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DECEMBER 2009
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Top 09 of '09: The year in review
Improvement, opportunity, environment, and economy were popular words around the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District in 2009. Looking back at some of the accomplishments of the last year, it was easy to see why. Here are what we considered to be our nine most noteworthy events of '09.
Posted December 28, 2009
Mission and vision have new significance
2009-2013 Strategic Plan released
A project that began in 2008 when Executive Director Julius Ciaccia took over for a retiring Erwin Odeal, our 2009-2013 Strategic Plan released in January was a significant accomplishment for several reasons. It helped to unify a largely new Senior Staff, it identified organizational priorities (such as customer satisfaction, accountability, and environmental awareness) that would shape years worth of upcoming projects, and it established a new mission and vision that would elevate the Sewer District into a regional leader in environmental awareness and economic opportunity.
once gray | now green: A celebration of progress
June 22, 2009
This June marked the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire, the event most closely linked with the creation of the Sewer District. We partnered with local agencies who helped in the revitalization effort to coordinate a celebration at Settlers Landing in the flats. Hundreds joined us, including political figures, musicians, and residents. The event was small, but the reason for celebrating and the accomplishments of like-minded agencies and individuals is what brought significance to the day.
New program aims to promote small businesses, stimulate local economy
Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program | June 2009
In June, the District began advertising contracts with new goals for small-business involvement. The Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program is an effort to expand economic opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses in Northeast Ohio. From advertising campaigns, to vendor education, to data collection and technology, the implementation effort has been extensive. As of December, more than 520 businesses have been certified as official SBEs with the Sewer District.
Stormwater Management program: meetings, rate structure, billing methods, title draft
While our Stormwater Management Program planning has been underway for some time, 2009 was a big year: Sewer District reps met with officials from most of our 61 member communities, we identified and garnered support for our legal authority to undertake this new service, we established a fee and billing structure, drafted the official Title V language, and held several public meetings to present the plan to our current and new customers. And even more work was done to assess potential staffing needs, budget impacts, and technology requirements. The plan will be presented to the Board for approval to proceed in January 2010.
"Going green" gets going at Southerly with incinerator project
Southerly Renewable Energy Facility: Contract 28
Known as the Renewable Energy Facility project, a new incineration process at our Southerly wastewater treatment plant in Cuyahoga Heights will replace four outdated multiple-hearth incinerators with three new "fluidized bed" incinerators which use less resources, burn cleaner and more efficiently, and will help produce electricity by using their exhaust to power turbine generators. A lot of related work was designed, awarded or completed in 2009, but the entire project will not be completed for another three years. A few 2009 highlights:
* Recently completed Contract 28G involved the purchase and staging of "H-piles," huge steel columns needed for the building's foundation. In total, 1,900 units (each 40 feet long) were delivered to Southerly, weighing 2,774 tons.
* Contract 28F included demolition of unused digester tanks. Their concrete and more than 470 tons of structural steel were recycled.
Keeping it clean: Plant performance positive again
Plants earn '08 honor, have but one NPDES excursion through October
As of October's permit reports (the latest available at the time of this story), our treatment plants had experienced only one National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit violation this year. In 2009, they also received National Association of Clean Water Agencies awards for exceptional 2008 performance.
Show your mussels: Rare find along Cuyahoga River
Presence of freshwater mussels show river's progress
In August, during a routine Cuyahoga River sample collection, one WQIS investigator withdrew from a river an historic find: a living freshwater mussel which, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, was the first such discovery in more than 50 years. It was a sign of the river's ongoing rebirth and improving water quality.
Stimulus funds promote infrastructure projects
The Sewer District applied for and received $10 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funds. The Train Avenue Relief Sewer ($1.045 million), Mill Creek Interceptor Main Branch ($3.955 million), and the Southerly Lift Station (also an environmentally friendly project, $5 million) will be constructed using a combination of these dollars and low-interest loans.
Accreditation and certification
Lab certificates bring recognition, potential source of revenue
In addition to having its certification by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference renewed for 2010, the District's Analytical Services department became certified by the Ohio EPA in drinking water analysis for metals and wet chemistry. The drinking water certification will enable the lab to provide services to additional outside clients, potentially serving as a revenue stream for the District.
Honorable mentions:
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