HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 05Positioned to Trrrrve'
• Gravel Road Maintenance
For optimum performance, a
gravel road needs a couple of
basic items, a crowned driving
surface and a shoulder area
that slopes directly away from
the edge of the driving
surface. The objective is to
keep water drained away from
the roadway to prevent
distress and failure of the
roadway. The Streets Division
maintains approximately 9
miles of gravel roads
throughout the City and this includes dust
control in the spring, reshaping throughout
the summer and fall, and plowing in the
winter. During the fall, the object is to get
the roads ready for winter by breaking up the
hard crust that forms over the summer and
allowing the gravel to remix and spread
across the road surface. This produces more
traction for motorists. Recently, the City's
motor grader has been out on gravel roads
using a scarifying blade to cut through the
hard top crust and bring the gravel back to
the surface.
LAKEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS
Christopher Petree, Director
November 2012
1
• Well Rehabilitation
The ability to meet the demand for water in
Lakeville depends on the efficiency of the
water collection and distribution system. At
the front end of the process, the capability of
Lakeville's 17 wells to pump water is of prime
importance. Over time, wells can suffer from
a variety of problems that reduce their
efficiency and adversely impact their service
life. The bottom of the well may fill with sand
resulting in potential damage to the pump
and motor, cavitation can cause holes to
form in the pipes causing water to spray out
and fall back to the bottom of the well, and
pumps and motors can wear out from years
of constant use resulting in gradually
declining efficiency. To stay
ahead of these problems, each
of the wells is scheduled for
rehabilitation on a eight to ten
year cycle, depending on use.
For the rehabilitation, a
contractor removes the pump
and motor, the well shaft, and
all of the well piping. All of
the well equipment is taken
back to the contractor's shop,
cleaned, and evaluated. Thin
spots in pipes that could
lead to a future problem
are pointed out and
recommendations made
for replacement of the
pipe. Similarly, the pump
and motor are evaluated
and recommendations
made to continue with the
current pump and motor
or to replace it. Once
everything is ready, it is all
put back into the well, and
the well is tested for the
2
presence of bacteria and its ability to meet its designed flow. Being proactive in
evaluating the wells and completing the necessary preventive maintenance avoids
emergency repairs and the potential for long term well outages.
WTF Inspections
The Water Treatment Facility
was placed in service in 1998.
As it approached its 14th year in
service it was time to evaluate
the underground reservoirs
adjacent to the facility and the
two reservoirs in the high
service pumping station. The
purpose was to check the
concrete structure for any signs
of deterioration and determine
if repairs were required. Getting
the reservoirs ready for
inspection required a review of
the pipes and valves connecting the reservoirs to the WTF and a plan to drain
down the reservoirs without disrupting service to customers. Fortunately, the City
maintains sufficient storage in its above ground tanks that could maintain
distribution over the hours
required for the inspections.
Utilities Division staff and a
representative of the
engineering company that
designed the facility entered
each of the reservoirs,
sometimes in knee deep water,
and made a thorough
inspection of walls, floors, and
ceilings finding only a few
minor problems that do not
affect the integrity of the
reservoirs or require repair at
this time.
3
❖ Minnesota American Public Works Association Superintendent of the Year
On Thursday, November
15, Lakeville's Utility
Superintendent Ken
Seurer was selected by
the Minnesota Chapter of
the American Public
Works Association as its
Superintendent of the
Year. Selection is based
on the individual's
application of new
technology and
equipment, project
management, service to
citizens, ongoing
personal growth and development, and teamwork and cooperative
relationships. Award nominations come from members across the state. Ken has
devoted himself to the residents and businesses of Lakeville for over 35 years,
growing the water and sewer infrastructure from 2,000 utility accounts to more
than 17, 500. He has been the Utilities Superintendent for the past 18 years and
has a tremendous knowledge and understanding of Lakeville's water and sewer
system. In 2004 he was awarded the Minnesota Chapter American Water Works
Association Meritorious Service Award for Water System Operator of the Year.
Ken's selection as Superintendent of the Year was well deserved and
acknowledges the work the City has done to build a quality utility system.
working
4