The Environmental Services monthly employee newsletter
Interceptor Services employee Mike Rosenberger removes signs at Seton Lake
When a call comes in to MCES reporting a wastewater spill, it quickly sets in motion a well-orchestrated and multi-faceted response that can continue weeks after the sewer has been repaired.
Our emergency response to an estimated 62,000 gallons of wastewaster spilled into Seton Lake and a small pond in Mound on Sunday, Sept. 19, was quick and effective (see last month's ES Update).
"Whenever something like this happens, public health is our number one concern," said Dan Henely, assistant manager, Water Resources. "It's essential that we communicate openly about potential health risks and keep the public updated on MCES's remediation and monitoring response."
As well as containing the flow and quickly placing signs alerting people to avoid contact with the water, MCES staff conducted ongoing communication with nearby residents and city officials in the surrounding communities and implemented a water quality monitoring plan.
Tim O'Donnell, senior information coordinator, Administration and Communications, led the public communications efforts following the spill. This included in-person discussions with residents, delivery of door hangers and mailing a public notice, posting spill updates on the Met Council website, linking this information to the City of Mound website, and keeping Mound officials apprised of MCES's response.
Members of our Water Resources field crew – Scott Haire, Brian Johnson, and Tim Pattock, senior environmental scientists, Matt Loyas, environmental scientist, and Henely – began collecting water samples from the lake the morning after the spill. The samples were analyzed by staff in Analytical (Lab) Services.
"We worked with Water Resources to determine their plan of action for each day of sampling," said Monica Lorentz, lab technical coordinator 1. Additional members of the analytical support team included Sarah Voth, lab technical coordinator 1; Jessica Heisel, Alycia Munson, Tom Porter, and Abay Worku, lab analysts 1; Mike Moger, lab analyst 2; and Mallory Vanous, assistant laboratory manager. "Based on our available bacteria results, they could better determine where the spill was focused in Seton Lake and how they should continue sampling," noted Lorentz.
The initial samples – taken near the "outfall" where a city storm sewer carried the wastewater spill into the lake – registered high bacterial levels consistent with a wastewater spill. Our staff continued to collect and analyze water samples from up to eight locations in the lake over 10 days of monitoring. By Sept. 23, all but two locations had returned to below the state water quality standard for E. coli bacteria – 126 bacteria counts per 100 milliliters. Several warning signs were removed from those areas.
On Oct. 7, the final two sampling locations, those nearest to the outfall, were consistently below the state water quality standard. We were able to remove the remaining warning signs near the lake.
"Based on our water quality monitoring, including dissolved oxygen and nutrients, we do not anticipate any long-term effects to the water from the spill," said Henely. "I want to recognize the hard work of our MCES colleagues across multiple sections in response to this incident – including Interceptor Services, Water Resources, Analytical Services, Interceptor Engineering, Tim O'Donnell from MCES Communications, and Bonnie Kollodge from RA Communications. Their coordinated efforts helped us respond effectively to the spill and communicate clearly with those impacted to meet our customer level of service (PDF) standards."
How do Twin Cities-area residents value the water they use and interact with? What specifically about water and water services do they value? How do different cultural beliefs and experiences affect the way people interact with and value water? The answers to these questions are at the heart of the Water Values project being led by Water Resources Planning staff John Clark, senior environmental scientist, and Jen Kostrzewski, environmental analyst.
The project, a partnership between MCES and the University of Minnesota, will assess water values and perceptions of water challenges across the Twin Cities metro area. Demographic and social variables such as age, gender, cultural identity, and community identification will help to show how and where people's values and perceptions differ. The project also will examine the ways residents view water systems and experience water services. This is the first attempt to gather insights from residents across all seven metro-area counties on their perceptions about water resources.
To be applicable and effective, our regional policies should reflect our regional values. Survey results will be used to inform the 2050 Water Resources Policy Plan, the Regional Water Supply Plan, and local water plans, and build stronger relationships with communities. Since water connects every aspect of life, survey results also can inform other Met Council work and better connect water resources planning to efforts in other divisions. Outside of the Met Council, watershed organizations and communities will be better able to prioritize spending on resource protection efforts, improve local outreach and engagement, incorporate resource and water system resiliency into their long-term plans, and better balance water infrastructure and demand needs with resource sustainability goals.
Tell us how you value water
We invite you to add your thoughts and contribute to this work. Everyone in MCES has a deep connection to water through the work we do – and we have our personal and cultural connections, too. If you would like to participate, take the survey.
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The Hastings Plant will be relocated about two miles downstream of its current site on the Mississippi River.
Long before new wastewater collection and treatment facilities are projected to begin operating in Hastings in 2026, subject matter experts throughout MCES are providing important input to project planning in multiple ways.
The project will close the existing Hastings Plant on the edge of the city's downtown after a new plant is constructed on a rural site along the Mississippi River about two miles southeast. New wastewater collection facilities will include a lift station on the existing plant site and an interceptor to the new plant.
The project managers are principal engineers Heidi Hutter from Plant Engineering and Chad Davison from Interceptor Engineering. "This is the first time I have had this broad of a range of internal stakeholders engaged this early in the project delivery process," said Hutter. "It's important to engage stakeholders early to establish expectations and understand needs, which should help reduce significant changes during design and construction."
"This type of process helped us hear ideas from a broad spectrum of our staff and vet those ideas and the attached costs before including them in the facility plan," said Davison. "I've been impressed with the comments and questions from our staff, which show they have been really interested in engaging in the process early."
Read more about staff engagement on MetNet.
The Strategy Network has prepared guidance on how to bring topics to this MCES leadership group. This cross-functional team develops, leads, and improves how MCES sets, aligns around, and executes our direction. It focuses on divisionwide topics and aims to empower staff and teams to act on input and feedback provided.
Understand the level of engagement you want from the Strategy Network:
- Inform: Build understanding to enhance network decisions/actions and support network leaders in cascading information to others who should know.
- Consult: Gather input or feedback from network leaders to improve MCES products/services and connect work to stakeholders in MCES, the Met Council, and the region.
- Decide: Approve, set direction, define requirements, or commit to a course of action.
The guidance is summarized in Strategy Network Engagement and Responsibilities, including what is and isn't appropriate to bring to the group.
The Strategy Network replaced the Environmental Services Executive Team (ESET) and the Environmental Services Leadership Team (ESLT) in July. Strategy Network members from MCES include: Ricky Arora, Performance Excellence and Analytics; Jeannine Clancy, Wastewater Planning and Capital Project Delivery; Craig Edlund, Treatment Services and Asset Planning and Management; Ali Elhassan, Water Supply Planning; Tim Morrell, Environmental Health and Safety; Karen Neis, Administration and Communications; Sam Paske, Utility Management Systems and Water Resources Planning; Ned Smith, Pretreatment and Finance; Sara Smith, Operations Support Services and Sustainability Support; Judy Sventek, Water Resources; Leisa Thompson (team owner), General Manager's Office; Bert Tracy, Interceptor Services; Dan Vaaler, Technology Coordination; Dan White, Maintenance and Security; and Jenn Zuchowski, Workforce and Equity.
Please reach out to Cristine Leavitt (team leader), Strategic Performance, with questions on items you wish to bring to the Strategy Network.
Water Supply Planning staff, from left, Emily Steinweg; Henry McCarthy; Brian Davis; and Ali Elhassen. Not pictured: John Clark and Lanya Ross.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has honored MCES with a 2021 WaterSense Excellence Award. Presented to the Water Supply Planning group, the award recognizes our dedication to helping consumers and businesses save water, despite the challenges and disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We are pleased to be able to partner with the WaterSense program to help our customers learn the many ways they can save water and energy, as well as providing grants to help make important environmental investments and improvements," said Leisa Thompson, MCES general manager. "These efforts help us in our mission to ensure sustainable water quality and water supply for the Twin Cities region."
WaterSense honored MCES as a 2021 Excellence Award winner for strategic collaboration. Specific programs recognized by this award include:
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2019-2022 Water Efficiency Grant Program: This program provides grants to 38 metro-area communities to fund the replacement of toilets, irrigation controllers, and spray sprinkler bodies with WaterSense-labeled products. It also supports irrigation audits by WaterSense-certified auditors and clothes washers with Energy Star devices, as designated by the Department of Energy.
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Turfgrass Irrigation Efficiency Project: In cooperation with the University of Minnesota Turfgrass Science Program, MCES is funding a multi-year Turfgrass Irrigation Efficiency Project to increase the efficiency of water use for home lawns and landscapes. Site assessments, research, and demonstration projects focused on smart irrigation practices.
Water Supply Planning employees whose work was recognized by the award include John Clark, senior environmental scientist; Ali Elhassan, manager; Henry McCarthy, environmental scientist; Lanya Ross, environmental analyst; and Brian Davis and Emily Steinweg, senior engineers.
Read more about our WaterSense Award on MetNet.
Lessons from the drought: A guest commentary piece by Charlie Zelle, chair of the Metropolitan Council, was published in the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, as well as several other media outlets.
Tyler Winter and a bigmouth buffalo.
Tyler Winter, environmental scientist in Water Resources, is an advocate for native non-game fish. He's gone online to proclaim their value.
"I'm trying to educate people that these native non-game fish exist, and they support other fish and wildlife that people know about and like," he said. "I also try to stress that there are no limits protecting them and they are vulnerable to overharvest."
Winter monitors water quality in area rivers, fishes these same waters when off-duty, and educates people about certain fish that have been much maligned through history.
Tied closely to Winter's water quality vocation is his avocation -- fishing for and sharing information on what have been designated native non-game fish. There are 26 species of these fish in Minnesota, with the bigmouth buffalo and the river redhorse among the notable. Some people call them "rough fish," but Winter feels that prompts a negative reaction that he is trying to change.
Promoting lesser-known fish species
"These are good fish," Winter said. "They are native and are important parts of the ecosystem that support other things, such as eagles. Most people don't know these fish even exist. Those who do often malign them and have spread more myths than truths."
According to Winter, native non-game fish are indicators of good water quality and good habitat. And they help combat invasive species. Bowfin and gar are known to eat non-native carp. Freshwater drum, bigmouth buffalo, and river redhorse prey on zebra mussels. Non-game fish support food webs in subtle ways, too. Studies have shown migrating suckers increase the productivity of streams. Some rare species, like the black buffalo, are even listed as threatened or of special concern.
"But why don't we know much about these fish?" Winter asks.
Learn more about native non-game fish and Winter's outreach efforts on MetNet.
Seven MCES employees have been selected to participate in the Core Growth emerging leader training program – a five-month experience in a 15- to 20-person cohort with several utilities in the same region of the country. The program also presents opportunities for national peer collaboration.
The curriculum moves through four modules (discovering self, crafting a vision, building alignment, and championing execution) and is based on Wiley's "Work of Leaders" framework. Participants will take part in a variety of experiences and interactions, including peer-to-peer networking, speakers, and tours. The program will conclude by identifying specific strategies for applying leadership learning in the workplace.
The class of 2022 includes:
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Neale Carter, inventory technician, Assets and Materials Management
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John Chlebeck, principal engineer, Interceptor Engineering
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Mike Fenlason, interceptor service worker 2, Interceptor Services
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Kris Hess, business analyst 3, Administration and Communications
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Tiffany Leff, GIS specialist 2, Interceptor Services
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Danielle (Anna) Pearson, materials specialist lead worker, Assets and Materials Management
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Emily Steinweg, senior engineer, Water Supply Planning
Core Growth participants, from left, Tiffany Leff; Kris Hess; Neale Carter; and Mike Fenlason.
Core Growth participants, from left, Emily Steinweg; John Chlebeck with family; and Danielle (Anna) Pearson.
Several of our 2021 program graduates helped review applications, conduct panel interviews, and make recommendations. This process gave us strong candidates who embody MCES values and are a great representation of our organization:
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Amanda Cerne, assistant business unit manager, Metro Plant
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Corey Coutier, assistant manager, Maintenance Planning and Scheduling
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Nanette Ewald, senior program coordinator, Industrial Waste and Pollution Prevention
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Ryan Mintz, environmental scientist, Process Engineering
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Todd Tokar, program supervisor, Training and Program Supervisors
A recap of recent Met Council announcements relevant to MCES
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Open Enrollment begins Monday: Start looking over your Open Enrollment materials and think about your options. Make your selections online at MetCouncilBenefits.hrintouch.com from Nov. 1 through Nov. 19. The Flexible Spending Accounts will have a new administrator in 2022.
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Charitable Giving Campaign pledges, silent auctions, food drive: The Met Council's annual campaign runs through Nov. 5. Employees can sign up to have a portion of each paycheck directed to an eligible charity of their choice. Silent auctions open on Nov. 3, and a food drive runs throughout the campaign.
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Employee recognition event and new Equity and Inclusion Award: The Met Council's employee recognition event is Nov. 15. Leadership is seeking nominations for the new Equity and Inclusion Award to recognize staff members who in the past 12 months proactively furthered our commitment to eliminate regional inequities through innovative initiatives.
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New MCUB 6% initiative helps to level the playing field: As part of the Met Council's commitment to reducing barriers and increasing opportunities for small, targeted businesses, Procurement staff have implemented a new 6% preference in certain bids from vendors in the Metropolitan Council Underutilized Business (MCUB) program.
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Confirm location when calling 911 with softphone: If you use Microsoft Teams Calling (softphone) to call 911, you must stay on the line to confirm your location with the 911 operator. Our network will not be able to identify your correct location automatically based on the phone number being used.
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Weekly COVID-19 testing process underway: To report to work onsite, Met Council employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or get weekly COVID-19 tests and test negative. Employees who need to test each week must complete their test by 11:59 p.m. each Thursday.
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Vaccination resources: Although the Met Council's vaccination and testing requirement is only for staff who come onsite, Environmental Services would like all of our employees to be vaccinated, if they are able to be. Read the full story on MetNet for resources to make an appointment or find your vaccination record.
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Human Resources updates: Employee Year-end Feedback Form is due in Perform on Oct. 31 for annual performance evaluations; internship requests for summer 2022 are open now, including the new Ability Internship; mobile mammography truck from HealthPartners will be at Metro Plant on Nov. 4; and the final Trade Time for Fitness claim deadline is Dec. 1.
Full information on MetNet.
COVID-19 RESOURCES
Anniversaries
Congratulations to these employees celebrating milestone anniversaries!
20 YEARS
Heath Craft, interceptor system lead worker, Interceptor Services, Regional Maintenance Facility
Ryan Lee, interceptor system lead worker, Interceptor Services, Mounds View Lift Station
15 YEARS
Raymond Smith, senior program supervisor, Training and Program Supervisors group, Metro Plant
5 YEARS
Shawn Aviles, plant operator, Seneca Plant
Anthony Bous, machinist mechanic, Mechanical Planning and Maintenance, Metro Plant
Kris Hess, business analyst 3, Administration and Communications, Robert Street
Cortany Mapson, plant operator, Solids Business Unit, Metro Plant
Shiely Marin, plant operator, Solids Business Unit, Metro Plant
Patricia Martinez, program technical specialist, Interceptor Services, Regional Maintenance Facility
Trevor Prater, engineer, Process Engineering, Metro Plant
Arthur Prokott, maintenance operator, Mechanical Planning and Maintenance, Metro Plant
Theresa Sizemore, plant operator, Blue Lake Plant
Nathan Splittstoesser, plant operator, Seneca Plant
Stefan Turan, interceptor service worker 2, Regional Maintenance Facility
Eric Warner, business unit coordinator, Liquids Business Unit, Metro Plant
Dustin Woodbeck-Olson, plant operator, Liquids Business Unit, Metro Plant
Staffing changes
Reported by Human Resources since the September Update
NEW HIRES
Philipp Baumeister, intern, Sustainability Support, Metro Plant
Mark Engel, electrician, Electrical Planning and Maintenance, Blue Lake Plant
Brett Frydenlund, industrial waste technician, Industrial Waste and Pollution Prevention, Metro 94
Colton Janes, business unit manager, East Business Unit, Empire Plant
Shannon Keough, information specialist, Administration and Communications, Robert Street
Elizabeth (Lizz) LaValle, senior administrative specialist, East Business Unit, Eagles Point Plant
James Pham, industrial waste technician, Industrial Waste and Pollution Prevention, Metro 94
DEPARTURES
Lawrence Adkins, plant operator, Liquids Business Unit, Metro Plant
Marcus Bush, principal engineer, Wastewater Planning and Community Programs, Robert Street
Lisa Dyste, business systems analyst 4, Performance Excellence and Analytics, Metro Plant
Marisa McAndrew, electrician apprentice, Electrical Planning and Maintenance, Seneca Plant
Jayme Olson, maintenance operator, Mechanical Planning and Maintenance, Metro Plant
Kevin Rogers, principal industrial waste technician, Industrial Waste and Pollution Prevention, Metro 94
Michelle Trom, principal administrative specialist, East Business Unit, Empire Plant
POSITION CHANGES
Mike Fenlason, interceptor service worker 2, Interceptor Services, Regional Maintenance Facility (formerly interceptor service worker 1)
Tina Nelson, manager, Industrial Waste and Pollution Prevention, Metro 94 (formerly acting manager)
Mike Quesnel, interceptor service worker 2, Interceptor Services, Regional Maintenance Facility (formerly interceptor service worker 1)
Mike Rhode, principal safety specialist, Environmental Health and Safety, Metro Plant (formerly senior safety specialist)
Branden See, senior program supervisor, Training and Program Supervisors group, Metro Plant (formerly program supervisor)
Leslee Storlie, assistant business unit manager, East Business Unit (formerly senior engineer in Process Engineering)
Story idea? Contact Shannon Keough by email: shannon.keough@metc.state.mn.us.
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