Buckley: New SCADA System at water plant

Water Department staff have been working for the past several weeks with representatives of Preferred Controls of Albany, Minnesota, on installation of a new supervisory control and data acquisition system for the city’s Lake Michigan water filtration plant.

The SCADA system provides for integrated monitoring and management of all aspects of water plant operation, including the water filtration and chemical feed systems, as well as aspects of the water distribution system, including water tank and reservoir operations.

The system provides valuable information to plant operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That includes sending alarm messages to on-call personnel if an equipment failure or other problem occurs during hours when the plant is not staffed.

It will also automatically shut down the plant and send an alarm message if any problems could impact the plant’s ability to deliver water that meets all safe drinking water standards.

The new system is being installed at a total cost of $140,000, which includes staff training in its proper operation.

While the new system is being “put through its paces” — a process that includes verification of all alarm and emergency shut-down processes — the plant is being staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Regular staff schedules will resume after it has been demonstrated, to the city’s and DNR’s satisfaction, that the system is operating flawlessly.

The Department of Natural Resources regulates the operation of public water supply systems in the State of Wisconsin.

The new SCADA system replaces a system that dated back to the water plant’s conversion to ultrafiltration technology in 2003.

That old system had outlived its useful life and lacked capacity to handle all of the plant and distribution system monitoring needs that exist today and will be required in the future.

The need to make this investment had been identified for the past several years. Such a project was included in the 2015 Water Utility Budget, to be funded through borrowing.

The need was driven home by two “treatment technique violations” that occurred at the plant in 2014, when there was inadequate chlorine residual at a point within the treatment process, and the old SCADA system failed to respond appropriately.

The DNR required public notice of these violations, including a mailing to all water customers in follow-up to the second violation, in December.

While the city was able to document that all water leaving the plant met safe drinking water standards, these incidents showed the plant did not have necessary “fail safes” in place. Action was required — I’m pleased to report that action is now nearing completion.

Thanks to our water utility director, Ross Blaha, and our water department employees for their hard work in seeing this project through.

Bed and breakfast proposed for former St. Luke’s Rectory

The city council will hold a public hearing Monday, Nov. 2, on the application for a zoning conditional-use permit for a new bed and breakfast establishment at the historic former St. Luke’s Rectory. Council action on that application is expected following the hearing.

Victoria Bohland, who purchased the property at 1814 Jefferson St. earlier this year, is seeking zoning approval to operate the property as an eight-room bed and breakfast to be called “The Heavens Above.” Approval of this permit will be conditioned on a change in the city’s zoning ordinance specific to bed and breakfasts.

Also up for public hearings on Monday night 

Also on Nov. 2, the city council will hold a hearing and consider action on an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance, to allow bed and breakfasts to contain up to eight guest rooms. The current ordinance language sets a maximum of four rooms. The amendment would make our ordinance consistent with state law.

The council will also hold a hearing on an application by the city to re-zone a city-owned vacant parcel at the southeast corner of East and Harbor streets next to the Coast Guard station from R-3 Residential to C-1 Conservancy. The city plans to make park improvements on this property, including a small parking lot and park shelter/restroom building, as Phase 2 of the Harbor Park project.

In addition, the council will hold a public hearing to allow operation of a seasonal Halloween Haunted House at the former Schwarz Marine property at 1206 25th St. The haunted house is in operation this year on a temporary, one-time basis. Operation in future years is contingent upon obtaining a conditional-use permit.

Reminder on Halloween activities

Haunted Library at the Lester Public Library, Friday, Oct. 30, 8 p.m., free for ages 10 and older, not for the young or faint of heart.

Main Street’s downtown trick-or-treating, Oct.31, 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

City-wide trick-or-treat hours, Oct. 31, 5-7:30 p.m..

Spooky Spectacular at Neshotah Park, Oct. 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Private, paid admission attraction Haunted House at the Former Schwarz Marine, 1206 25th St. For information, go to www.scareusa.com.

Two Rivers City Manager Greg Buckley can be contacted by calling 920-793-5532, or by e-mailing gbuckley@two-rivers.org.