Public works provides multi-item project update: wastewater testing, smoke testing, CCTV and Bay Park openings

Public Works Director Cammie gave the council a consolidated monthly status report on Aug. 26 covering wastewater testing, smoke testing, CCTV inspections, Bay Park construction and other operational items, and answered council questions about dry grass, irrigation and businesses discharging into sewer lines. On wastewater and regulatory reporting, staff said industrial sampling and slug‑loading testing is complete and the city will issue its report to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) once remaining lab results arrive. “We’ve completed all the testing for slug loading. We're still waiting for some results, and Elaine is ready to issue that report to DEQ as soon as we get those results from the lab,” Director Cammie said. If results are delayed, staff said it will issue the report with the available data and noted DEQ agreed to that approach for low‑priority samples. Smoke testing of sewers finished in roughly three weeks; staff said the work found a small number of spots needing investigation and prompted alarms in several new homes where smoke entered through laundry‑room drains. “The only private homes that were affected by the smoke were all new homes...and it all came up in their laundry room,” the director said. Staff ordered 40 clean‑out lids to address broken or missing lids identified during testing and said they notified the fire department in advance to expect alarm calls. CCTV inspection work is largely complete; the vendor has about one‑and‑a‑third line miles remaining (large runs on Fourteenth and part of Maple remain) and videos have been delivered to HPH Engineering for reporting. Staff said the data report deadline does not arrive until 2028, but they expect to finish major segments by next spring/summer. On parks, Bay Park’s play structure, pickleball courts and basketball courts are open. Director Cammie said a small touch‑up and windbreaks remain and staff will lower two backboards to 8 feet to match original design; irrigation work remains outstanding at several sites where crews opened ground and must restore systems. Operational issues: staff said some businesses still contribute problematic materials to the sewer system (rags, grease). At one pump station staff installed basket traps and newer pumps to reduce overtime and blockages, and crews remove accumulated debris daily. The director said staff will bring the city engineer to meet with a business suspected of noncompliance to discuss pretreatment. Community outreach: council members asked staff to post senior‑center menus and other community notices on the city website and community channels so new residents can find them. No formal decisions or budget votes were taken; staff said they would follow up with DEQ, order required parts, and bring contractors or engineers for site‑specific follow up where needed.