The Normal Town Council authorized payments for water treatment needs, and police, fire and vehicle equipment during its regular meeting on Monday.
The council held the meeting at 7:30 p.m., 30 minutes later than usual, because of Illinois State University Homecoming Kickoff festivities held in Uptown. Council member Kevin McCarthy emceed and Mayor Chris Koos also spoke during the event.
Ammonia pilot
The council accepted a proposal from Veolia Water Technologies for up to $90,000 in ammonia removal pilot testing equipment. Excess ammonia in drinking water requires additional flushing of the system. If the excess ammonia levels are reduced, it also would keep chlorine levels at a desired level and improve overall water quality, according to town staff.
Five of the dozen wells in the town show excess ammonia levels. The five happen to be the ones that produce the most water, but levels can be reduced by blending water with output from wells that have lower levels. Even after blending, the raw water contains excess ammonia that cannot be removed by current processes alone.
“We're going to use water that's been halfway through our treatment process to peel out some of that interference,” said John Burkhart, water department director. “And then it's more of a floating media, kind of like a plastic ball inside there inside these tanks, that this biological media will grow on and then consume the ammonia.”
Ammonia is a compound commonly found in groundwater water sources. Though not regulated in drinking water in the United States, it has the potential to stimulate formation of disinfection byproducts [DBPs] that are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA].
A form of biological treatment for water, it was one of two ways the town found to be feasible.
Reverse osmosis, the other alternative, was considered too costly because it would require replacing the current water treatment plant. Reverse osmosis forces water through a semi-permeable membrane, separating clean water from other impurities. There is not enough room to keep the current plant and still build a new reverse osmosis system.
Emergency services needs
Also Monday, the council authorized spending up to $211,500 to purchase mobile computers for the Normal Police Department [NPD]. Mobile Data Terminals [MDTs] give officers more reliable access to the systems and information needed to complete work in the field.
A portion of the police department budget included $900,000 for the purchase of portable mobile radios that ended up costing $580,000, leaving extra funds to make the MDT purchase.
The money afforded the police another 45 MDTs, bringing it to a total of 65 units. That is one for each police officer.
Council members also authorized a $232,400 acquisition of bunker gear for the fire department. The additional protective turnout gear, as it is also known, will offer a second set of protective clothing for each firefighter. Town staff said it would improve safety and readiness, as well as help reduce exposure to harmful contaminants.
The latter point is because it is per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance-free [PFAS], something regulations now require of turnout gear. PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because of how hard it is for them to break down in the environment. They used to be found in fire gear because they are water and oil resistant.
A second set of gear will allow firefighters to clean their gear after incidents, rather than having to use them only because a second set is not available.
The council also approved a $738,940 purchase of two new ambulances that will not be available until 2029. Because of a 30-month build time, the purchase was made Monday; payment also will be made in 2029.
Other business
The council also authorized the $279,095 purchase of four 2027 Ford F350 trucks and one F550 truck for park maintenance use. Two of the trucks will be equipped with snow plows.
A total of $425,000 is budgeted, with the leftover funds being used to equip certain trucks with dump beds and service body units. After the new trucks arrive, the five trucks being replaced will be sold at auction, including three 2016 model year pickup trucks, a 2012 pickup and a 2006 dump truck.
In a corresponding move, the council approved the $67,864 purchase and installation of a dump bed for the F550 truck.
And, the council approved a zoning change to allow Pizza Payaa in Uptown to add a retractable awning to the east side of the building to provide more shade for outdoor customers on sunny days and more protection during rain.
