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; staff members present were Marcie Seleb & Joyce Hosey.
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 August 18, 2009 meeting and approve the same. This was seconded by Mr. Keber and approved unanimously.
Review Health Insurance Proposals – Ms. Seleb advised the Board that Fletcher Insurance will not have its quotes ready for a few more days. She went on to say that two other quotes have been received and are being evaluated. A minimum anticipated savings of $25,000 per year is expected.
Manager’s Report
Crew Construction
- Higgins Road – The crew has wrapped up all the work on Higgins Road. Ms. Seleb has decided that the as-built will be done in-house.
- West Ball Road – The crew has started working on the area without easements.
- The crew continues to do meter change outs and rebuilds, flushing, valve maintenance and will begin to GPS hydrant & valve locations.
Operation Statistics – Ms. Seleb went over the water and sewer statistics for the month of August 2009. Water billing was up from the previous month at $272,912, with an active customer base of 5,182. This is the all time highest billing month beating the previous month by $30,000. Sewer billing for the month was up from the previous month at $26,488 with an active customer base of 126.
The average daily water pumped to the Authority, Jackson and Jenkinsburg from the Ocmulgee and Stewart plants were 2.4, with maximum of 2.8 MGD. The rolling 12-month average loss is 13.0%. The total amount of water pumped in August 2009 per plant was: Ocmulgee – 68 MG; Stewart – 7 MG. The average wastewater sprayed at the Bucksnort Ranch LAS was .147/.550 MGD with a maximum 7-day effluent of .204/.550 MGD.
Contractor’s Proposed Changes on Riverview Sewer – Tom Davidson and Sons have proposed that they eliminate a doghouse manhole at the beginning of the project with anticipated savings of $2,500. They would also like to move approximately 200 lf of line off the right of way on Riverview Drive with an anticipated savings of $500. The Board advised Ms. Seleb to proceed with the manhole change and to ask the property owner on Riverview Drive if they would be willing to grant an easement. A copy of the map showing the proposed changes is attached and made a part of these minutes.
County Geographic Information System Planning – Ms. Seleb advised the Board that a County/Authority task force has been established to plan for a multi layered mapping of parcels, roads, utilities, zoning, topography and natural resources for a unified Geographic Information System (GIS). The next scheduled meeting is October 22, 2009.
Fire Department Coordination – Ms. Seleb advised the Board that she has met with Fire Chief Tommy Ingram. An agreement has been reached on the following: hydrant operation will be done only by Authority staff; the Authority will make sure all hydrant tags are installed; the Fire Department will make sure blue road markers are installed at fire hydrants; the Fire Department to provide the Authority with monthly estimates of water used for fire fighting and training; the Fire Department will continue to do Self Contained Breathing Apparatus training for the Authority’s plant and pump station staff. Ms. Seleb and Chief Ingram also began a discussion of sharing hydrant data using the fire department’s software.
Request from Jasper County Water & Sewer Authority (JCWSA) – Ms. Seleb reminded the Board that in 2007, the Authority lent JCWSA $15,000 to pay for infrastructure installation on the new bridge across the Ocmulgee River that would allow for future pipe connection between the two counties. The JCWSA has requested to pay the interest only due on the 3-year loan and add another three years onto the term. Interest of $1,162 will be due by March 8, 2010 on this 4.91% loan.
The Board agreed to this, but also added that this will be the only time that the Authority can do this and the cost of drawing up any paperwork will be passed on to JCWSA.
Martin Marietta Quarry Road Conflicts – Ms. Seleb advised the Board that DOT issued a stop work on the Authority’s behalf today. The Authority has not been able to review plans for the roadway and its crossing of the twelve-inch main on GA Highway 36 West. The Authority received the plans today. The plans will be reviewed with modifications requested as necessary.
Update on Middle Ocmulgee Plan – Ms. Seleb updated the Board on the status of the Middle Ocmulgee Water Plan. Butts County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mitch McEwen had asked that Ms. Seleb be named to replace former County Administrator, Van Whaler, on the planning council. Ms. Seleb has learned that this is not a Butts County decision, but a decision of the governor. Both Ms. Seleb and Mr. Norris attended the recent Middle Ocmulgee Council meeting on September 10, 2009. Much information was presented on existing water use by sector and future projections. It was noted that the recent court ruling that Lake Lanier was not originally intended to provide water supply will affect metro Atlanta and all communities sharing the same river basins, including Butts County.
Financial Report – Ms. Seleb went over the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations and SPLOST through August 2009. Finances are nicely within budget thus far for FY 2010. 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 August 2009. A copy of the check registers is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Adjourn – A motion was made by Mr. Norris to adjourn meeting at 7:00 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Keber and approved unanimously.