10-27-2004 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 / o .< Ye L'i'e Ceanada 515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117-1600 (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 www.cLlittle- canacta.mn.us MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Fahey & Members of the City Council FROM: Greg Schroeder, Public Works Director DATE: October 22, 2004 RE: Booster Station Antenna Tower MAYOR Michael 1. Fancy COUNCIL Jim LaValle Matt Anderson Rick Montour Bill Blesener ADMINISTRATOR Joel R. Hanson The City of Little Canada 1.5 million gallons water tower is located next to the City Center. The City of Little Canada is obligated to ensure the water level in our water tower is maintained at levels that will provide sufficient water for consumption and fire fighting at appropriate pressures. To accomplish this, there are controls installed at the water tower that talk to the controls in our booster station that turn pumps on and off when needed. The water tower and booster station currently talk to each other via a special data telephone line that costs approximately $37 per month. Over the last few years we have been experiencing trouble with this telephone line resulting in water levels lower than allowed and unwarranted call outs of staff. In August, the telephone line failed again for some unexplained reason. In addition, a critical module in our controls at the Booster Station also failed and cannot be replaced. As a result we have jury- rigged our system to operate until we determined the best course of action. To resolve this problem we investigated four options: I) Keeping the existing telephone line and installing the controls that are similar to those located in the water tower in the booster station. 2) Obtaining a different telephone line and installing the controls that are similar to those located in the water tower in the booster station. 3) Install sensor controls on the water lines in the booster station that can sense water levels in the water tower. 4) Installing a radio system that will enable these controls in the water tower talk to the controls in the booster station. When we contacted Qwest, they indicated that they could not provide a line more reliable than they are now. The existing telephone line is not reliable and is costing the City of Little Canada about 10 callouts per year ($900) plus the month cost of the line ($87 or $1,044 per year) for a total of $1,944 per year. H:AGregS \Wat.:1. d3ooster Station Antenna Tower I.cloc