Call to Order – Chairman White called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Board members present were J. B. White, Eddie Roberts, Jr., Eddie Ford, Harvey Norris & Burt Jones. Also present were Rae Johnston, representing Haisten & Johnston, and Laura Hale Sistrunk, representing the Butts County Development Authority. Staff members present were Marcie Seleb, general manager, and Alyssa Hopson, clerk to the board.
Approval of Minutes from November 14, 2017 Meeting – Mr. Roberts made a motion to dispense with the reading of, and to approve, the minutes from the November 14, 2017 meeting. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.
Presentation of FY 2017 Audit – Rae Johnston gave an overview of the Financial Statements for Fiscal Year 2017. She reported that the audit went well with no findings. Ms. Johnston noted that the Authority had a $29.6 million total net position, which was an increase of $1.2 million over the previous year. Ms. Seleb presented a series of financial indicator slides that are part of the audit’s “Management’s Discussion and Analysis”. Mr. Ford made a motion to approve the audit. This was seconded by Mr. Roberts and approved unanimously. Ms. Johnston excused herself from the meeting at 5:50 p.m. A copy of the audit is included and made a part of these minutes.
Request for Water & Sewer for New Development – Ms. Seleb reported that Liberty Property Trust has requested that the Authority run water and sewer to a site that crosses the Butts Spalding county line at Georgia Highway 16 and Wallace Road. Liberty has tentative plans to build a one million square foot distribution center on the site, which could employ 300 people, but does not have a definite occupant. Laura Sistrunk asked the Authority to help with extending water and sewer to the site.
The site is currently owned by Authority Board Chairman White. Mr. White informed the other board members that the property had not been listed for sale and that Liberty Property Trust contacted him about purchase. He stressed that, as property owner, he would remove himself completely from the discussion of serving the site.
The Board asked Ms. Seleb to get a cost estimate for the water and sewer extensions before making any decision. Mr. Ford made a motion to spend up to $2500 for a cost estimate. This was seconded by Mr. Roberts and approved unanimously. Mr. White abstained. Ms. Sistrunk excused herself from the meeting at 6:18 p.m.
Workman’s Compensation Insurance Proposal – Ms. Seleb presented the Board with a proposal from J. Smith Lanier and Company for workman’s compensation insurance from American Mutual Builders. The proposed premium is $26,747, an increase of less than 1% over 2017. A motion was made by Mr. Jones to accept the proposal by J. Smith Lanier for calendar year 2018. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously. A copy of the proposal is included and made part of these minutes.
Manager’s Report
Construction
Brownlee Road – The project is complete, except for the East Ball bore. The boring machine was delivered on November 30, 2017.
East Ball Road – Water is installation completed with the tie into Georgia Hwy. 36 on December 12, 2017.
Operations
Christmas Bonus 2017 – Ms. Seleb expressed thanks to the Board for on behalf of all employees for their Christmas bonuses.
Possible Seed Grant for Litter Trap- Ms. Seleb reported that she has been working on a potential Seed Grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division for a litter trap that would reduce trash coming into Jackson Lake after rain storms.
This would be a joint project of the Authority, DeKalb County, the South River Watershed Alliance, the Jackson Lake Association, Georgia Power and other local governments. The total project is estimated to cost $363,300 with seed grant funding of up to $75,000. A motion was made by Mr. Roberts for the Authority to commit $10,000 toward the project. The motion was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.
Operations Statistics – Ms. Seleb reviewed water production, water loss and customer statistics for November. The average daily finished water pumped in November to the Authority, Jackson and Jenkinsburg from Burford and Stewart plants was 2.1 million gallons per day, with a maximum of 2.5 million gallons per day. The rolling twelve-month average loss was 9.7% with the current monthly average loss at 1.8%. The total amount of finished water pumped in November by each plant was: Burford – 57 million gallons and Stewart – 6 million gallons.
Water billing for November 2017 was $252,059, up 16% from the previous month and down 1% from the same month for the previous year.
Sewer billing for November 2017 was $68,736, up 25% from the previous month, and up 28% from the previous year.
Total water accounts numbered 5,556 at the end of November, with 5,079 active water customers. Three water taps were purchased on the existing system, two construction taps, and five subdivision meters were purchased during the month.
There were 172 total sewer accounts at the end of November, with 168 of those being active customers. 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 November 2017. Water operations income for November was $267,384 with $210,402 in expenses. Water capital recovery fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2018 thus far was $5,914 with an outflow of $33,320 for payment of the Sandy Creek Loan.
Sewer Operations income for November was $146,768 with expenses of $42,128. Sewer Capital Recovery Fee revenue for the fiscal year thus far was $21,946 with $0 in expenses. To date, $1,985,745 has been collected in 2013-19 SPLOST, with $ 1,179,530 expended.
Total cash on hand at the end of November 2017 was $9,900,212. This is $142,837 under the June 30, 2017 balance. Copies of the November 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. Norris to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Roberts and approved unanimously.