Call to Order – Chairman White called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. Board members present were J. B. White, Eddie Ford, Eddie Roberts and Harvey Norris. Staff members present were Alyssa Hopson, deputy general manager, and Amber Eason, clerk to the board.
Approval of Minutes from February 8, 2022 Meeting – Mr. Roberts made a motion to dispense with the reading of, and to adopt the minutes from the February 8, 2022 meeting. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.
VHB- Biological & Habitat Monitoring Proposal- Ms. Hopson presented a Biological and Habitat Monitoring proposal from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc (VHB) at the price of $11,717.00. Habitat assessments, benthic macro invertebrate, and fish sampling is a requirement for the Authority’s Watershed Protection Plan. Mr. Roberts made a motion to approve VHB proposal. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously. A copy of the proposal is attached and made part of these minutes.
Manager’s Report
Chlorine Leak at Buford Water Treatment Plant- Ms. Hopson reported there was a chlorine leak at the Burford Water Treatment Plant on February 24, 2022. Water Production Superintendent Herbert Head noticed chlorine leaking during a routine cylinder change-out. Butts County E-911 along with Henry County’s Hazardous Material Response Team (Hazmat) were notified. The water plant operators escaped unharmed and were able to return to work shortly afterwards.
Construction
Georgia Hwy 16 W – The Authority’s crew has completed the loop from Wallace Road to Windy Lane.
Harkness Road – The project is placed on-hold contingent upon the delivery of materials from Consolidated Pipe & Supply in late summer.
Water Meter Shortage- Mr. Hopson reported there is a shortage of water meters due to shipping delays. Mueller Water Products is anticipating the meters to be delivered by June.
Operations Statistics – Ms. Hopson went over the water production, water loss and customer statistics for February. The average daily finished water pumped to the Authority, Jackson and Jenkinsburg from Burford and Stewart plant was 2.27 million gallons per day, with a maximum of 2.55 million gallons per day. The rolling twelve-month average loss of 13% with the current monthly average at 8%. The total amount of finished water pumped in February by each plant was: Burford 61 million gallons and Stewart 3 million gallons.
Water billing for February was $259,629 up 9% from the previous month, up 8% over a rolling 12-month total, and down -1% the same month for the previous year. Sewer billing for February was $52,511, down
-1% from the previous month, up 4% over a rolling 12-month total, and down -15 % from the previous year.
Total water accounts numbered 6,812 at the end of February with 5,533 of those being active customers. There were 3 new connections sold. There were 224 total sewer accounts at the end of February, with 196 of the being active customers.
Financial Report – Ms. Hopson reviewed the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations and Capital Recovery Fees for February 2022 and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) through March 14, 2022.
Water Operations income for February was $276,745 with $177,499 in expenses. Water capital recovery fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2022 thus far was $39,997 with $0 in expenses.
Sewer Operations income for February was $53,037 with expenses of $25,676 Sewer Capital Recovery Fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2022 thus far was $20,431 with $0 in expenses.
For the 2019-24 SPLOST, $1,358,046 has been collected. A SPLOST payment of $83,056 was received on March 8, 2022 . Overages in the 2019-24 SPLOST are being covered by temporary transfers from the Water Operations fund.
Total cash on hand at the end of January was $11,709,188. Copies of the February 2022 financial summaries, the consolidated fund balance sheet and the consolidated fund income statement are attached and made a part of these minutes.
Executive Session Begin – A Motion by Mr. Roberts to adjourn into Executive Session to discuss real estate, this was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.
Executive Session End – A Motion by Mr. Ford to return to the regular meeting, seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.
Promotion – A motion was made by Mr. Norris to promote Alyssa Hopson to the position of General Manager and Sandra Daniel to the position of Office Manager effective March 15, 2022. This was seconded by Mr. Roberts and approved unanimously.
Sewer Extensions – Chairman White advised the Board there have been speculations within the County that he denied sewer for a potential project. Mr. White stated this accusation is untrue. All request for sewer extensions are to come before the entire Board via formal application.
Adjourn – A motion was made by Mr. Ford to adjourn the meeting at 6:08p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.