Trustees hear updates on manhole repairs, paving and SCADA upgrades; interconnect study moves forward

Trustees were briefed on multiple capital and maintenance efforts at the July 9 meeting, including manhole repairs, street hot-topping prep, upcoming SCADA upgrades and a pending interconnect study tied to a grant application.
A staff member said recent work on Sweden and High streets is nearly complete and the crew expects paving to begin soon. The speaker said some manholes required more intensive work than expected because internal cones and cement had deteriorated; crews replaced several cones, which increased labor and material costs. Staff said a final accounting of manhole repairs and rough cost estimates will be presented next month.
On equipment upgrades, staff said PLC and scale upgrades are under contract but work has not begun and that one remaining computer for the SCADA upgrade will likely hit that line item. Staff added that a new meter purchase, not previously estimated, prompted a new capital line this year.
On grant and planning work, staff reported that LDA paid its portion of a match for an interconnect study. Staff have provided documents to consultants Jim Diergo and Matt Diergo, and the study is expected before fall. The district also submitted a project interest form to the regional development center (NMDC) in support of an NDRC grant application; staff and regional partners planned a meeting to strategize the grant application ahead of an August 29 deadline.
Staff said the wastewater department has signed on for technical assistance from NUI Tech (New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission) at no cost to the district. The assistance will include condition assessments and help developing an asset management plan and finding funding.
Discussion only: project progress, unexpected manhole work and timing for paving. Direction: staff to provide a detailed manhole cost breakdown next month and continue work on the interconnect study and grant-preparation tasks. Formal action: none recorded on individual projects.