25:46.410 --> 01:25:49.300 razor thin budgets, it's a heavy lift. 01:25:49.300 --> 01:25:52.620 So getting everyone involved in the beginning 01:25:52.620 --> 01:25:55.310 to look at the assets and look at the infrastructure 01:25:55.310 --> 01:25:56.573 is the utmost importance. 01:25:57.850 --> 01:25:59.880 And in these kickoff meetings 01:25:59.880 --> 01:26:01.780 I was impressed with this one and we've done it 01:26:01.780 --> 01:26:03.050 in other places since 01:26:03.050 --> 01:26:06.750 where it's everybody from the wastewater plant operator 01:26:06.750 --> 01:26:08.550 to the guy that's out digging the hole, 01:26:08.550 --> 01:26:11.880 to the mayor of the city, that's in these meetings 01:26:12.840 --> 01:26:14.490 and everybody in between. 01:26:14.490 --> 01:26:16.310 So that when you get, 01:26:16.310 --> 01:26:18.410 they kind of all understand where we're going 01:26:18.410 --> 01:26:20.760 and where we're heading in these small communities, 01:26:20.760 --> 01:26:22.340 that may only be four people 01:26:22.340 --> 01:26:24.280 'cause they're all wearing different hats. 01:26:24.280 --> 01:26:26.850 But they all see the direction where it's going. 01:26:26.850 --> 01:26:31.850 And if you can mesh their ideas together into a common goal, 01:26:33.100 --> 01:26:35.400 it certainly helps. 01:26:35.400 --> 01:26:37.693 So you're shockingly saying that participation 01:26:37.693 --> 01:26:40.037 and communication are important. 01:26:40.037 --> 01:26:42.080 So I have a follow-up on that. 01:26:42.080 --> 01:26:44.160 So one of the requirements of the program was that 01:26:44.160 --> 01:26:46.570 the participants have to dedicate about 80 hours 01:26:46.570 --> 01:26:47.920 are required to participate. 01:26:47.920 --> 01:26:50.070 Did you find that that was enough time? 01:26:50.070 --> 01:26:53.030 Were you getting more engagement than 80 hours 01:26:53.030 --> 01:26:54.163 from your communities? 01:26:55.010 --> 01:26:57.320 I think for us we got more than 80 hours 01:26:57.320 --> 01:26:59.670 because they went and located every man hole in town 01:26:59.670 --> 01:27:02.550 and they went down and cut brush and did things 01:27:02.550 --> 01:27:04.580 so that when we came out, 01:27:04.580 --> 01:27:07.570 we could give them more information than we originally could 01:27:07.570 --> 01:27:09.360 because we have the information, 01:27:09.360 --> 01:27:13.060 we have the location found as well as when we developed 01:27:13.060 --> 01:27:13.960 the O and M manual 01:27:13.960 --> 01:27:16.700 and especially abbreviated O and M manual, 01:27:16.700 --> 01:27:21.210 we went around with that operator and that was there 01:27:21.210 --> 01:27:24.200 and said, "Okay, stay in here at this unit. 01:27:24.200 --> 01:27:26.010 This is what you've got agrees today. 01:27:26.010 --> 01:27:28.420 This is what you've got to look at. 01:27:28.420 --> 01:27:30.660 This is what you're gonna listen for 01:27:30.660 --> 01:27:33.670 and by the way, it's this old, 01:27:33.670 --> 01:27:36.780 and this is when we need to start planning for the future 01:27:36.780 --> 01:27:40.620 so that we get that buy-in as we're going 01:27:40.620 --> 01:27:42.503 through the process, if that answered your question. 01:27:42.503 --> 01:27:44.580 It's more like lab work too. 01:27:44.580 --> 01:27:46.820 Like they got to go out and get on on the job training 01:27:46.820 --> 01:27:48.940 about what exactly it was that you put together? 01:27:48.940 --> 01:27:53.940 Absolutely and I think that is as well as just opening up 01:27:54.070 --> 01:27:55.980 the manholes that probably hadn't been opened 01:27:55.980 --> 01:27:59.330 in however many years, 30 years, 01:27:59.330 --> 01:28:00.840 we pop the Liz on those things. 01:28:00.840 --> 01:28:01.890 When we took the pictures, 01:28:01.890 --> 01:28:04.300 they were sitting there looking at it too. 01:28:04.300 --> 01:28:06.910 So there was a lot of information that was collected 01:28:06.910 --> 01:28:09.490 at that point, not only in digital format, 01:28:09.490 --> 01:28:11.870 but then that's really elaborate again 01:28:11.870 --> 01:28:14.136 that was utilized. 01:28:14.136 --> 01:28:15.920 And as I understand it, 01:28:15.920 --> 01:28:18.560 then I can communicate it to the community 01:28:18.560 --> 01:28:20.543 because they are the powerful messengers. 01:28:20.543 --> 01:28:24.120 They're the ones that have seen it and understand it. 01:28:24.120 --> 01:28:27.203 So wonderful. 01:28:29.248 --> 01:28:30.180 Is that on, here we go, 01:28:30.180 --> 01:28:32.090 I was gonna bring up and reiterate. 01:28:32.090 --> 01:28:33.910 We've been talking about the buy-in 01:28:33.910 --> 01:28:35.330 for as an engineer, 01:28:35.330 --> 01:28:38.370 we can go out and build a brand new Cadillac wastewater 01:28:38.370 --> 01:28:39.260 treatment plant. 01:28:39.260 --> 01:28:42.530 But if the operator only knows how to drive a Pinto, 01:28:42.530 --> 01:28:45.240 it doesn't matter what Cadillac we give them. 01:28:45.240 --> 01:28:48.720 So the deliverable on all of this is critical, 01:28:48.720 --> 01:28:50.277 so that they'll use it. 01:28:50.277 --> 01:28:53.290 And that's what you get upfront is that's where 01:28:53.290 --> 01:28:56.630 you can gauge, so what can staff do? 01:28:56.630 --> 01:28:59.150 I've had one staff member that worked for a large city 01:28:59.150 --> 01:29:02.350 that had GIS and he was familiar with it. 01:29:02.350 --> 01:29:05.870 Now I know we can go that route and do the Esri side. 01:29:05.870 --> 01:29:07.330 He's familiar with it. 01:29:07.330 --> 01:29:08.640 Other cities it's, 01:29:08.640 --> 01:29:11.710 okay, he's struggling to turn the computer on. 01:29:11.710 --> 01:29:14.630 Now we know where we need to go with that deliverable 01:29:14.630 --> 01:29:16.640 and so that it can be used. 01:29:16.640 --> 01:29:18.970 So just wanted to reiterate that. 01:29:18.970 --> 01:29:22.000 That's great. Steven, did you have a comment? 01:29:22.000 --> 01:29:24.980 Well, the last part of this question had to do with 01:29:24.980 --> 01:29:27.600 do we have any ideas on how we get some continuity 01:29:27.600 --> 01:29:28.980 or transition? 01:29:28.980 --> 01:29:31.320 And that's really pretty critical 'cause 01:29:31.320 --> 01:29:33.750 we could do a good job on any of these aspects 01:29:33.750 --> 01:29:34.820 or approaches. 01:29:34.820 --> 01:29:36.630 And then it really just dies with the transitions 01:29:36.630 --> 01:29:39.930 that are not naturally occurring out there in the industry. 01:29:39.930 --> 01:29:44.930 So a truism that exists is what gets measured gets done. 01:29:46.500 --> 01:29:49.540 And so one of the things that we have found when we've done 01:29:49.540 --> 01:29:53.190 these emergency response plans and other things with small 01:29:53.190 --> 01:29:56.880 communities is to suggest strongly that they put it in 01:29:56.880 --> 01:30:01.070 some sort of a quarterly review process inside of their city 01:30:01.070 --> 01:30:02.267 council or their Board. 01:30:02.267 --> 01:30:04.530 And so every quarter they're gonna get, 01:30:04.530 --> 01:30:06.093 and this goes back to one of the earlier participants 01:30:06.093 --> 01:30:09.380 that said that they constructed this kind of a high level 01:30:09.380 --> 01:30:11.600 executive summary and an action item list, 01:30:11.600 --> 01:30:13.100 not the big document. 01:30:13.100 --> 01:30:14.330 You go down that list, 01:30:14.330 --> 01:30:16.470 you peruse that list at every quarter, 01:30:16.470 --> 01:30:19.230 you say, "Where are we on this." 01:30:19.230 --> 01:30:21.620 And daylight it was a great disinfectant 01:30:21.620 --> 01:30:24.410 and it does a great job of fixing a lot of things. 01:30:24.410 --> 01:30:27.620 And if you don't make this visible, 01:30:27.620 --> 01:30:30.930 then it will die the slow death of all bureaucracy actions. 01:30:30.930 --> 01:30:33.160 It'll just be one more thing wasted. 01:30:33.160 --> 01:30:36.583 So it always comes down to them understanding 01:30:36.583 --> 01:30:39.420 that their water and their wastewater systems 01:30:39.420 --> 01:30:41.917 are the core of their community 01:30:41.917 --> 01:30:43.850 and a civilized society. 01:30:43.850 --> 01:30:45.150 And if you lose that, 01:30:45.150 --> 01:30:47.230 we've seen it over and over in Texas and other parts 01:30:47.230 --> 01:30:50.000 of the United States in the world, you lose the community, 01:30:50.000 --> 01:30:52.600 the community has a slow death. 01:30:52.600 --> 01:30:54.900 So if it's that important, 01:30:54.900 --> 01:30:58.240 why wouldn't we be having it on a quarterly review? 01:30:58.240 --> 01:31:00.430 And so it comes down to real simple things. 01:31:00.430 --> 01:31:04.490 And it's again, you mean you need us to tell you that, 01:31:04.490 --> 01:31:06.260 but actually what we do. 01:31:06.260 --> 01:31:08.620 And so we all need reminders of simple things 01:31:08.620 --> 01:31:10.350 like we need to eat, and exercise, well. 01:31:10.350 --> 01:31:11.770 We need reminders, right? 01:31:11.770 --> 01:31:15.750 So this is not rocket science 01:31:15.750 --> 01:31:17.880 that we need to do is boil it down, 01:31:17.880 --> 01:31:19.590 put it on a quarterly review, 01:31:19.590 --> 01:31:21.800 maybe monthly than super priority. 01:31:21.800 --> 01:31:23.780 And then that the high priority things that you talked 01:31:23.780 --> 01:31:27.290 about, risk based issues that are more important 01:31:27.290 --> 01:31:30.770 than the vulnerability of the system 01:31:31.729 --> 01:31:34.110 will be coming up on a regular basis 01:31:34.110 --> 01:31:38.860 like they might have a re ready to collapse a sewer main 01:31:38.860 --> 01:31:40.050 collector line. 01:31:40.050 --> 01:31:41.130 And if it collapses, 01:31:41.130 --> 01:31:42.580 everything's gonna back up in every home 01:31:42.580 --> 01:31:43.413 in the community. 01:31:43.413 --> 01:31:45.660 Well, that's probably a priority. 01:31:45.660 --> 01:31:47.880 So that's a simplified thing. 01:31:47.880 --> 01:31:50.870 And the other thing we're glossing over here is 01:31:50.870 --> 01:31:55.080 the idea that there is a management structure in place, 01:31:55.080 --> 01:31:57.550 such as a city council or a Board, 01:31:57.550 --> 01:32:01.140 because the community's under 300 population in the country. 01:32:01.140 --> 01:32:04.660 And in Texas, that's the bulk of the systems. 01:32:04.660 --> 01:32:09.510 And many of them they're kind of their trailer parks, 01:32:09.510 --> 01:32:10.650 their mobile home parks. 01:32:10.650 --> 01:32:13.070 They're all kinds of other community systems. 01:32:13.070 --> 01:32:15.457 Some of them are investor owned, but there's a lot of these. 01:32:15.457 --> 01:32:17.420 And if they have a community like an HOA 01:32:17.420 --> 01:32:20.220 top of rubbed system, they theory have a Board. 01:32:20.220 --> 01:32:22.637 So you have to put the tools in place 01:32:22.637 --> 01:32:25.230 and the bulk of the volume, the volume of the systems 01:32:25.230 --> 01:32:26.530 in the state of Texas, 01:32:26.530 --> 01:32:29.100 let's say at the community water system level, 01:32:29.100 --> 01:32:32.520 let's say roughly 4,500 water systems in our community. 01:32:32.520 --> 01:32:35.423 Of those let's say like 3,500 of them are, 01:32:35.423 --> 01:32:37.900 like below 3,300 population, 01:32:37.900 --> 01:32:41.220 which means they don't have to do conservation plan. 01:32:41.220 --> 01:32:42.920 They don't have to do an AMs. 01:32:42.920 --> 01:32:45.440 I mean, a emergency response plan. 01:32:45.440 --> 01:32:47.070 So all of these things we have to put in, 01:32:47.070 --> 01:32:49.930 how can we do induce that? 01:32:49.930 --> 01:32:52.350 So this simplified just like 01:32:52.350 --> 01:32:54.420 let's make it simple and let's come back 01:32:54.420 --> 01:32:56.180 and review it regularly. 01:32:56.180 --> 01:32:59.150 And that will allow some continuity to happen. 01:32:59.150 --> 01:33:03.283 And lastly, because of this problem of continuity, 01:33:04.405 --> 01:33:05.238 I would close the saying, 01:33:05.238 --> 01:33:07.383 we've got to understand that it's probably gonna be a 01:33:07.383 --> 01:33:11.810 a traumatic shift regularly because of the lack of resources 01:33:11.810 --> 01:33:14.300 and that if we assume that could be the case, 01:33:14.300 --> 01:33:16.170 we have to think out of the box. 01:33:16.170 --> 01:33:17.003 And I would say, 01:33:17.003 --> 01:33:18.680 we need to have a whole another section 01:33:18.680 --> 01:33:20.320 on how do we transition this. 01:33:20.320 --> 01:33:22.330 And one of the ways to look at it would be like 01:33:22.330 --> 01:33:25.370 having somehow at a state level, 01:33:25.370 --> 01:33:28.760 some type of satellite management that augment, for example, 01:33:28.760 --> 01:33:30.543 the city fall under any elk card, whoever else, 01:33:30.543 --> 01:33:31.730 when they transitioned, 01:33:31.730 --> 01:33:35.010 there's some satellite management that has that maintains 01:33:35.010 --> 01:33:37.160 and runs the asset management plan has it in their hand, 01:33:37.160 --> 01:33:39.160 here it is, let me walk you back through it. 01:33:39.160 --> 01:33:40.750 And other can check on the system 01:33:40.750 --> 01:33:42.650 on a monthly or quarterly basis and to get those 01:33:42.650 --> 01:33:45.890 newer operators up and running and something like that, 01:33:45.890 --> 01:33:50.210 where we have some actually experienced people coming back, 01:33:50.210 --> 01:33:53.710 and let's say re impregnating the DNA of what 01:33:53.710 --> 01:33:56.140 has been lost in the transition. 01:33:56.140 --> 01:33:56.973 I'll close. 01:33:59.027 --> 01:34:01.003 That's a great comment. Thank you. 01:34:01.880 --> 01:34:03.630 I will hand it over to Ms. Jackson. 01:34:05.930 --> 01:34:09.550 So what tools and resources have been most beneficial 01:34:09.550 --> 01:34:12.730 for an operator to have that can be incorporated 01:34:12.730 --> 01:34:14.980 into an asset management plan 01:34:14.980 --> 01:34:17.470 to ensure operational integrity of a system 01:34:17.470 --> 01:34:19.550 and getting the most efficient use out of 01:34:19.550 --> 01:34:21.053 the assets of that system? 01:34:22.110 --> 01:34:23.913 I think Rebecca might wanna. 01:34:24.800 --> 01:34:26.173 Yep. I'm here. 01:34:27.090 --> 01:34:29.960 So I guess one of the things that I think we all kind of 01:34:29.960 --> 01:34:32.510 talked about is the tool that they were gonna use 01:34:34.738 --> 01:34:38.010 the GIS mapping and everything that we talked about, 01:34:38.010 --> 01:34:39.420 and everybody else shared 01:34:39.420 --> 01:34:41.350 their different mapping techniques. 01:34:41.350 --> 01:34:44.973 I think that's really a benefit for the operators 01:34:44.973 --> 01:34:48.570 just to know where their systems are because a lot of them 01:34:48.570 --> 01:34:52.920 didn't know, and that was kind of brought up before as well. 01:34:52.920 --> 01:34:56.530 And I guess one other kind of comment that I wanted to make, 01:34:56.530 --> 01:35:00.960 and I forgot before was I think that this is a great program 01:35:00.960 --> 01:35:04.750 to do the whole plan, but I'm almost wondering, 01:35:04.750 --> 01:35:06.923 since there's so much benefit for these cities, 01:35:06.923 --> 01:35:10.180 that even just take what the people know 01:35:10.180 --> 01:35:12.850 and put it on a map somehow, 01:35:12.850 --> 01:35:17.410 if that could almost be like a phase one of an asset plan 01:35:17.410 --> 01:35:21.930 that could be maybe different that the Board could help 01:35:21.930 --> 01:35:24.430 small cities do just like this, 01:35:24.430 --> 01:35:27.020 because I feel like really finding the assets 01:35:27.020 --> 01:35:31.460 and inventory and stuff is just so helpful. 01:35:31.460 --> 01:35:34.610 And especially everybody I think has mentioned staff 01:35:34.610 --> 01:35:36.200 turnover as well. 01:35:36.200 --> 01:35:38.610 And when you notice that at Blanco, 01:35:38.610 --> 01:35:41.880 and so I feel like that would be helpful 01:35:41.880 --> 01:35:45.960 to just have that kind of baseline 01:35:45.960 --> 01:35:47.740 to help the cities going forward. 01:35:47.740 --> 01:35:52.740 But I also thought what, and I forget the city, I'm sorry, 01:35:52.850 --> 01:35:54.660 who did the abbreviated ONM? 01:35:54.660 --> 01:35:58.780 That sounded like a really beneficial tool for an operator. 01:35:58.780 --> 01:36:03.160 And so I thought to continued maybe doing that 01:36:03.160 --> 01:36:06.610 or if there was a way to help other cities 01:36:06.610 --> 01:36:09.210 do that similar process. 01:36:09.210 --> 01:36:10.610 I think that would be great. 01:36:11.703 --> 01:36:14.950 So Rebecca, basically you're marking 01:36:14.950 --> 01:36:17.350 some of those initial funds for mapping 01:36:17.350 --> 01:36:19.343 and that these like phase one. 01:36:21.350 --> 01:36:23.200 Yeah, because I think a lot of cities too, 01:36:23.200 --> 01:36:25.100 like they haven't looked at something, 01:36:27.060 --> 01:36:29.030 like they haven't ever opened their manholes 01:36:29.030 --> 01:36:32.340 or they don't care about their sources because it's working, 01:36:32.340 --> 01:36:35.350 they don't really know how bad it is 01:36:35.350 --> 01:36:37.150 and how to plan for it. 01:36:37.150 --> 01:36:38.140 And in that sense, 01:36:38.140 --> 01:36:40.890 they don't really know like what kind of projects 01:36:40.890 --> 01:36:44.010 should we apply for SRF funding with, 01:36:44.010 --> 01:36:47.170 because we're not sure how it looks. 01:36:47.170 --> 01:36:51.160 And so I think that one of the powerful parts of this plan 01:36:51.160 --> 01:36:55.160 is just showing them, Hey, this is how old it is. 01:36:55.160 --> 01:36:58.200 You got some really critical stuff over here. 01:36:58.200 --> 01:37:01.370 Did you know that you have a wastewater line 01:37:01.370 --> 01:37:04.420 that goes over in this direction 01:37:04.420 --> 01:37:06.920 and possibly is underneath the school or something, 01:37:06.920 --> 01:37:09.600 because I think communities where that has happened as well. 01:37:09.600 --> 01:37:13.270 And so it's just tying to identify that stuff 01:37:13.270 --> 01:37:16.100 that I think kind of has gotten lost 01:37:16.100 --> 01:37:19.617 in the people turning over and construction happening 01:37:19.617 --> 01:37:21.030 and all that. 01:37:21.030 --> 01:37:23.900 I don't know that that would be a big benefit 01:37:23.900 --> 01:37:24.733 for an operator. 01:37:24.733 --> 01:37:27.350 I think that mapping is probably the biggest benefit 01:37:27.350 --> 01:37:29.470 that when you go see. 01:37:31.196 --> 01:37:33.190 I think that was again what was identified 01:37:33.190 --> 01:37:34.950 by the communities as a top priority. 01:37:34.950 --> 01:37:38.650 And I think something that all the folks who participated 01:37:38.650 --> 01:37:40.980 in the pilot study kind of put that as the top 01:37:40.980 --> 01:37:41.813 of their list. 01:37:41.813 --> 01:37:46.813 So Wilson. So Janet, did you have a comment? 01:37:47.440 --> 01:37:52.440 Yes. I haven't always been in the engineering world. 01:37:52.680 --> 01:37:56.287 My previous lot, I worked in a municipality for 30 years 01:37:56.287 --> 01:37:58.720 and part of that, I was the city manager. 01:37:58.720 --> 01:38:01.273 And I just wanted to let you know 01:38:01.273 --> 01:38:03.920 that this program, it was a small city, 01:38:03.920 --> 01:38:08.530 It was that 5,600 people, but this program will be a big, 01:38:11.100 --> 01:38:14.860 big benefit to all of the smaller cities, 01:38:14.860 --> 01:38:17.570 because I mean, 10,000 and under, 01:38:17.570 --> 01:38:20.360 or maybe even some that are 15,000 and under, 01:38:20.360 --> 01:38:25.160 because most of the time their budgets are stretched thin 01:38:25.160 --> 01:38:30.160 and having this funding available for them to do that, 01:38:31.540 --> 01:38:33.093 is amazing. 01:38:35.400 --> 01:38:38.830 They they're gonna put their money somewhere else 01:38:38.830 --> 01:38:42.110 because there's always another squeaky wheel somewhere 01:38:43.593 --> 01:38:47.240 and that's not gonna get the attention that it needs. 01:38:47.240 --> 01:38:50.520 So by providing this funding, it's awesome. 01:38:50.520 --> 01:38:52.653 I applaud y'all for doing that. 01:38:53.700 --> 01:38:54.533 Well, thank you. 01:38:54.533 --> 01:38:56.960 And I guess from your city manager's point of view, 01:38:56.960 --> 01:38:58.710 and also being an engineer 01:39:00.360 --> 01:39:03.670 so important that you have the asset management in place, 01:39:03.670 --> 01:39:06.540 but having this kind of as your disposal 01:39:06.540 --> 01:39:08.220 from a management standpoint, 01:39:08.220 --> 01:39:11.060 does that enable you to kind of move forward 01:39:11.060 --> 01:39:16.060 and kind of convince the community that they need to invest? 01:39:16.460 --> 01:39:17.363 Yes, definitely. 01:39:18.613 --> 01:39:21.960 And someone else mentioned involving the council 01:39:24.373 --> 01:39:29.150 the city councils involving them throughout this process, 01:39:29.150 --> 01:39:30.810 then they kind of have a buy-in 01:39:32.180 --> 01:39:33.510 get their buy-in on it. 01:39:33.510 --> 01:39:36.170 And then even though councils change, 01:39:36.170 --> 01:39:38.220 there's still gonna be probably somebody there 01:39:38.220 --> 01:39:42.070 that was there when it was created. 01:39:42.070 --> 01:39:47.040 But I think they're all seeing now, 01:39:47.040 --> 01:39:49.780 especially with all the money that's flooding in 01:39:49.780 --> 01:39:52.340 for infrastructure improvements, 01:39:52.340 --> 01:39:55.460 that it would be great to have this to identify, 01:39:55.460 --> 01:39:58.360 okay, this is the first thing we're gonna do with our money. 01:39:58.360 --> 01:40:01.223 This is the next thing we're gonna do with our money, 01:40:04.230 --> 01:40:06.850 because they don't really ever have time to sit down 01:40:06.850 --> 01:40:11.510 and just think about what do we need to focus on? 01:40:11.510 --> 01:40:15.390 What is most important for us to take care of, 01:40:15.390 --> 01:40:18.500 to keep our infrastructure going? 01:40:18.500 --> 01:40:21.533 And we're not constantly putting out fires. 01:40:22.770 --> 01:40:24.160 I think Scott said something about, 01:40:24.160 --> 01:40:26.510 they're always in the reactive mode because 01:40:26.510 --> 01:40:27.770 they don't have the staff, 01:40:27.770 --> 01:40:32.370 they don't have the time to even be proactive. 01:40:32.370 --> 01:40:34.340 So that's gonna continue. 01:40:34.340 --> 01:40:37.883 And I think by having this opportunity, 01:40:39.740 --> 01:40:42.783 it will help so many communities. 01:40:44.646 --> 01:40:48.610 I'm not an engineer, but I do a lot of grant writing 01:40:48.610 --> 01:40:50.560 in grant administration. 01:40:50.560 --> 01:40:55.110 And I love helping, especially helping 01:40:55.110 --> 01:40:57.320 the smaller communities find the money 01:40:57.320 --> 01:40:59.800 to be able to do these projects. 01:40:59.800 --> 01:41:02.860 And I've done quite a few water development 01:41:02.860 --> 01:41:04.450 Board applications 01:41:04.450 --> 01:41:07.973 and got funding that way, which is great too. 01:41:08.830 --> 01:41:13.830 But just getting the focus well enough to say, 01:41:15.280 --> 01:41:16.950 here are our priorities, 01:41:16.950 --> 01:41:20.920 this is what we need to do from those asset management plans 01:41:20.920 --> 01:41:22.810 is right. 01:41:22.810 --> 01:41:25.290 Well, thank you for your comments. 01:41:25.290 --> 01:41:26.580 I agree the funding is important, 01:41:26.580 --> 01:41:29.450 but I think we're very fortunate that we have the talent 01:41:29.450 --> 01:41:31.770 to take the money and to execute it and to do 01:41:32.670 --> 01:41:36.440 the very prescribed deliverables that, 01:41:36.440 --> 01:41:38.793 again, we're talking about today, but yes, 01:41:40.100 --> 01:41:42.820 And I know that Eric's got his camera on. 01:41:42.820 --> 01:41:46.060 So did you have something you wanted to say? 01:41:46.060 --> 01:41:48.689 I had to jump on this one because I think they'll have 01:41:48.689 --> 01:41:50.460 anything that we don't try to demonstrate 01:41:50.460 --> 01:41:53.600 was the ability to take a high-tech platform 01:41:53.600 --> 01:41:56.430 like Esri software and make it reachable 01:41:56.430 --> 01:41:57.690 to a small community. 01:41:57.690 --> 01:42:01.930 And I know that based on some numbers that we've seen, 01:42:01.930 --> 01:42:05.640 if an entity wanted to go out and get an Esri server, 01:42:05.640 --> 01:42:10.640 those costs can run you up 50, 60, $70,000 a month. 01:42:13.780 --> 01:42:15.900 I'm not sure about the monthly payment, 01:42:15.900 --> 01:42:20.900 but you can take a platform or work on the way 01:42:21.980 --> 01:42:25.220 to get to the softwares to an applicable 01:42:25.220 --> 01:42:28.620 to these small cities in a much more cost-effective manner. 01:42:28.620 --> 01:42:30.340 Like we demonstrated for Blanco. 01:42:30.340 --> 01:42:33.270 And one of the other panelists mentioned 01:42:33.270 --> 01:42:36.620 that they worked with the cogs, doing local GIS. 01:42:36.620 --> 01:42:38.490 That's an excellent idea. 01:42:38.490 --> 01:42:42.790 We talked about doing a co-op and having a group of cities 01:42:42.790 --> 01:42:45.330 working together to help each other with procurement 01:42:45.330 --> 01:42:48.100 and maybe GIS management. 01:42:48.100 --> 01:42:51.820 Those are that also add a lot of management question 01:42:51.820 --> 01:42:53.000 addressed the management question 01:42:53.000 --> 01:42:54.700 that we were talking about before. 01:42:55.800 --> 01:42:59.710 But I would say that that the way technology is moving 01:42:59.710 --> 01:43:02.570 and the way we became Blanco that these small cities 01:43:02.570 --> 01:43:05.930 can't afford and can use these Esri software. 01:43:05.930 --> 01:43:09.820 In the Esri demonstration, we came up with, 01:43:09.820 --> 01:43:14.270 we're talking about database management mapping. 01:43:14.270 --> 01:43:17.440 The city used the workforce app also to track 01:43:17.440 --> 01:43:18.290 their maintenance 01:43:19.709 --> 01:43:24.010 it's introductory asset management maintenance tools, 01:43:24.010 --> 01:43:26.490 but it's a start and they've got some sort of digital 01:43:26.490 --> 01:43:28.100 platform to use. 01:43:28.100 --> 01:43:33.000 And the upshot is that they have it in place. 01:43:33.000 --> 01:43:36.823 And it'll that in itself will keep the program rolling, 01:43:39.420 --> 01:43:43.280 so if they are vested in providing a GIS service 01:43:43.280 --> 01:43:45.700 and they got that system in place, 01:43:45.700 --> 01:43:47.748 then that in itself will keep them rolling 01:43:47.748 --> 01:43:49.320 and committed to it. 01:43:49.320 --> 01:43:52.700 So we talked more about it, but I think that these tools 01:43:52.700 --> 01:43:55.150 were definitely reachable for these small cities. 01:43:56.050 --> 01:43:57.430 So sometimes if you seen the value, 01:43:57.430 --> 01:44:00.217 then you are able to kind of jump in 01:44:00.217 --> 01:44:02.750 and was that your experience in Blanca 01:44:02.750 --> 01:44:06.320 where maybe there wasn't a whole lot of expertise initially, 01:44:06.320 --> 01:44:08.480 but when they saw the value 01:44:08.480 --> 01:44:12.990 and what they could get and achieve and learn and utilize 01:44:12.990 --> 01:44:16.280 that they caught on pretty quickly. 01:44:16.280 --> 01:44:17.580 I'll tell you in Blanco, 01:44:18.510 --> 01:44:20.660 they are being pressed by land development, 01:44:20.660 --> 01:44:23.640 coming in from San Antonio and other places. 01:44:23.640 --> 01:44:25.077 So then people coming in asking, 01:44:25.077 --> 01:44:27.530 "Hey, what's missing, you have a map of your system. 01:44:27.530 --> 01:44:28.600 Can you connect? 01:44:28.600 --> 01:44:30.567 Do we have capacity for this or that?" 01:44:30.567 --> 01:44:33.220 And I'll show you this as planning strength 01:44:33.220 --> 01:44:36.100 and the ability to help address those issues, 01:44:36.100 --> 01:44:39.740 it'll turn into a capital impact fee discussions 01:44:39.740 --> 01:44:41.110 and various things. 01:44:41.110 --> 01:44:43.450 There'll be instrumental for these cities 01:44:43.450 --> 01:44:44.650 as they grow and change. 01:44:46.930 --> 01:44:47.830 Thank you, Eric. 01:44:50.958 --> 01:44:52.940 We'll move on to question five. 01:44:52.940 --> 01:44:55.870 What information or tools within an asset management plan 01:44:55.870 --> 01:44:57.740 or the asset management planning process 01:44:57.740 --> 01:44:59.980 would be most beneficial to communities 01:44:59.980 --> 01:45:02.803 to achieve the goal of implementation of the plan? 01:45:04.020 --> 01:45:04.913 Three Rivers? 01:45:12.850 --> 01:45:13.763 I'm back in? 01:45:15.230 --> 01:45:16.600 We can see you Joe. 01:45:16.600 --> 01:45:17.930 Yeah, very good. 01:45:17.930 --> 01:45:19.023 Most excellent plans, 01:45:21.573 --> 01:45:25.010 I think the onsite meeting with the people, of course, 01:45:25.010 --> 01:45:26.600 the software, things like that help, 01:45:26.600 --> 01:45:29.440 but in smaller communities that they stated over and over, 01:45:29.440 --> 01:45:34.440 you have the same people carrying many hats. 01:45:34.823 --> 01:45:36.340 They do pretty well, I'm telling you. 01:45:36.340 --> 01:45:38.794 They meet the requirements 01:45:38.794 --> 01:45:43.794 everything is regulatory and everybody's safe. 01:45:44.980 --> 01:45:48.900 But I think the tools that are given 01:45:48.900 --> 01:45:53.900 is as we used was the actual planning near term, 01:45:56.020 --> 01:45:57.863 the near term, midterm, longterm, 01:45:59.070 --> 01:46:03.150 actually give them a database and possible at times, 01:46:03.150 --> 01:46:05.973 trying to help them update that yearly. 01:46:06.846 --> 01:46:08.070 or every couple of years, 01:46:08.070 --> 01:46:10.240 many times they don't have the capability of doing that. 01:46:10.240 --> 01:46:12.680 They do keep probably keep them up or handwriting 01:46:12.680 --> 01:46:14.330 or keep the notebook. 01:46:14.330 --> 01:46:18.100 But another thing I was gonna tell you is that 01:46:18.100 --> 01:46:21.850 a lot of these smaller cities again, but helps them 01:46:21.850 --> 01:46:24.670 in getting out there and then everybody helps out. 01:46:24.670 --> 01:46:27.180 They do the mayor for the mayor on down to the operator 01:46:27.180 --> 01:46:28.486 and the guys in the field will get out there 01:46:28.486 --> 01:46:30.302 and try to help out to these things together. 01:46:30.302 --> 01:46:32.620 Because many times they don't have the accurate maps things 01:46:32.620 --> 01:46:35.300 and those items, inventory. 01:46:35.300 --> 01:46:38.160 This helps put together in one place inventory. 01:46:38.160 --> 01:46:42.630 So I think that making sure that all the inventory is done, 01:46:42.630 --> 01:46:43.980 but it's an off shoot of this, 01:46:43.980 --> 01:46:46.860 and I think that that makes them very aware, 01:46:46.860 --> 01:46:51.080 not either there's so many bar boils in that in the state 01:46:51.080 --> 01:46:53.290 and we all feed of this. 01:46:53.290 --> 01:46:56.480 And they're all very aware that that is the key thing 01:46:56.480 --> 01:46:58.720 that they do not wanna happen. 01:46:58.720 --> 01:47:03.435 So because the safety of the public 01:47:03.435 --> 01:47:05.850 and of the bad press you have to be on tape, 01:47:05.850 --> 01:47:07.940 you have to report it. 01:47:07.940 --> 01:47:10.680 And so it happens quite a bit. 01:47:10.680 --> 01:47:15.550 I think that stressing that or funding is provided 01:47:15.550 --> 01:47:20.430 to the city so that they're able not to get out 01:47:20.430 --> 01:47:22.423 either through the engineering, through people 01:47:22.423 --> 01:47:24.110 that locate items, 01:47:24.110 --> 01:47:26.720 especially locate the water house, 01:47:26.720 --> 01:47:31.720 especially have a valve operating or valve sweep, I guess, 01:47:33.270 --> 01:47:36.600 procedure or something in the operations plant 01:47:36.600 --> 01:47:39.580 or in the I'm sorry, the asset management plan 01:47:39.580 --> 01:47:42.217 simply because these guys, 01:47:42.217 --> 01:47:44.730 I used to be a city engineer, public works director, 01:47:44.730 --> 01:47:47.690 they'll get a water leak. 01:47:47.690 --> 01:47:51.300 And depending on the area they have a valve is brand new 01:47:51.300 --> 01:47:52.810 or a valve is 50 years old. 01:47:52.810 --> 01:47:54.760 What was that in gloves? 01:47:54.760 --> 01:47:59.360 So they'll expand out to close more and more valves. 01:47:59.360 --> 01:48:01.860 It's two o'clock. I don't want them to fix a leak. 01:48:01.860 --> 01:48:05.070 They opened up the valves, even they remember. 01:48:05.070 --> 01:48:07.800 And then over this iterative process, 01:48:07.800 --> 01:48:10.670 they sooner or later you have 20 or 30% of your valves 01:48:10.670 --> 01:48:13.440 throughout the system closed in any given city 01:48:13.440 --> 01:48:17.880 throughout state, which leads to short-circuiting, 01:48:17.880 --> 01:48:21.050 bad water quality and eventually the water hole. 01:48:21.050 --> 01:48:23.750 So I think that's important that the stress, 01:48:23.750 --> 01:48:27.780 when we do the inventory or whatever you perceive 01:48:27.780 --> 01:48:31.689 in the future, that you really drill down 01:48:31.689 --> 01:48:33.280 to the really minor things 01:48:33.280 --> 01:48:35.870 we all say a little more plants and water apart things, 01:48:35.870 --> 01:48:38.870 you see a pump station that's not turning on, 01:48:38.870 --> 01:48:41.000 but the water wastewater, 01:48:41.000 --> 01:48:45.700 the overflows and manholes people connect in their rooftop 01:48:45.700 --> 01:48:50.580 grains, or their gutters to the stone brand outfall, 01:48:50.580 --> 01:48:53.340 I'm sorry, the storm drain outfalls, 01:48:53.340 --> 01:48:55.760 but they'll do the outfalls don't work very well. 01:48:55.760 --> 01:48:57.770 So they'll decide into their clean out in the back 01:48:57.770 --> 01:49:01.310 of the yard and it causes INI issues, 01:49:01.310 --> 01:49:03.470 overflow issues to waste water. 01:49:03.470 --> 01:49:06.233 So a more detailed inventory, 01:49:07.151 --> 01:49:11.960 more in the weeds of what's needed in the program 01:49:11.960 --> 01:49:14.570 will cost a little more, a little more effort, 01:49:14.570 --> 01:49:17.710 but I think that's what really helps small towns 01:49:17.710 --> 01:49:20.900 and they don't have the manpower to go around and do. 01:49:20.900 --> 01:49:22.200 So more of the detail, the better, 01:49:22.200 --> 01:49:25.240 and maybe even consider doing it in a couple of phases. 01:49:25.240 --> 01:49:27.820 And hopefully, maybe some of the communities 01:49:27.820 --> 01:49:29.490 after they buy in and do the first phase, 01:49:29.490 --> 01:49:32.880 we'll kind of pick up the next kind of one moving forward. 01:49:32.880 --> 01:49:35.428 So thank you, dude. 01:49:35.428 --> 01:49:36.703 That's great job. 01:49:36.703 --> 01:49:40.180 I think we'll move on to question number six 01:49:40.180 --> 01:49:42.100 and this we're just gonna throw it out there 01:49:42.100 --> 01:49:46.223 and y'all can answer in any format you want. 01:49:47.520 --> 01:49:50.830 So a one method for determining the criticality of assets 01:49:50.830 --> 01:49:54.100 and prioritizing where resources are expended 01:49:54.100 --> 01:49:56.020 is determining the probability 01:49:56.020 --> 01:49:58.940 and consequence of failure of each asset. 01:49:58.940 --> 01:50:00.620 Are you aware of this method 01:50:00.620 --> 01:50:04.450 and if so, do you find this to be more or less beneficial 01:50:04.450 --> 01:50:06.710 to systems than other methods 01:50:06.710 --> 01:50:09.863 for determining criticality of assets? 01:50:13.910 --> 01:50:15.713 I guess I'll jump in real quick. 01:50:16.590 --> 01:50:19.230 I think city staff do this every day. 01:50:19.230 --> 01:50:20.870 They're looking at their system 01:50:20.870 --> 01:50:23.080 and they're doing it naturally. 01:50:23.080 --> 01:50:26.460 As I move forward in a plan 01:50:26.460 --> 01:50:29.150 we're having to take that data and put that in. 01:50:29.150 --> 01:50:31.610 And in the asset management plan, 01:50:31.610 --> 01:50:33.870 you're taking the assets and you're ranking those 01:50:33.870 --> 01:50:38.527 based upon what condition they're in. 01:50:38.527 --> 01:50:40.290 And let's take, for example, 01:50:40.290 --> 01:50:43.320 a manhole that was put in 40 years ago, 01:50:43.320 --> 01:50:46.800 it's probably nearing the end of its life expectancy. 01:50:46.800 --> 01:50:48.780 So here in the next five years, 01:50:48.780 --> 01:50:51.570 we need to start doing something with that manhole. 01:50:51.570 --> 01:50:53.930 That's what we can do as an engineer. 01:50:53.930 --> 01:50:58.030 The staff could care less about the manhole. It's working. 01:50:58.030 --> 01:51:00.540 What they're looking at is the booster pump station. 01:51:00.540 --> 01:51:02.380 Is it working? Is it operational? 01:51:02.380 --> 01:51:05.420 That my pudding water up in our elevated storage tank. 01:51:05.420 --> 01:51:07.430 That's the data that we've got to figure out 01:51:07.430 --> 01:51:10.290 how to implement into because they know the nuances 01:51:10.290 --> 01:51:12.860 of that pump, how it needs to operate. 01:51:12.860 --> 01:51:15.650 It may not necessarily be by the manufacturer's 01:51:15.650 --> 01:51:18.710 recommendation, but they're making it work. 01:51:18.710 --> 01:51:21.690 And it's that type of information that we're having to get 01:51:21.690 --> 01:51:23.953 from the staff to put in this plane, 01:51:24.870 --> 01:51:29.310 that's a little tough to show inside of a plan. 01:51:29.310 --> 01:51:32.830 We're writing that pump on a condition. 01:51:32.830 --> 01:51:35.210 Is it operating like it's supposed to? 01:51:35.210 --> 01:51:38.780 Absolutely not, but it is operational. 01:51:38.780 --> 01:51:40.570 So how do you rank that? 01:51:40.570 --> 01:51:44.190 And putting a critical component like that 01:51:44.190 --> 01:51:45.880 and putting a ranking on it 01:51:46.870 --> 01:51:49.370 that's from the staff and that's where you've got to get 01:51:49.370 --> 01:51:51.470 that buy-in from them. 01:51:51.470 --> 01:51:53.840 Make sure they're telling you everything you need to know 01:51:53.840 --> 01:51:56.470 about it and I can't tell you how many times, 01:51:56.470 --> 01:51:58.920 every time I meet with the public works director, 01:51:58.920 --> 01:52:01.390 I hear something new about their system 01:52:01.390 --> 01:52:03.130 that I did not know about. 01:52:03.130 --> 01:52:05.483 And that's where with an asset management plan, 01:52:05.483 --> 01:52:10.150 it's critical to keep meeting with them over and over again, 01:52:10.150 --> 01:52:13.610 I think Steven made a good point about if there's something 01:52:13.610 --> 01:52:16.220 critically wrong with the system, bring it to light, 01:52:16.220 --> 01:52:18.730 don't hide it because as soon as you bring it to light, 01:52:18.730 --> 01:52:22.100 you bring focus to it, now everybody knows about it. 01:52:22.100 --> 01:52:24.803 It may be there's a direction to try to fix that. 01:52:24.803 --> 01:52:27.710 Then I think that's what this asset management plan does. 01:52:27.710 --> 01:52:30.100 It puts those critical components. 01:52:30.100 --> 01:52:32.690 They may rank higher or lower 01:52:32.690 --> 01:52:34.983 depending on what the staff feeling is, 01:52:36.480 --> 01:52:38.430 how it's operating and what they think 01:52:38.430 --> 01:52:40.440 is gonna need to be replaced. 01:52:40.440 --> 01:52:41.750 What's gonna need to be fixed 01:52:41.750 --> 01:52:44.360 that needs to be incorporated into there. 01:52:44.360 --> 01:52:47.080 So not only a by the book probability, 01:52:47.080 --> 01:52:52.080 but also taking in comments from the staff. 01:52:53.340 --> 01:52:55.990 It's kind of hard to as an engineer, 01:52:55.990 --> 01:52:58.700 that's not in the system doing the nuts and bolts 01:52:58.700 --> 01:53:00.200 or with the consultant, 01:53:00.200 --> 01:53:02.760 that's not doing the nuts and bolts 01:53:02.760 --> 01:53:04.730 to make that water house. 01:53:04.730 --> 01:53:06.780 My opinion, it's gotta be from the staff. 01:53:07.650 --> 01:53:10.290 And Phillip, I think you had something to say. 01:53:10.290 --> 01:53:12.400 Yes, I will concur with Scott. 01:53:12.400 --> 01:53:14.930 And that's what I did with the staff 01:53:14.930 --> 01:53:16.780 during the development of the asset management plan, 01:53:16.780 --> 01:53:21.010 the TCEQ tool has that component built into it 01:53:21.010 --> 01:53:23.540 on the first step, the inventory phase. 01:53:23.540 --> 01:53:26.670 So if we take the inventory and then there was a, 01:53:26.670 --> 01:53:28.153 after you completed put into inventory, 01:53:28.153 --> 01:53:31.110 then you take each items in an inventory 01:53:31.110 --> 01:53:32.070 and as a set of questions, 01:53:32.070 --> 01:53:34.380 you ask determine about the condition of it 01:53:35.560 --> 01:53:37.900 and whether or not you have redundancy 01:53:37.900 --> 01:53:40.630 and how critical it is to the operation of the system 01:53:40.630 --> 01:53:43.220 in terms of delivering to the mission. 01:53:43.220 --> 01:53:44.240 And then at the end, 01:53:44.240 --> 01:53:47.610 you generate a number one through five for each asset. 01:53:47.610 --> 01:53:51.890 So if an asset has a one is priority one, and so later on, 01:53:51.890 --> 01:53:54.670 you use that for your planning for volt budgeting purposes 01:53:54.670 --> 01:53:55.540 and operations. 01:53:55.540 --> 01:53:59.330 And so you're gonna start with all your number ones first, 01:53:59.330 --> 01:54:00.860 and then two, three, four and five. 01:54:00.860 --> 01:54:03.260 So five is like new or brand new. 01:54:03.260 --> 01:54:06.490 And then one is past its life, 01:54:06.490 --> 01:54:09.930 is near failures, a lot of repairs being done on it. 01:54:09.930 --> 01:54:12.610 So I was think it's a very, very important step 01:54:12.610 --> 01:54:14.940 in that overall process. 01:54:14.940 --> 01:54:16.630 So that's a yes? Yes. 01:54:17.680 --> 01:54:18.823 Thank you. Eric. 01:54:19.890 --> 01:54:23.190 Yeah, I would agree that the TCEQ method 01:54:23.190 --> 01:54:26.500 approximates this method that you mentioning 01:54:26.500 --> 01:54:28.787 it's actually built into it. 01:54:28.787 --> 01:54:33.787 But what you have is you have a simplistic approach to it 01:54:34.230 --> 01:54:38.960 without getting too analytical in it. 01:54:38.960 --> 01:54:42.580 So the failure rate, it measures reliability, 01:54:42.580 --> 01:54:44.240 and you'll go and get, 01:54:44.240 --> 01:54:47.840 ask those questions in those rankings of the TCEQ, 01:54:47.840 --> 01:54:50.310 which get to that comment about reliability 01:54:50.310 --> 01:54:51.950 or the consequences of failure. 01:54:51.950 --> 01:54:54.830 It's in the TCQ method. 01:54:54.830 --> 01:54:57.740 So I would recommend that we keep it simple. 01:54:57.740 --> 01:55:01.100 And a lot of cities that we talked to 01:55:01.100 --> 01:55:03.430 that are getting more complex, 01:55:03.430 --> 01:55:06.340 we're talking about preventative maintenance issues, 01:55:06.340 --> 01:55:09.063 where we're actually getting into thermography. 01:55:09.980 --> 01:55:12.160 We're looking at lubrication, 01:55:12.160 --> 01:55:15.650 we're looking at vibration to do a look at assets 01:55:15.650 --> 01:55:17.840 from a preventative maintenance standpoint 01:55:17.840 --> 01:55:21.310 that's you're talking way on one part of the spectrum 01:55:22.280 --> 01:55:23.440 and at least small cities, 01:55:23.440 --> 01:55:26.960 I'm not sure if he'll be doing that at this point. 01:55:26.960 --> 01:55:29.890 Now, as they get into this med, 01:55:29.890 --> 01:55:31.940 then start getting their program going, 01:55:31.940 --> 01:55:35.555 if they want to advance and get more specific 01:55:35.555 --> 01:55:40.140 and more or less analytical, the respect to resiliency, 01:55:40.140 --> 01:55:43.440 and maybe even get into the preventative maintenance world, 01:55:43.440 --> 01:55:46.060 think they can do that, but it would be a step that's 01:55:46.060 --> 01:55:47.960 for the future, in my opinion. 01:55:48.810 --> 01:55:51.940 So the consensus is, I mean, we talked about 01:55:51.940 --> 01:55:54.770 the detail and at which it would be done, 01:55:54.770 --> 01:55:55.767 or the methods at which we were done 01:55:55.767 --> 01:55:56.930 and what we would incorporate. 01:55:56.930 --> 01:55:59.460 But I mean, overall, it's the consensus that, 01:55:59.460 --> 01:56:02.323 yes, this is something that brings value in, 01:56:04.130 --> 01:56:06.900 would be something we would like to include. 01:56:06.900 --> 01:56:10.770 I'm seeing everybody here kind of shaking their heads. 01:56:10.770 --> 01:56:13.240 Catalina, I would think that we do, 01:56:13.240 --> 01:56:14.950 but as far as the program goes, 01:56:14.950 --> 01:56:17.440 I think the TCEQ method actually approximate this. 01:56:17.440 --> 01:56:19.410 Eric, we need your camera on. 01:56:19.410 --> 01:56:20.283 Oh, I'm sorry. 01:56:22.301 --> 01:56:25.589 I think the TCQ method actually approximates 01:56:25.589 --> 01:56:28.040 this technique already. 01:56:28.040 --> 01:56:32.260 So I'm not sure if we need to get too programmatic about it 01:56:32.260 --> 01:56:34.763 going into it at this point, 01:56:36.750 --> 01:56:39.130 if I'm understanding your comment. 01:56:39.130 --> 01:56:40.600 Okay, thank you. 01:56:40.600 --> 01:56:42.790 If I could just add to that. Yes, go ahead. 01:56:42.790 --> 01:56:47.790 I think even that simple approach can help kind of direct 01:56:48.420 --> 01:56:52.190 more advanced like inspection if the utility is looking 01:56:52.190 --> 01:56:55.140 at what what assets they need to inspect, 01:56:55.140 --> 01:56:57.220 even having that basic framework 01:56:57.220 --> 01:57:02.220 of a criticality can give them good direction 01:57:04.680 --> 01:57:07.730 as to which assets they need to focus on inspecting, 01:57:07.730 --> 01:57:09.660 rather than trying to say, 01:57:09.660 --> 01:57:12.070 TV, their entire wastewater network, 01:57:12.070 --> 01:57:16.440 they can focus on the high criticality lines. 01:57:16.440 --> 01:57:18.270 Obviously you can't do everything at once. 01:57:18.270 --> 01:57:19.103 And so. 01:57:20.330 --> 01:57:22.913 All right, you gave me the rate study question. 01:57:24.400 --> 01:57:27.570 What elements were evaluated when determining if a rate 01:57:27.570 --> 01:57:29.683 study was needed for the system? 01:57:31.230 --> 01:57:33.060 Anyone jump in, right study. 01:57:33.060 --> 01:57:34.663 Everyone loves that question. 01:57:35.700 --> 01:57:40.230 Because remember one of the requirements of the program 01:57:40.230 --> 01:57:42.267 was to determine whether it was needed 01:57:42.267 --> 01:57:45.950 and so what we were kind of curious about is, 01:57:45.950 --> 01:57:48.150 what did you actually go in and look at 01:57:48.150 --> 01:57:50.420 to determine yes or no? 01:57:50.420 --> 01:57:51.660 And were those something that was defined? 01:57:51.660 --> 01:57:52.830 We got Philip up there. 01:57:52.830 --> 01:57:54.660 Hey, go for it. 01:57:54.660 --> 01:57:59.080 Step three of the TCEQ to analyze the set by entering 01:57:59.080 --> 01:58:00.700 the budget information. 01:58:00.700 --> 01:58:03.940 And then it projected out over that five-year period 01:58:03.940 --> 01:58:06.640 to show whether or not they would have a negative 01:58:06.640 --> 01:58:09.050 or positive if they actually implemented 01:58:09.050 --> 01:58:11.480 the asset management portion of it. 01:58:11.480 --> 01:58:15.080 And it even does a calculation to show how much the average 01:58:15.080 --> 01:58:18.470 customer would have to pay if there was a shortfall. 01:58:18.470 --> 01:58:21.593 So that's what we use for the analyzing section of it. 01:58:23.410 --> 01:58:25.560 So you felt like that the elements that were included 01:58:25.560 --> 01:58:29.690 in that evaluation were adequate. 01:58:29.690 --> 01:58:30.523 Yes ma'am. 01:58:30.523 --> 01:58:32.090 And then from there they could decide they wanna go with 01:58:32.090 --> 01:58:33.250 the full blown straight, 01:58:33.250 --> 01:58:35.440 but it definitely does the announced a section of it 01:58:35.440 --> 01:58:37.050 for them. 01:58:37.050 --> 01:58:38.622 Thank you. 01:58:38.622 --> 01:58:41.930 I also wanna mention that, I know we keep cities, 01:58:41.930 --> 01:58:45.280 but there are a lot of water supply corporations, 01:58:45.280 --> 01:58:47.700 as well as utility districts that could benefit 01:58:47.700 --> 01:58:50.337 from this as well. 01:58:50.337 --> 01:58:51.337 That's it. 01:58:54.120 --> 01:58:56.490 All right. Well, we'll just continue at it, 01:58:56.490 --> 01:58:58.640 no one wants to talk about rates study. So. 01:58:59.980 --> 01:59:03.850 What kind of training tools or resources can be provided 01:59:03.850 --> 01:59:06.610 during asset management planning process 01:59:06.610 --> 01:59:08.240 to utility management, 01:59:08.240 --> 01:59:10.017 to be able to communicate the short-term 01:59:10.017 --> 01:59:12.470 and the long-term needs and effective manner 01:59:12.470 --> 01:59:14.453 to governing bodies of the utility. 01:59:22.800 --> 01:59:24.650 So I guess I'll jump in here again. 01:59:25.730 --> 01:59:27.760 So again, the asset management plan, 01:59:27.760 --> 01:59:31.380 it gives out that budgeted ranking 01:59:31.380 --> 01:59:35.500 the priority one through five and kind of tells 01:59:35.500 --> 01:59:38.420 what's your highest priority, what's not looking so good, 01:59:38.420 --> 01:59:41.560 what's gonna need to be replaced in the next five years. 01:59:41.560 --> 01:59:43.840 And then you've got your next subsequent rankings. 01:59:43.840 --> 01:59:46.850 Two through five kind of gives the city a snapshot 01:59:46.850 --> 01:59:49.290 of what they're looking at that they're gonna have 01:59:49.290 --> 01:59:51.620 to focus on in the next five years. 01:59:51.620 --> 01:59:55.270 And talking about rate studies that goes along with this, 01:59:55.270 --> 01:59:57.550 the majority of the cities are gonna be shocked 01:59:57.550 --> 02:00:00.960 to find how much their rates are gonna need to change, 02:00:00.960 --> 02:00:04.683 to be able to pay for what needs to be fixed in the future. 02:00:05.790 --> 02:00:09.600 The infrastructure's aging and a lot of cities 02:00:09.600 --> 02:00:12.731 they've replaced pieces, portions, things like that. 02:00:12.731 --> 02:00:17.410 But with new technology, a wastewater treatment plant 02:00:17.410 --> 02:00:19.680 we've already said is extremely expensive. 02:00:19.680 --> 02:00:22.430 Some of these plants were put in in the early eighties. 02:00:23.590 --> 02:00:26.720 So they've been in for a while and they've been patched up 02:00:26.720 --> 02:00:30.080 and eventually you're gonna have to bite the bullet 02:00:30.080 --> 02:00:31.393 and do something new. 02:00:33.112 --> 02:00:35.720 A lot of cities just kick that can down the road. 02:00:35.720 --> 02:00:39.230 And I think what this asset management plan does is, 02:00:39.230 --> 02:00:42.770 again, using Steven's term is bringing it to light that, 02:00:42.770 --> 02:00:45.280 Hey, we've got this major issue sitting over here, 02:00:45.280 --> 02:00:46.583 that's out of sight out of mind that we're gonna have 02:00:46.583 --> 02:00:50.900 to do something with and oh, by the way, here's the cost. 02:00:50.900 --> 02:00:53.002 So how are we gonna handle this? 02:00:53.002 --> 02:00:56.380 And yeah, you can get a water development Board loan, 02:00:56.380 --> 02:01:00.510 you can get a grant, but the city's still gonna have to pay 02:01:00.510 --> 02:01:01.570 some of that back. 02:01:01.570 --> 02:01:04.250 And where are those funds gonna come from? 02:01:04.250 --> 02:01:07.540 And starting sooner rather than later, 02:01:07.540 --> 02:01:10.991 getting the population or the citizens involved, 02:01:10.991 --> 02:01:14.890 understanding that, Hey, we have this big expense coming up, 02:01:14.890 --> 02:01:16.800 we need to prepare for it. 02:01:16.800 --> 02:01:21.640 That kind of gives justification to any changes to that, 02:01:21.640 --> 02:01:24.530 to the sewer rate, water rate, whatever the case might be. 02:01:24.530 --> 02:01:26.610 So now there's some backing to that 02:01:26.610 --> 02:01:27.620 instead of just saying, 02:01:27.620 --> 02:01:29.180 oh, we need to pay for more staff 02:01:29.180 --> 02:01:31.063 or pay for more improvements. 02:01:31.063 --> 02:01:34.530 There's a lot more behind that number. 02:01:34.530 --> 02:01:37.250 Oh, raising rates is never a popular thing 02:01:37.250 --> 02:01:39.740 to do obviously, 02:01:39.740 --> 02:01:42.570 but infrastructure is aging throughout the entire state. 02:01:42.570 --> 02:01:44.880 And it's something that we really talk about it, 02:01:44.880 --> 02:01:47.030 the Board the value of water, 02:01:47.030 --> 02:01:49.910 the value of our infrastructure and trying to get 02:01:49.910 --> 02:01:52.870 public buy-in to, there is a cost associated 02:01:52.870 --> 02:01:54.860 with maintaining our infrastructure 02:01:54.860 --> 02:01:58.350 and what I've heard from a lot of our colleagues out there 02:01:58.350 --> 02:02:01.230 is just a clear, consistent, 02:02:01.230 --> 02:02:05.120 and early engagement of the public that their rates 02:02:05.120 --> 02:02:08.250 will probably go up is obvious. 02:02:08.250 --> 02:02:11.810 Like you, otherwise you will have just a political fight 02:02:11.810 --> 02:02:12.700 on your hands, 02:02:12.700 --> 02:02:15.610 but if you can get to them early and engage them early 02:02:15.610 --> 02:02:18.210 and let them know exactly what it's for, 02:02:18.210 --> 02:02:19.763 it's a lot easier path. 02:02:20.840 --> 02:02:22.550 Yeah, I found up as a council member 02:02:22.550 --> 02:02:23.990 and mayor of a small town. 02:02:23.990 --> 02:02:26.740 And what I have found is the more you bring it up 02:02:26.740 --> 02:02:28.600 after so many times of bringing it up, 02:02:28.600 --> 02:02:29.700 they finally get to the point, 02:02:29.700 --> 02:02:31.220 well, why aren't we doing it? 02:02:31.220 --> 02:02:33.300 So that's kind of the best philosophy 02:02:33.300 --> 02:02:35.623 to take out exactly where I'm out. 02:02:37.038 --> 02:02:39.640 And I don't know, maybe Eric could comment as well, 02:02:39.640 --> 02:02:42.910 but part of the challenge is that, 02:02:42.910 --> 02:02:45.080 if you communicate the asset management needs 02:02:45.080 --> 02:02:48.340 to the utility director, I mean, you're insane. 02:02:48.340 --> 02:02:50.430 I mean, you can almost say one word 02:02:50.430 --> 02:02:53.040 and they'll finish the sentence, right? 02:02:53.040 --> 02:02:56.220 As opposed to the council who then in turn 02:02:56.220 --> 02:02:59.800 is got to communicate and convince the public 02:02:59.800 --> 02:03:01.170 that this is a good investment. 02:03:01.170 --> 02:03:05.820 So, part of what we kind of like to get your thoughts on 02:03:05.820 --> 02:03:08.440 is, well, what is that education? 02:03:08.440 --> 02:03:10.600 What is that training, what does that look like 02:03:10.600 --> 02:03:14.610 that kind of helps the utility manager 02:03:14.610 --> 02:03:16.163 who's already in sync with it, 02:03:17.583 --> 02:03:21.170 to kind of get that same communication going 02:03:21.170 --> 02:03:24.080 with the city council so that they in turn 02:03:24.080 --> 02:03:25.930 can hopefully they're the trusted messengers 02:03:25.930 --> 02:03:29.548 can kind of help and communicate that to the public. 02:03:29.548 --> 02:03:30.381 And that's always the challenge because 02:03:30.381 --> 02:03:32.810 a lot of these rural cities, your council members 02:03:32.810 --> 02:03:37.810 are school teachers, farmers, tow truck driver 02:03:38.600 --> 02:03:41.160 that know nothing about city operation. 02:03:41.160 --> 02:03:44.350 And so, that's the challenge of trying to get 02:03:44.350 --> 02:03:48.990 that importance of what your infrastructure looks like 02:03:48.990 --> 02:03:51.910 and convincing the council that has no idea 02:03:51.910 --> 02:03:54.190 when you mentioned air raider 02:03:54.190 --> 02:03:55.500 on a wastewater treatment plant, 02:03:55.500 --> 02:03:58.000 they have no idea what you're talking about. 02:03:58.000 --> 02:04:00.820 So what I've done on some of my smaller cities 02:04:00.820 --> 02:04:02.840 is we've taken them on field trips. 02:04:02.840 --> 02:04:04.150 Now, when they're newly elected, 02:04:04.150 --> 02:04:06.210 Hey, come out to the wastewater treatment plant with me, 02:04:06.210 --> 02:04:08.420 let me walk you around and show you 02:04:08.420 --> 02:04:10.030 what we're talking about. 02:04:10.030 --> 02:04:13.780 And that's done wonders now getting them to a wastewater 02:04:13.780 --> 02:04:16.530 treatment plant, that's a challenge in and of itself. 02:04:16.530 --> 02:04:21.510 So again it's gonna be city by city basis 02:04:21.510 --> 02:04:26.140 on the approach that you take to get the council involved. 02:04:26.140 --> 02:04:28.070 A lot of these cities, the council members, 02:04:28.070 --> 02:04:28.980 or your neighbors, 02:04:28.980 --> 02:04:33.640 or your kid plays with the sports on the mayor's kid, 02:04:33.640 --> 02:04:35.270 so there's always that connection 02:04:35.270 --> 02:04:40.270 and always that opportunity to be able to talk 02:04:40.450 --> 02:04:41.850 about things like this. 02:04:41.850 --> 02:04:43.800 And you just have to keep your eyes open 02:04:43.800 --> 02:04:46.610 and make sure that we're gets out there. 02:04:46.610 --> 02:04:48.270 Even in a council meeting, 02:04:48.270 --> 02:04:51.730 a lot of mine, I put a city engineer update, 02:04:51.730 --> 02:04:55.220 it's a standing agenda item on the council. 02:04:55.220 --> 02:04:57.990 And so that gives me an opportunity to give up and talk 02:04:57.990 --> 02:05:01.430 about something that not necessarily an agenda item 02:05:01.430 --> 02:05:03.740 or anything the council needs to vote on, 02:05:03.740 --> 02:05:06.300 but it's at least something to get it out there in the open 02:05:06.300 --> 02:05:07.690 so that's in the meeting minutes. 02:05:07.690 --> 02:05:09.870 And if anybody wants to go back and look at it, 02:05:09.870 --> 02:05:11.300 they can review all of that. 02:05:11.300 --> 02:05:14.600 So it's opportunities like that. 02:05:14.600 --> 02:05:16.740 You just got to get the information out there. 02:05:16.740 --> 02:05:21.050 And, again, as a mayor, I put articles in newspaper, 02:05:21.050 --> 02:05:23.740 Facebook, I'm not a social media guy, 02:05:23.740 --> 02:05:25.530 so that may be an issue, 02:05:25.530 --> 02:05:29.320 but you can never put it out there too much. 02:05:29.320 --> 02:05:31.960 Somebody is gonna say, "Well, I never saw it." 02:05:31.960 --> 02:05:34.083 And it's hard to reach everybody. 02:05:35.060 --> 02:05:40.010 So Eric, I know that you had a lot of involvement 02:05:40.010 --> 02:05:43.360 from Mayor Harding in Blanco and the moving forward 02:05:43.360 --> 02:05:44.990 with the asset management program. 02:05:44.990 --> 02:05:46.640 And one of the quotes, 02:05:46.640 --> 02:05:49.200 I think I remember you saying is, seeing is believing. 02:05:49.200 --> 02:05:53.033 And so I interested in your comments on how we can. 02:05:56.040 --> 02:05:58.400 Since Mayor Herding left office, 02:05:58.400 --> 02:06:01.810 we had a big transitions, like some others had noted. 02:06:01.810 --> 02:06:04.890 And so we had people almost forget everything. 02:06:04.890 --> 02:06:09.890 And the city has rediscovered everything 02:06:10.290 --> 02:06:11.360 that we've put together. 02:06:11.360 --> 02:06:14.633 We just got to re up on our GIS contract yesterday. 02:06:16.802 --> 02:06:19.550 So I would think that part of it would be 02:06:19.550 --> 02:06:20.810 to look at the data. 02:06:20.810 --> 02:06:22.320 I wish we could show it to you. 02:06:22.320 --> 02:06:24.160 The dashBoards you could create 02:06:24.160 --> 02:06:25.860 and the map that you can create 02:06:25.860 --> 02:06:28.810 with these Esri software packages 02:06:28.810 --> 02:06:30.780 that prioritize the system. 02:06:30.780 --> 02:06:33.210 So you could come in and show all the systems 02:06:33.210 --> 02:06:35.530 that are red or green or blue, whatever, 02:06:35.530 --> 02:06:37.130 depending on how you ranked them. 02:06:37.130 --> 02:06:40.290 It creates a really good communication tool 02:06:40.290 --> 02:06:43.560 to do the council and to the citizens. 02:06:43.560 --> 02:06:45.900 If you have that mapping capability 02:06:45.900 --> 02:06:49.450 and you have the ability to show it in a dashBoard format 02:06:49.450 --> 02:06:51.640 and it's all there, and that technology is right there 02:06:51.640 --> 02:06:52.513 for them to use. 02:06:54.060 --> 02:06:55.692 And I don't know if you've seen it, 02:06:55.692 --> 02:06:58.642 but if you would like to look at it, we can show it to you. 02:07:00.122 --> 02:07:02.613 Thank you. Steven. 02:07:04.800 --> 02:07:06.760 I think we're on the right track about this idea 02:07:06.760 --> 02:07:10.080 of privatization, things have to be prioritized, 02:07:10.080 --> 02:07:11.240 and we've got ways to do that. 02:07:11.240 --> 02:07:13.118 We've discussed that. 02:07:13.118 --> 02:07:15.410 I think there's one additional step. 02:07:15.410 --> 02:07:18.870 It's like one step away from actually getting there 02:07:18.870 --> 02:07:21.460 to communicate to folks, for example, 02:07:21.460 --> 02:07:23.290 that are not the engineer crowd, 02:07:23.290 --> 02:07:25.033 or they're not lived in this. 02:07:26.201 --> 02:07:29.430 They need to know a real world consequence 02:07:29.430 --> 02:07:31.550 of this priority list. 02:07:31.550 --> 02:07:34.260 So for example, if this fails, 02:07:34.260 --> 02:07:37.117 if this particular manhole in the section five, 02:07:37.117 --> 02:07:39.730 this is vitrified clay pipe, that's seventy-five years old. 02:07:39.730 --> 02:07:41.070 If it fails, what happens? 02:07:41.070 --> 02:07:43.620 Oh, everybody in town on this main collector, 02:07:43.620 --> 02:07:45.420 it will backup all of the bathtub, 02:07:45.420 --> 02:07:47.570 showers and toilets in your whole community. 02:07:47.570 --> 02:07:49.960 Everybody will in your town will want your head. 02:07:49.960 --> 02:07:51.740 Oh, that's probably a pretty big deal. 02:07:51.740 --> 02:07:53.550 So they need to know that, 02:07:53.550 --> 02:07:55.500 or there's gonna be a waterborne disease outbreak 02:07:55.500 --> 02:07:56.730 related to this. 02:07:56.730 --> 02:07:58.080 Maybe it's a surface water treatment or 02:07:58.080 --> 02:08:01.010 they need the ground water under the flips of surface water. 02:08:01.010 --> 02:08:03.420 They needed to fix whatever that is. 02:08:03.420 --> 02:08:06.380 They need to know the actual consequences. 02:08:06.380 --> 02:08:09.090 Maybe it's a litigational thing with CCQ 02:08:09.090 --> 02:08:13.040 or a consumer or an industry suing them, but make it real. 02:08:13.040 --> 02:08:16.113 I think that's that transitional step to make it real, 02:08:17.170 --> 02:08:18.830 and again, make it frequent 02:08:18.830 --> 02:08:22.500 in their review of accountability that that heart makes 02:08:22.500 --> 02:08:24.380 it come to life instead of just like, 02:08:24.380 --> 02:08:27.130 oh, why didn't you do your priority items? 02:08:27.130 --> 02:08:29.330 They're just stagnant engineering priority items, 02:08:29.330 --> 02:08:31.260 as opposed to, if I don't do this, 02:08:31.260 --> 02:08:33.560 everybody in town is gonna be at what my head. 02:08:34.810 --> 02:08:39.390 Thank you, Phillip, did you have something in here? 02:08:39.390 --> 02:08:40.370 Steve said a lot of. 02:08:40.370 --> 02:08:42.000 I actually worked with the city of Blanca 02:08:42.000 --> 02:08:44.310 and did two rate study and helped mayor Harden, 02:08:44.310 --> 02:08:46.947 and helped them get rate pants was great. 02:08:46.947 --> 02:08:49.500 And what I do with the committee and I work with 02:08:49.500 --> 02:08:52.870 is the campaign and what people normally, 02:08:52.870 --> 02:08:54.073 all of us research has shown 02:08:54.073 --> 02:08:57.830 that when you feel someone a fact what they say consciously 02:08:57.830 --> 02:08:59.700 or subcontract is, "So What. 02:08:59.700 --> 02:09:01.710 So we have to answer to, so what question, 02:09:01.710 --> 02:09:04.710 when we tell them you do that about telling them 02:09:04.710 --> 02:09:05.543 what the benefits. 02:09:05.543 --> 02:09:09.040 How are you the individual household quantity benefit 02:09:09.040 --> 02:09:11.540 from this rate increase in terms of like what Steve 02:09:11.540 --> 02:09:13.980 just mentioned, you won't have sewage backup anymore. 02:09:13.980 --> 02:09:15.650 Are you gonna have water that you need 02:09:15.650 --> 02:09:16.910 to run your business? 02:09:16.910 --> 02:09:19.540 Whatever the benefit that they're going to receive, 02:09:19.540 --> 02:09:21.440 which is key in any sales, 02:09:21.440 --> 02:09:23.860 is that it's a campaign with settlement, 02:09:23.860 --> 02:09:27.253 what a one liners on how they are going to benefit. 02:09:27.253 --> 02:09:28.850 And that has proved to be very successful 02:09:28.850 --> 02:09:32.403 and get these rates passed and approved. 02:09:34.280 --> 02:09:35.113 Thank you. 02:09:37.130 --> 02:09:38.360 In the essence of time, 02:09:38.360 --> 02:09:43.250 I think we will skip to the final and big question 02:09:43.250 --> 02:09:44.940 of the day. 02:09:44.940 --> 02:09:46.520 So this is our followup, 02:09:46.520 --> 02:09:48.810 and we're hoping that everybody will kind of weigh in 02:09:48.810 --> 02:09:50.960 and participate in this one. 02:09:50.960 --> 02:09:53.610 So overall, did you find the amps pilot project 02:09:53.610 --> 02:09:55.360 to be valuable? 02:09:55.360 --> 02:09:59.010 And are there any specific elements that you would add 02:09:59.010 --> 02:10:01.803 or remove from the scope of work? 02:10:03.820 --> 02:10:07.010 And so why don't we just start maybe with Lanny, 02:10:07.010 --> 02:10:09.903 we haven't heard from him in a while and then maybe Austin. 02:10:11.510 --> 02:10:12.870 So what I was thinking 02:10:12.870 --> 02:10:14.610 when this question came up is, 02:10:14.610 --> 02:10:17.300 yes, the project was valuable and to kind of tailor it 02:10:17.300 --> 02:10:19.810 to what the other question was as well. 02:10:19.810 --> 02:10:24.810 So city of Pittsburgh, actually a credit to the city manager 02:10:25.261 --> 02:10:26.520 and the council there 02:10:26.520 --> 02:10:29.700 that they were thinking ahead of how do we take this 02:10:29.700 --> 02:10:31.940 information and how do we do the things 02:10:31.940 --> 02:10:32.920 we were talking about 02:10:32.920 --> 02:10:35.087 where we're actually having a visual input of it. 02:10:35.087 --> 02:10:37.440 And they started a work order system. 02:10:37.440 --> 02:10:39.890 They discovered that one of the things that 02:10:41.036 --> 02:10:42.500 a lot of times the guys out in the field, 02:10:42.500 --> 02:10:45.230 that documentation is not their strong suit. 02:10:45.230 --> 02:10:46.740 So they started a work order system 02:10:46.740 --> 02:10:48.550 where they were filing things electronically. 02:10:48.550 --> 02:10:50.650 So they can take that electronic data, 02:10:50.650 --> 02:10:53.330 move it onto a mapping system so that somebody else 02:10:53.330 --> 02:10:54.163 can see it. 02:10:54.163 --> 02:10:57.440 So I would think that some way of documenting 02:10:57.440 --> 02:11:00.360 as we're managing our asset management into the future, 02:11:00.360 --> 02:11:03.390 some way of documenting how often a piece of equipment 02:11:03.390 --> 02:11:05.840 fails, whether it's one year old or 20 years old, 02:11:07.060 --> 02:11:10.373 so that we understand what's going on would be a good thing. 02:11:11.270 --> 02:11:13.640 Other than that, I think the project was real valuable, 02:11:13.640 --> 02:11:16.720 especially to the communities that they were able to use 02:11:17.754 --> 02:11:20.280 to get a little bit of an introduction to it 02:11:20.280 --> 02:11:22.580 so that they can take to the future 02:11:22.580 --> 02:11:24.530 and start dovetailing these other items 02:11:26.428 --> 02:11:28.320 and so they can manage their system better. 02:11:28.320 --> 02:11:29.720 I think it was a great idea. 02:11:34.560 --> 02:11:37.280 I think overall, 02:11:37.280 --> 02:11:40.220 I would agree with landing that it's a great project 02:11:40.220 --> 02:11:42.460 and I'm very happy at opportunity to work on it. 02:11:42.460 --> 02:11:46.620 And I think it's a huge benefit to small systems. 02:11:46.620 --> 02:11:49.680 They need as many tools as we can provide them 02:11:49.680 --> 02:11:52.380 to the continue to operate and be viable. 02:11:52.380 --> 02:11:54.640 They don't have the resources nor the time, has been stated 02:11:54.640 --> 02:11:55.780 a lot today, and it's true. 02:11:55.780 --> 02:11:56.613 They just don't have that. 02:11:56.613 --> 02:12:00.260 They have to work it just of surviving every day. 02:12:00.260 --> 02:12:04.920 But one thing I think I would then would suggest is that 02:12:04.920 --> 02:12:07.380 somehow building a little more frequent follow-up 02:12:07.380 --> 02:12:09.673 because I think what we're facing here 02:12:09.673 --> 02:12:13.140 with the city of Holland complete transition. 02:12:13.140 --> 02:12:15.600 We're very fortunate that Scott has a relationship 02:12:15.600 --> 02:12:18.530 with them, so we can go in and do the transition. 02:12:18.530 --> 02:12:19.920 But if we didn't have that, 02:12:19.920 --> 02:12:21.940 I'm not sure how it would get back in there 02:12:21.940 --> 02:12:24.037 and get them to pay attention long enough to say, 02:12:24.037 --> 02:12:26.670 "Hey, this is what we provided to y'all. 02:12:26.670 --> 02:12:28.990 This is how you can use it going forward." 02:12:28.990 --> 02:12:33.370 And so something I know we have an 18 month follow-up, 02:12:33.370 --> 02:12:34.920 maybe a little more frequent, 02:12:34.920 --> 02:12:37.740 just so we can try to catch those transitions 02:12:37.740 --> 02:12:38.923 as much as possible. 02:12:40.718 --> 02:12:41.780 Thank you. 02:12:41.780 --> 02:12:44.930 So, Chris, did you have anything you wanted to add. 02:12:44.930 --> 02:12:46.030 And maybe think too, 02:12:46.030 --> 02:12:47.230 is there anything that we're doing 02:12:47.230 --> 02:12:49.140 that we don't necessarily need to be doing 02:12:49.140 --> 02:12:51.830 in the realm of efficiency. 02:12:51.830 --> 02:12:53.110 And streamlining. 02:12:53.110 --> 02:12:54.560 Or anything we need to add? 02:12:58.210 --> 02:13:00.900 Again, on the first point, absolutely. 02:13:00.900 --> 02:13:03.570 This is, this is incredibly valuable. 02:13:03.570 --> 02:13:08.410 And I think again, the ability to prioritize 02:13:08.410 --> 02:13:13.190 and anticipate future costs, because absolutely, 02:13:13.190 --> 02:13:15.850 I think we're running utility network for some of these 02:13:15.850 --> 02:13:18.140 small communities that's just reacting 02:13:18.140 --> 02:13:21.940 to what you have going on that day. 02:13:21.940 --> 02:13:25.930 And so absolutely this has value. 02:13:25.930 --> 02:13:29.590 And again, like I mentioned on the inspection data 02:13:29.590 --> 02:13:33.030 that you may have a right now of, 02:13:33.030 --> 02:13:34.710 I have problems with my sewer. 02:13:34.710 --> 02:13:37.280 I wanna get it all inspected and that might not be 02:13:37.280 --> 02:13:38.810 the best use of your money. 02:13:38.810 --> 02:13:41.380 And if you have an asset management program 02:13:41.380 --> 02:13:43.650 or even the risk assessment part of it, 02:13:43.650 --> 02:13:48.650 you can understand some of these priorities. 02:13:48.720 --> 02:13:51.970 I agree with the frequent follow-up because I think 02:13:51.970 --> 02:13:55.650 what's really important to this is not just a goal 02:13:55.650 --> 02:13:57.253 of an asset management plan, 02:13:59.640 --> 02:14:01.677 it's almost more important 02:14:01.677 --> 02:14:05.310 than the full asset management plan is 02:14:05.310 --> 02:14:08.737 the habits you're trying to build into keeping track 02:14:10.030 --> 02:14:12.930 of your inventory and keeping track of 02:14:12.930 --> 02:14:16.000 where you're spending money on, on maintenance 02:14:16.000 --> 02:14:17.990 and understanding that better. 02:14:17.990 --> 02:14:19.410 And being able to communicate that 02:14:19.410 --> 02:14:24.410 to stakeholders you might be fighting for funds 02:14:25.305 --> 02:14:27.383 that you can document those things. 02:14:29.360 --> 02:14:32.093 So Scott, any scope changes you'd recommend? 02:14:33.380 --> 02:14:36.840 Well, I wanna piggyback on what Ms. Sant was saying 02:14:36.840 --> 02:14:39.093 earlier about the phased approach. 02:14:40.260 --> 02:14:43.940 What we have found with the acquisition of the assets. 02:14:43.940 --> 02:14:46.690 There's so many different directions you can take that. 02:14:48.070 --> 02:14:51.690 So that's kind of the precipice, 02:14:51.690 --> 02:14:53.400 the starting point, I guess, 02:14:53.400 --> 02:14:55.300 of getting everything going. 02:14:55.300 --> 02:14:59.520 And so that is without the asset locating the asset 02:14:59.520 --> 02:15:00.730 out in the field, 02:15:00.730 --> 02:15:04.800 you've got really nothing other than old maps and paper 02:15:04.800 --> 02:15:07.100 and things like that. 02:15:07.100 --> 02:15:10.780 So in my mind doing the asset acquisition, 02:15:10.780 --> 02:15:15.780 creating that GIS or creating that list of items of, 02:15:16.290 --> 02:15:18.763 some sort of map for both water and wastewater. 02:15:20.390 --> 02:15:22.310 'Cause again, I'll state it again, 02:15:22.310 --> 02:15:25.650 water is gonna be number one on every city systems mind. 02:15:25.650 --> 02:15:26.747 So if you go to a city, 02:15:26.747 --> 02:15:30.900 "Hey, we wanna help do an asset management plan for you." 02:15:30.900 --> 02:15:33.170 Water is gonna be the first thing that pops up 02:15:33.170 --> 02:15:35.610 in reality it's probably the wastewater 02:15:35.610 --> 02:15:38.120 that needs to take the priority. 02:15:38.120 --> 02:15:41.510 So if you wrap both of those up together and phase one, 02:15:41.510 --> 02:15:44.780 doing the water and the wastewater, in my mind, 02:15:44.780 --> 02:15:48.520 you're saving some funding there and mobilization, 02:15:48.520 --> 02:15:50.770 you've got a survey crew out there shooting at anyway, 02:15:50.770 --> 02:15:55.770 why not go ahead and just have them pickup most systems. 02:15:56.470 --> 02:16:00.240 So yeah, in my mind, I kind of liked that phased approach 02:16:00.240 --> 02:16:04.350 that would be a better use of the funding starting out 02:16:04.350 --> 02:16:06.130 because really a city doesn't really know 02:16:06.130 --> 02:16:08.590 what they have until you put it all together. 02:16:08.590 --> 02:16:11.160 And that kind of directs where you go, 02:16:11.160 --> 02:16:13.320 when that second phase of 02:16:14.190 --> 02:16:16.500 maybe the asset management plan. 02:16:16.500 --> 02:16:21.190 We do all of acquisition for all the water side 02:16:21.190 --> 02:16:22.730 and everything looks great. 02:16:22.730 --> 02:16:24.760 Then all of a sudden we look at the wastewater side 02:16:24.760 --> 02:16:26.850 and it's, oh, our lines are that bad. 02:16:26.850 --> 02:16:28.780 They're in that condition. 02:16:28.780 --> 02:16:31.620 Well, do a more, in-depth look at the wastewater side 02:16:31.620 --> 02:16:33.680 and we can hold off on the water side. 02:16:33.680 --> 02:16:38.680 So that kind of directs how you approach it moving forward. 02:16:39.040 --> 02:16:43.260 So do I think it's a great value? Absolutely. 02:16:43.260 --> 02:16:47.260 The value is number one for the council to plan for budgets, 02:16:47.260 --> 02:16:49.330 city staff to plan for budgets, 02:16:49.330 --> 02:16:52.300 but it's invaluable to the city staff to be able to have 02:16:52.300 --> 02:16:57.250 that data readily in hand when they're out in the field 02:16:57.250 --> 02:17:00.360 like you mentioned turning valves and somebody mentioned 02:17:00.360 --> 02:17:02.890 turning valves, we see it all the time. 02:17:02.890 --> 02:17:04.950 They go out valve, hasn't been exercised, 02:17:04.950 --> 02:17:07.180 it's locked up, it's seized 02:17:08.472 --> 02:17:11.240 so what's the next option go to the elevated storage tank, 02:17:11.240 --> 02:17:13.260 turn the whole system off. 02:17:13.260 --> 02:17:15.530 That's happened several times at cities 02:17:15.530 --> 02:17:18.630 and so that information is invaluable 02:17:18.630 --> 02:17:20.010 at the city staff level. 02:17:20.010 --> 02:17:22.070 And again, that first phase 02:17:22.070 --> 02:17:24.540 that gets the city staff buy-in because 02:17:24.540 --> 02:17:27.193 that's data that's in their hand, it gets council by in, 02:17:27.193 --> 02:17:30.000 because now they could see what their system looks like 02:17:30.980 --> 02:17:34.630 and whether it's good, bad indifferent. 02:17:34.630 --> 02:17:37.160 At least now they've got something to look at that 02:17:38.833 --> 02:17:41.430 that help drive their decision 02:17:41.430 --> 02:17:42.870 when they're creating these budgets. 02:17:42.870 --> 02:17:44.990 And I think that's what we'll end up making 02:17:44.990 --> 02:17:47.273 this more sustainable, is that buy-in. 02:17:50.090 --> 02:17:54.180 Any other thoughts from folks here from the Board 02:17:54.180 --> 02:17:59.050 or those participating at home or in their home? 02:17:59.050 --> 02:18:03.507 Follow-up the 12 month apartment walking over the 12 month 02:18:03.507 --> 02:18:06.167 and 24 month follow-up is it's very good. 02:18:06.167 --> 02:18:09.453 And it reminds the client or the small city that, 02:18:11.120 --> 02:18:12.330 what they're using, what they're doing, 02:18:12.330 --> 02:18:13.350 what they've done in the past. 02:18:13.350 --> 02:18:15.980 And if we have a follow-up, I think that was great. 02:18:15.980 --> 02:18:18.170 And when you have the follow up, 02:18:18.170 --> 02:18:20.650 the engineer needs to be present, 02:18:20.650 --> 02:18:23.770 go out with the manager and operations director, 02:18:23.770 --> 02:18:25.730 staff, or staff director, 02:18:25.730 --> 02:18:27.920 and actually go through the system. 02:18:27.920 --> 02:18:29.670 It actually, when they know you're coming there, 02:18:29.670 --> 02:18:31.700 you give them a two, three week or month 02:18:32.970 --> 02:18:34.950 in the future point appointment, 02:18:34.950 --> 02:18:36.850 they'll actually go through everything and make sure 02:18:36.850 --> 02:18:38.380 that they followed it. 02:18:38.380 --> 02:18:42.450 And like I said, in Three Rivers, they were very proactive. 02:18:42.450 --> 02:18:44.450 So I didn't have too many problems there 02:18:44.450 --> 02:18:45.447 of what they had done 02:18:45.447 --> 02:18:48.920 and they were actually hitting one of the areas, 02:18:48.920 --> 02:18:50.233 but I think the 12 month. 02:18:52.187 --> 02:18:53.845 I think that's important. 02:18:53.845 --> 02:18:55.359 And so I know. 02:18:55.359 --> 02:18:56.192 It's very important. 02:18:56.192 --> 02:18:57.696 Otherwise it becomes to. 02:18:57.696 --> 02:19:00.143 Make a comment as well. So thank you, Joe. 02:19:04.000 --> 02:19:07.754 My comment is back to what Rebecca was saying earlier 02:19:07.754 --> 02:19:09.320 about the facing. 02:19:09.320 --> 02:19:13.950 I liked the idea and I guess 02:19:13.950 --> 02:19:18.250 the application, the timing of the funding, 02:19:18.250 --> 02:19:20.770 like they wrote back and made a comment earlier. 02:19:20.770 --> 02:19:23.070 Sometimes these folks don't even know what they have 02:19:23.070 --> 02:19:26.100 before they can get an SRF loan. 02:19:26.100 --> 02:19:31.010 So I'm a hundred percent clear on the funding operation 02:19:31.010 --> 02:19:32.910 or the mechanisms that y'all are placing. 02:19:32.910 --> 02:19:36.820 It looks like you've got the zero interest loan for SRF. 02:19:36.820 --> 02:19:39.040 And I didn't quite understand how the 100,000 02:19:39.040 --> 02:19:40.083 would be applied. 02:19:41.290 --> 02:19:44.300 Maybe it would be beneficial to have 02:19:44.300 --> 02:19:48.940 that amount of money to be offered separately to cities 02:19:48.940 --> 02:19:51.490 that can come in on a priority basis 02:19:51.490 --> 02:19:53.920 or on a first come first serve basis 02:19:53.920 --> 02:19:56.710 that might be able to apply for money 02:19:56.710 --> 02:19:59.680 separate from the SRF program in order to do so. 02:19:59.680 --> 02:20:04.470 The base mapping and condition assessment work. 02:20:04.470 --> 02:20:06.170 Rebecca, do you have any comments? 02:20:08.220 --> 02:20:10.460 I was just gonna add with the follow-up. 02:20:10.460 --> 02:20:13.700 I think it would be critical or important 02:20:13.700 --> 02:20:16.770 to try to engage all those levels during the follow-up. 02:20:16.770 --> 02:20:20.460 So not just, the public works director or the operators, 02:20:20.460 --> 02:20:25.200 but to try to maybe go back to council or the mayor 02:20:25.200 --> 02:20:26.470 because people do change. 02:20:26.470 --> 02:20:28.760 And I think, especially at small cities, 02:20:28.760 --> 02:20:30.570 people maybe change more frequently 02:20:30.570 --> 02:20:33.040 or they get farmed out or whatever, 02:20:33.040 --> 02:20:34.790 and that would be a good reminder, 02:20:34.790 --> 02:20:38.450 but at the same sense that the follow-up is tough 02:20:38.450 --> 02:20:41.210 because I think really part of this is 02:20:41.210 --> 02:20:44.687 you want the city to take this and run with it 02:20:44.687 --> 02:20:46.000 and make it their own. 02:20:46.000 --> 02:20:50.230 And it shouldn't be an engineer's responsibility 02:20:51.780 --> 02:20:54.400 or the Board's responsibility to make sure they remember 02:20:54.400 --> 02:20:56.107 what they've got. 02:20:56.107 --> 02:20:59.630 So that's part of just keeping that staff engagement. 02:20:59.630 --> 02:21:00.783 There was a question, 02:21:01.750 --> 02:21:03.440 I don't remember who asked it before, 02:21:03.440 --> 02:21:06.970 maybe Jessica about if the 80 hours was enough. 02:21:06.970 --> 02:21:09.380 And I think some people said the 80 hours 02:21:09.380 --> 02:21:11.840 that the city had to give was enough. 02:21:11.840 --> 02:21:16.730 I think doing the field work and the 80 hours is good, 02:21:16.730 --> 02:21:19.500 but I don't know if there's a way to help, 02:21:19.500 --> 02:21:21.210 like get the staff more involved 02:21:21.210 --> 02:21:23.850 in the whole kind of process of creating the plan 02:21:23.850 --> 02:21:27.330 or working through a worksheet because it is about 02:21:27.330 --> 02:21:28.403 training people. 02:21:30.020 --> 02:21:34.400 I'm not sure that a followup retraining 02:21:34.400 --> 02:21:37.390 is always beneficial when you're trying to get somebody 02:21:37.390 --> 02:21:38.690 to be oh, I'm in the field. 02:21:38.690 --> 02:21:41.960 I can make this change right now because of you. 02:21:41.960 --> 02:21:44.033 Well, thank you. Great comments. 02:21:45.329 --> 02:21:47.253 So I think that's all of our comments. 02:21:48.820 --> 02:21:50.200 That's great. 02:21:50.200 --> 02:21:52.270 Ashley, next item, please. 02:21:53.750 --> 02:21:56.070 Chairwoman, the next item on the agenda 02:21:56.070 --> 02:21:59.903 is public comment on the TWDB AMs initiative. 02:22:01.570 --> 02:22:05.240 We got one registration card for the meeting today, 02:22:05.240 --> 02:22:07.840 and that's from Larry Bell, who's technical assistance 02:22:07.840 --> 02:22:11.740 director at Texas rural water association. 02:22:11.740 --> 02:22:15.420 He did not indicate whether he wanted to address the Board, 02:22:15.420 --> 02:22:18.420 but he did submit a question for us in writing 02:22:18.420 --> 02:22:20.740 that he was interested in whether sewer cameras 02:22:20.740 --> 02:22:25.670 were used in asset surveys to show the actual type of pipes 02:22:25.670 --> 02:22:26.703 or conditions. 02:22:27.550 --> 02:22:28.383 Did ask that. 02:22:34.250 --> 02:22:35.630 Any boots on the ground? 02:22:35.630 --> 02:22:39.300 Any experiences with super cameras? 02:22:39.300 --> 02:22:40.860 No, on the sewer cameras, 02:22:40.860 --> 02:22:45.090 I know some of the cities have their own small cameras, 02:22:45.090 --> 02:22:49.090 but really what you need are the full blown truck mounted 02:22:49.090 --> 02:22:51.830 cameras that can actually go the 500 foot distance 02:22:51.830 --> 02:22:56.290 and then all of that, and those get pretty expensive. 02:22:56.290 --> 02:22:58.440 So for us on the wastewater side, 02:22:58.440 --> 02:23:00.870 it was really just looking in the manhole, 02:23:00.870 --> 02:23:05.260 what pipe material, now if it was PVC coming into the pipe, 02:23:05.260 --> 02:23:09.050 five feet later, it could have turned into clay who knows, 02:23:09.050 --> 02:23:11.577 but we at least have somewhat of an idea 02:23:11.577 --> 02:23:13.780 of the size coming out of the manhole, 02:23:13.780 --> 02:23:17.090 but no, we did not do any CCTV work 02:23:17.090 --> 02:23:18.262 as part of this scope. 02:23:18.262 --> 02:23:19.600 (member speaking off mic) 02:23:19.600 --> 02:23:20.700 It is a lot more expensive. 02:23:20.700 --> 02:23:24.140 It'd be great to have that on the city side, 02:23:24.140 --> 02:23:27.453 but yeah we couldn't get it into the budget. 02:23:30.590 --> 02:23:31.940 Any other public comment. 02:23:33.630 --> 02:23:36.880 That's the only registration card that we had. 02:23:36.880 --> 02:23:39.020 I don't know if anyone else is online indicating 02:23:39.020 --> 02:23:40.370 they want to comment. 02:23:40.370 --> 02:23:44.070 Is there anyone online that wishes to comment 02:23:44.070 --> 02:23:47.573 on the TWDB amps initiative? 02:23:51.360 --> 02:23:53.263 All right, Ashley, next item, please. 02:23:55.430 --> 02:23:57.050 Chairman, the next item on the agenda 02:23:57.050 --> 02:23:59.070 is public comment on any other matters 02:23:59.070 --> 02:24:01.680 within the jurisdiction of TWDB. 02:24:01.680 --> 02:24:04.400 Is anyone signed up for public comment? 02:24:04.400 --> 02:24:06.980 We do not have anyone for that type of comment either. 02:24:06.980 --> 02:24:10.110 Is there anyone in the cyber world 02:24:10.110 --> 02:24:13.680 that wishes to comment on any matters 02:24:13.680 --> 02:24:15.813 within the jurisdiction of TWDB? 02:24:20.680 --> 02:24:21.860 All right, Ashley, next item. 02:24:21.860 --> 02:24:24.550 Chairwoman, the final item on the agenda today 02:24:24.550 --> 02:24:26.063 is closing comments. 02:24:28.480 --> 02:24:29.333 You go first. 02:24:30.210 --> 02:24:33.960 Well, I just wanted to thank the staff for the great work 02:24:33.960 --> 02:24:37.320 that they've done in putting the pilot program together. 02:24:37.320 --> 02:24:40.570 Again, this is, I think, a first time effort 02:24:40.570 --> 02:24:42.990 for the Board and providing, if you will, 02:24:42.990 --> 02:24:44.160 that human capital. 02:24:44.160 --> 02:24:48.050 And we were just so fortunate during this pilot initiative, 02:24:48.050 --> 02:24:52.810 I think to have a great set of human capital folks 02:24:52.810 --> 02:24:56.580 who had the expertise and the talent and the commitment. 02:24:56.580 --> 02:25:01.580 And I think you heard in the presentations today that 02:25:01.980 --> 02:25:06.980 they went above and beyond what was expected. 02:25:07.290 --> 02:25:12.290 And I have really just kind of latched on to the objectives. 02:25:14.130 --> 02:25:16.480 We appreciate all the comments today in terms of 02:25:16.480 --> 02:25:19.540 what you think we can do to fine tune the process. 02:25:19.540 --> 02:25:22.640 We're always about continuous improvement 02:25:22.640 --> 02:25:26.370 and wanting to do what is best value, 02:25:26.370 --> 02:25:27.780 not just for the Board, 02:25:27.780 --> 02:25:30.100 because we are obviously investing in this, 02:25:30.100 --> 02:25:32.270 but also for the communities that are served. 02:25:32.270 --> 02:25:36.610 And so, just a great opportunity, appreciate the staff, 02:25:36.610 --> 02:25:41.250 appreciate all of the firms that not only participated 02:25:42.727 --> 02:25:44.520 in the process and the pilot study, 02:25:44.520 --> 02:25:47.210 but taking your times and be here today, 02:25:47.210 --> 02:25:50.010 or be here virtually and share with us your thoughts 02:25:50.010 --> 02:25:50.843 and ideas. 02:25:50.843 --> 02:25:52.440 And I would encourage anyone. 02:25:52.440 --> 02:25:56.610 I mean, we always wanna know what people are thinking about. 02:25:56.610 --> 02:26:00.340 And so even if you weren't here today and you have an idea, 02:26:00.340 --> 02:26:03.290 please pick up the phone, 02:26:03.290 --> 02:26:06.820 call me or one of the staff we would love to hear from you. 02:26:06.820 --> 02:26:09.270 And really excited for the next phase 02:26:09.270 --> 02:26:10.920 in terms of moving forward. 02:26:10.920 --> 02:26:13.490 And what's kind of on the horizon. 02:26:13.490 --> 02:26:15.940 And again, how we can improve the system, 02:26:15.940 --> 02:26:17.400 how we can expand it. 02:26:17.400 --> 02:26:20.490 I think one of the things that we seen, which was 02:26:20.490 --> 02:26:24.260 maybe something we didn't necessarily expect is that 02:26:24.260 --> 02:26:28.810 is the whole concept of asset management is growing 02:26:28.810 --> 02:26:30.870 and the engagement and involvement. 02:26:30.870 --> 02:26:35.870 So we saw communities that were not in the pilot program, 02:26:36.010 --> 02:26:39.730 actually asked to participate, start asking about it. 02:26:39.730 --> 02:26:43.040 We have communities that are moving forward 02:26:43.040 --> 02:26:45.920 with their SRF projects include, 02:26:45.920 --> 02:26:48.210 asset management as something to do moving forward. 02:26:48.210 --> 02:26:53.210 So I interested in what we can do to help communities, 02:26:56.720 --> 02:27:01.120 to be able serve the communities in which they're in. 02:27:01.120 --> 02:27:04.000 So appreciate everybody's time and effort 02:27:04.000 --> 02:27:07.273 and just excited about the next phase. 02:27:09.080 --> 02:27:12.920 I really love to thank staff Jessica and Patrick 02:27:12.920 --> 02:27:16.040 and not staff, but my fellow Board member 02:27:16.040 --> 02:27:18.070 for putting this together. 02:27:18.070 --> 02:27:20.730 I think that this is a perfect example 02:27:20.730 --> 02:27:24.020 of how this Board does not shy away from having 02:27:24.020 --> 02:27:28.760 these really candid discussions about our programs. 02:27:28.760 --> 02:27:31.720 I don't think there are a lot of Commissions or Boards 02:27:31.720 --> 02:27:34.650 that would have an open work session 02:27:34.650 --> 02:27:37.501 and ask people in public, 02:27:37.501 --> 02:27:39.840 "What do you think about our program? 02:27:39.840 --> 02:27:41.937 Tell us what we can do better." 02:27:43.030 --> 02:27:46.980 But this is a Board that is always looking to improve 02:27:46.980 --> 02:27:49.470 our programs and our staff that are always looking 02:27:49.470 --> 02:27:51.133 for stakeholder engagement. 02:27:52.540 --> 02:27:54.740 We're a very collaborative agency and Board, 02:27:54.740 --> 02:27:56.970 and we're just really happy to hear your insights, 02:27:56.970 --> 02:27:59.063 good, bad, neutral. 02:28:00.170 --> 02:28:01.860 We just wanna hear what you all are thinking. 02:28:01.860 --> 02:28:04.847 And as the lawyer on the Board 02:28:04.847 --> 02:28:08.200 and the lawyer, everyone jokes, 'cause I always say, 02:28:08.200 --> 02:28:09.230 well, I'm the lawyer and the Board. 02:28:09.230 --> 02:28:12.210 So I pass all the hard questions on to Kathleen 02:28:12.210 --> 02:28:13.270 as the engineer. 02:28:13.270 --> 02:28:15.650 It was actually really refreshing for me 02:28:15.650 --> 02:28:18.053 to hear what you guys are saying, 02:28:19.020 --> 02:28:21.860 operationally and how it's actually helping 02:28:23.120 --> 02:28:25.670 not just with the asset management, 02:28:25.670 --> 02:28:29.720 but also with the possibility of rate increases 02:28:29.720 --> 02:28:33.640 and collaboration and engagement 02:28:33.640 --> 02:28:36.290 and working with the leadership in your cities 02:28:36.290 --> 02:28:38.370 was something that I had thought about, 02:28:38.370 --> 02:28:43.100 but just hearing it from you all was very impressive. 02:28:43.100 --> 02:28:46.260 So I think that this was a wonderful meeting. 02:28:46.260 --> 02:28:47.760 You worked so hard on it. 02:28:47.760 --> 02:28:51.030 And I think we had a fantastic discussion. 02:28:51.030 --> 02:28:53.670 It was exactly what I wanted to have happen. 02:28:53.670 --> 02:28:56.330 Jeff, do you have any final remarks or? 02:28:56.330 --> 02:28:59.580 No. (speaks faintly) 02:28:59.580 --> 02:29:02.600 We can stop without complimenting our chairwoman 02:29:02.600 --> 02:29:06.100 because one of the things I think I'm so proud of 02:29:06.100 --> 02:29:08.590 is that I know she's an attorney, 02:29:08.590 --> 02:29:11.280 but she starting to think like an engineer. 02:29:11.280 --> 02:29:13.590 What? (members laughs) 02:29:13.590 --> 02:29:16.200 In fact, I tell you, I'm thinking like an engineer. 02:29:16.200 --> 02:29:18.879 So thanks for the engagement today. 02:29:18.879 --> 02:29:20.050 I'm gonna tell my husband that, 02:29:20.050 --> 02:29:23.090 he's gonna be in complete disagreement with that, 02:29:23.090 --> 02:29:26.403 but anyways, thank you all. 02:29:27.560 --> 02:29:29.930 And with that, the Board will not meet 02:29:29.930 --> 02:29:31.430 in closed session today. 02:29:31.430 --> 02:29:33.260 There'll be no further business 02:29:33.260 --> 02:29:34.780 of the Texas Water Development Board. 02:29:34.780 --> 02:29:36.320 The meeting is hereby adjourned. 02:29:36.320 --> 02:29:39.410 The time is now 4:01 PM. 02:29:39.410 --> 02:29:40.243 Thank you.