Call to Order – Chairman Marett called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Board members present were Jimmy White, Eddie Ford, Curtis Taylor, Eddie Roberts, Rick Jeffares and Bill Jones. Also present was Tim Ingram with Ingram and Associates. Staff members present were Alyssa Lackey, general manager, Herbert Head, water production superintendent, and Darnell Walker, chief operator and maintenance technician. Also present was Amber Eason, clerk to the board.
Approval of Minutes from January 28, 2025 Meeting- Mr. Roberts made a motion to dispense with the reading of, and to adopt the minutes from the January 28, 2025 meeting, with any necessary corrections being made. This was seconded by Mr. Jeffers and approved unanimously.
VHB Microbiological Proposal- Ms. Lackey presented a Biological and Habitat Monitoring proposal from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc (VHB) at the price of $13,253.00. 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.
Project Lighthouse update- The Board agreed to meet with Hector Casablanca and John Werkman on February 24, 2025 to discuss funding strategies for Project Lighthouse. The called meeting is scheduled to be held in the Authority’s conference room at 10:00 a.m.
Discuss Water & Sewer Improvements- Rick Jeffares and Tim Ingram- Tim Ingram and Rick Jeffares discussed system-wide water and sewer improvements. Ms. Lackey reported that the hydraulic water module is still on track to be completed in February. Based upon the model findings, engineers will finalized the water and sewer system needs. Water Superintendent Herbert Head presented his request for removing the water treatment chemicals from inside of the plant to an onsite chemical feed building for safety concerns. No action was taken.
Managers Report-
Paul Martin Retirement- Ms. Lackey reported that Water Distribution Superintendent Johnny Martin retirement is February 28, 2025. Mr. White made a motion to promote Travis Clay as Superintendent. This was seconded by Mr. Jeffares and approved unanimously.
Mini Dozier Incident- Ms. Lackey reported that on February 13, 2025 the distribution crew was hauling the mini dozier from Buster Brown Road to the Land Application System. As the driver was attempting to make a left turn the weight shifted, causing the trailer to topple over. There were minor damages to the trailer and the dozier, but no reported injuries.
Operations Statistics – Ms. Lackey 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 2.79 million gallons per day, with a maximum of 3.44 million gallons per day. The rolling twelve-month average loss of 5% with the current monthly average at 4%. The total amount of finished water pumped in January by each plant was: Burford 74 million gallons and Stewart 12 million gallons.
Water billing for February was $385,972 up 18% from the previous month, up 26% over a rolling 12-month total, and up 33% the same month for the previous year. Sewer billing for February was $67,931 up 10% from the previous month, up 23% over a rolling 12-month total, and up 4% from the previous year.
Total water accounts numbered 6,892 at the end of February with 5,735 of those being active customers. There were 2 new connections sold. There were 263 total sewer accounts at the end of February, with 207 of them being active customers.
Financial Report – Ms. Lackey reviewed the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations and Capital Recovery Fees for February 2025 and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) through January 31, 2025.
Water Operations income for February was $481,717 with expenses of $384,506. Water capital recovery fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2024 thus far was $14,875 with $0 in expenses.
Sewer Operations income for February was $91,161 with expenses of $53,812. Sewer Capital Recovery Fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2024 thus far was $20,710 with $0 in expenses.
For the 2019-25 SPLOST, $4,665,744 has been collected. A SPLOST payment of $102,170.54 was received on February 5, 2025. 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 February was $15,857,689. Copies of the February 2025 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. Jeffares to adjourn the meeting at 6:31 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Taylor and approved unanimously.