Call to Order – Chairman White called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Board members present were J. B. White, Harvey Norris, Bob Harris, Wesley Keber & Burt Jones; staff members present were Marcie Seleb & Joyce Hosey; visitors were Butts County Commission Chairman Mitch McEwen & Bhagu Patel. Mr. Jones was welcomed as a new board member. Mr. White and the rest of the board members thanked Mr. McEwen for his service on the Authority board from July 2001 until his resignation on May 18, 2009.
Opening Prayer – Mr. Norris opened the meeting with a prayer.
Approval of Minutes from Previous Meetings – Mr. Harris made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes from the May 12, 2009 meeting and approve the same. This was seconded by Mr. Keber and approved unanimously.
Patel Commercial Property – Bhagu Patel – Mr. Patel appeared before the Board to express his misgivings about requirements set for approval of water and sewer service to his commercial development on Hwy. 36. Specifically, he felt it was unfair for him to have to develop lots in Butts County before sewer would be made available to his Lamar County lots. He also said that he should not be required to grant easements for future sewer extensions. A lengthy discussion took place between Mr. Patel and Mr. White with no action taken.
Customer Service Deposit Review – Ms. Seleb advised the Board that the average amount due from customers sent to collections was $70 with 96% of these customers being rentals. Ms. Seleb recommended that the Board raise rental deposits to $150 with owner deposits staying at $75.
A motion was made by Mr. Harris to raise rental deposit’s from $75 to $150, leaving owner deposits at $75. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.
Fiscal Year 2010 Budget – Ms. Seleb advised the Board that accounts show unprecedented drops in water use 2009. High service pumping is down 12%, gallons metered down 7%, and water billing down 1%. To achieve a balanced budget for FY 2010, the Authority must make minimal purchases, raise rates and cut staff and/or cut hours. She discussed individual budget highlights as follows, noting that she would continue to tweak the budget based upon comments for adoption at the next meeting.
Water Operations
- $80,000 to retrofit ground storage tank at Burford Plant as planned several months ago
- $70,000 for materials to continue water extensions
- $60,000 for relocation of main on Hwy. 42 N for the Georgia Department of Transportation
- If the Authority sells the old CAT excavator can use proceeds to buy a rubber track vehicle for the construction crew
- No new fence for Burford Plant this year
Sewer Operations
- $15,000 for lease of the new Bobcat skid steer used to cut irrigation lanes
Capital Recovery Fees
- Recommend some investment in future planning
- $15,000 for Water engineering – elevated tank West Butts
- $50,000 for Sewer engineering – trunk lines for I-75 interchanges
Recommended Rate Increase
- Regular Customers – keep minimum at $12.00; raise rates per 1,000 gallons from $4.00 to $4.50; average bills will go up from $24.00 to $25.50
- Wholesale Customers – rate calculated using a demand formula that splits costs between fixed operating costs and capital plus treatment/pumping costs; raise minimums from $13.00 to $25.00; raise cost per 1000 gallons from $3.80 to $4.00
- City of Flovilla – wholesale customers are enjoying a discount on capital portions of wholesale rates (as part of their SPLOST investment); from $23.00 too $25.00 minimum; from $1.72 to $2.00 per 1000 gallons
A motion was made by Mr. Keber to accept the rate changes as presented. This was seconded by Mr. Harris and approved unanimously. Mr. Norris abstained, as he is the Mayor of Flovilla.
LAS Hay – Ms. Seleb advised the Board that Bill Fletcher has agreed to cut the hay fields at the LAS. This includes the fields with “curly dock” weed, and this would be at no cost to the Authority. Mr. Fletcher has agreed to leave his tractor at the LAS for the crew to cut if he is unable to cut in a timely manner. An agreement is being worked out at this time for fertilizer, herbicides and hay trade to the Authority.
Manager’s Report
Update on Transmission Main – The 20-inch Transmission Main was put into service on May 22, 2009. There will be a punch list walk through on June 15, 2009
Update on Construction Projects
- Higgins Road – The crew has laid .8 mile of the 1.5 mile project installation on Higgins Road.
- Hamm Road – The easement has been granted by the property owner on Hamm Road.
- Riverview Sewer Project – The easement has been approved by Boaty’s Produce for the Riverview Sewer project and opening bids will start on July 9, 2009.
Operation Statistics – Ms. Seleb went over the water and sewer statistics for the month of May 2009. Water billing was up from the previous month at $167,642, with an active customer base of 5,151. Sewer billing for the month was up from the previous month at $25,970 with an active customer base of 124.
The average daily water pumped to the Authority, Jackson and Jenkinsburg from the Ocmulgee and Stewart plants were 2.1, with maximum of 2.9 MGD. The rolling 12-month averages loss of 12.8%. The total amount of water pumped in May 2009 per plant was: Ocmulgee – 61 MG; Stewart – 6 MG. The average wastewater sprayed at the Bucksnort Ranch LAS was .210/.550 MGD with a maximum 7-day effluent of .156/.550 MGD.
A copy of these statistics is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Financial Report – Ms. Seleb went over the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations and SPLOST through May 2009. A copy of the financial summaries, as well as combined balance sheets and income statements are attached and made a part of these minutes.
Review Bills Paid – Board members reviewed check registers and credit card statements for the month of May 2009. A copy of the check registers is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Adjourn – A motion was made by Mr. Keber to adjourn meeting at 8:10 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.