Call to Order – Chairman White called the meeting to order at 5:28 p.m. Board members present were J. B. White, Eddie Roberts, Jr., Eddie Ford and Burt Jones. Also present were Marcie Seleb, general manager, and Alyssa Hopson, clerk to the board.
Approval of Minutes from August 08, 2017 Meeting – Mr. Roberts made a motion to dispense with the reading of and to approve the minutes from the August 8, 2017 meeting. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.
Water Model Update Proposal – Hayes, James & Associates – A motion was made by Mr. Roberts to enter into an agreement with Hayes & James Engineering for a complete update of the 2012 hydraulic water model at a price of $15,000. The work will be done by Lorraine Campagne, the original consultant on the model. This was seconded by Mr. Jones and approved unanimously. A copy of the proposal is attached and made part of these minutes.
University of Central Florida Study Update – Ms. Seleb gave an overview of the work being done to assess the Authority’s source water, treatment processes, and distribution system. Currently, extensive testing is being done to optimize total organic carbon and turbidity removal. Pilot testing of alternative corrosion control products will begin this month.
Dukes Road Water Request – Ms. Seleb noted that there is no water main on Dukes Road, but that twelve existing customers on that road receive water from taps on Georgia Hwy. 36. A single property owner at the end of the road, Dan Alstrom, who does not have a water connection, has inquired about service. Ms. Seleb recommended a water main installation along Dukes Road to provide fire protection and eliminate multiple private service lines that provide less-than-standard service. Board members agreed that the Dukes Road main should be put into the Authority’s capital improvement plan and also agreed that as per standard policy, Mr. Alstrom could pay for materials for the main if he needs water more quickly.
Proposed Policy for Late Fee Waiver – A motion was made by Mr. Jones to adopt a policy allowing the waiver of late fees for commercial and industrial customers upon request because of an inability to make payment by the normal due date because of out-of-state accounting facilities. This was seconded by Mr. Roberts and approved unanimously.
Severe Weather Personnel Policy Review – Ms. Seleb gave an overview of the current policy in the employee handbook for leave during severe weather events. She noted that some staff had requested added pay for work during Hurricane Irma which passed through Butts County on September 11, 2017. The Board discussed the existing policy and made no changes.
Manager’s Report
Construction
Dollar General Sewer – Water and sewer extensions are fully complete except for the SCADA connection for the lift station.
Watkins & Associates Ready Pac Employment Incentive Grant (EIP) Payment Request – Ms. Seleb presented a letter from engineer Shon Watkins providing detail of the work that was done on the Ready Pac EIP grant project that was abandoned. This was reviewed by Board members with no action taken. A copy of the letter is attached and made part of these minutes.
Brownlee Road – Water main installation is underway with several hundred feet of rock blasting remaining before completion.
Update on Design Work on other Water Mains – Ms. Seleb reported that the engineering layout has been received for Bucksnort Road, Red Berry Lane and Patillo Road from Scanlon Engineering. Watkins and Associates has completed surveying for Bob Thomas Road. No work has been started to date by Watkins on Moore Road.
Bucksnort Road Water Tap – A property owner on a section of Bucksnort Road that has had water service since 2000 would like to purchase a new water tap at the discounted construction price because of the planned extension on a different section of Bucksnort Road. Board members agreed that property would not be eligible for purchase a discounted construction tap.
Flying J/Pilot – Ms. Seleb reported that consultants for Flying J/Pilot have contacted her this week and want to pay to extend sewer to serve this facility which is currently served by their private wastewater treatment system.
State Action on Drought – Ms. Seleb reported that on September 7, 2017, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) changed the Drought Declaration for Butts County from Level One to a non-drought response level. At the non-drought level, a ban on outside watering from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. still in place. A copy of the declaration letter is attached and made part of these minutes.
Operations
Operations Statistics – Ms. Seleb reviewed water production, water loss and customer statistics for August. The average daily finished water pumped in August to the Authority, Jackson and Jenkinsburg from Burford and Stewart plants was 2.3 million gallons per day, with a maximum of 2.9 million gallons per day. The rolling twelve-month average loss was 9.5% with the current monthly average loss at 14.6%. The total amount of finished water pumped in August by each plant was: Burford – 66 million gallons and Stewart – 6 million gallons.
Water billing for August 2017 was $241,528, equal to the previous month and down 13% from the same month for the previous year.
Sewer billing for August 2017 was $61,490, up 11% from the previous month, and up 14% from the previous year.
Total water accounts numbered 5,547 at the end of August, with 5,079 active water customers. One water tap was purchased on the existing system and seven subdivison meters were sold during the month of August.
There were 171 total sewer customers at the end of August. No new sewer connections were purchased during the month.
Financial Report – Ms. Seleb reviewed the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations, Capital Recovery Fees, and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for August 2017. Water operations income for August was $256,138 with $127,062 in expenses. Water capital recovery fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2018 thus far was $2,115 with an outflow of $13,328 for payment of the Sandy Creek Loan.
Sewer Operations income for August was $172,152 with expenses of $26,403. Sewer Capital Recovery Fee revenue for the fiscal year thus far was $14 with $0 in expenses. To date, $1,889,521 has been collected in 2013-19 SPLOST, with $911,740 expended.
Total cash on hand at the end of August 2017 was $9,986,158. This is $56,891 under the June 30, 2017 balance. Copies of the August 2017 financial summaries, the consolidated fund balance sheet, and the consolidated fund income statement are attached and made a part of these minutes.
Adjourn – A motion was made by Mr. Roberts to adjourn the meeting at 6:43 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.