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Public Works report: fiber options, AT&T copper retirements, SCADA/alarms and dog park permitting
Summary
Director of Public Works updated the board on reduced plant flows after interceptor repairs, ongoing talks with Midwest Fiber about running fiber to utility buildings, AT&T copper-line retirements prompting migration plans for SCADA and alarms, and permitting and scheduling constraints for a proposed dog park in Cedar Run Park.
Director of Public Works (Speaker 2) delivered the department report detailing operational and technology items: treated flows to the plant are down after interceptor repairs; staff is negotiating with Midwest Fiber about bringing fiber to well houses and utility buildings; AT&T is retiring legacy copper lines and the village must migrate alarm and dialer systems; and permitting will likely delay the dog park project until summer.
Why it matters: Retiring copper lines affect alarm and SCADA communications the village uses for water and wastewater monitoring, requiring timely replacement to maintain automatic alarm reporting; fiber or cellular replacements also have one-time capital costs.
Key points from the report - Flows to the wastewater plant have decreased after interceptor patches, improving performance. - Midwest Fiber quotes for fiber to buildings ranged roughly from $25,000 to $40,000 per location in initial estimates; staff said some well sites already received fiber at no cost where Midwest Fiber placed equipment nearby. - AT&T is decommissioning analog/Centrix copper lines; staff said replacement modules (cellular or other solutions) are needed and a decision may be required by mid-March to meet an April obsolescence deadline. - The dog park in Cedar Run Park requires additional permitting and environmental review (sensitive creek area); staff said MSA and the DNR are involved and the project likely will not happen until July or August, with design expected in April or May.
Ending Staff will continue negotiations with fiber providers, finalize plans for migrations from copper alarm lines to cellular/fiber solutions, and return with firm proposals and schedules for both communications upgrades and the dog park design and permitting.
