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, representing Ingram and Associates Engineering. Staff members present were Alyssa Lackey, general manager and Amber Eason, clerk to the board.
Approval of Minutes from February 18, 2025 Meeting- Mr. Roberts made a motion to dispense with the reading of, and to adopt the minutes from the February 18, 2025 meeting, with any necessary corrections being made. This was seconded by Mr. Jeffares and approved unanimously.
Review Hydraulic Water Model- Ms. Lackey reported that Rindt Engineer completed the hydraulic water model. Rindt updated and calibrated the existing water distribution system model, created various scenarios for hydraulic analysis, and provided recommendations for potential system improvements. The report summarized the additions of new developments to the existing hydraulic model, calibration of the hydraulic model, evaluation of the existing water distribution system, and recommendations for future improvements. No action was taken. A copy of the water model report is attached and made part of these minutes.
Consider IXOM Program for Aeration System Maintenance- Ms. Lackey presented a maintenance proposal from IXOM, formerly Beekeeper. The service program is set to expire in May. IXOM maintains the aeration system installed inside of the Hwy 36 W Elevated tank to remove Trihalomethanes (THM). Mr Jeffares made a motion to move forward with renewing the three year contact for$15,650.00 a year. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously. A copy of the proposal is attached and made part of these minutes.
Project Lighthouse- The board instructed Ms. Lackey to schedule a funding strategics meeting with Lighthouse Project Engineer within the next two weeks. No action was taken.
Managers Report-
GA EPD Consent Order- Ms. Lackey reported that the Authority received an Expedited Consent Order from Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) due to the sewage spill on November 23, 2024. The consent order was issued as there was a major spill at the Truck Stop Way Lift Station. GA EPD stated that any spill over 10,000 gallons is considered major. The spillage amount of 239,000 gallons automatically calculated the penalty amount of $7,500. Mr. Jeffares instructed Ms. Lackey to contact Director Jeffrey Cown at GA EPD to discuss the consent order or schedule an in-person meeting with an Environmental Compliance Specialist.
Dukes Rd- Ms. Lackey reported the Dukes Road project is set to begin in the next few weeks.
Generator for the Office- Ms. Hopson reported that when the Authority’s office lose power, the water treatment plants are unable to receive real time data from the SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system. She stated that a generator is needed as a backup power source during outages. Quotes will be provided at the next board meeting.
Hwy 16 W/England Chapel Roundabout Update- Ms. Lackey reported that Roberts Construction has 80% of the pipe relocated. They are estimated to have the project completed by mid-April.
Operations Statistics – Ms. Lackey went over the water production, water loss and customer statistics for March. The average daily finished water pumped to the Authority, Jackson, and Jenkinsburg from Burford and Stewart plants was 2.49 million gallons per day, with a maximum of 2.97 million gallons per day. The rolling twelve-month average loss of 4% with the current monthly average at -8%. The total amount of finished water pumped in March by each plant was: Burford 58 million gallons and Stewart 12 million gallons.
Water billing for March was $322,428 up 3% from the previous month, up 4% over a rolling 12-month total, and down 1% the same month for the previous year. Sewer billing for March was $50,626 up 8% from the previous month, up 22% over a rolling 12-month total, and down 29% from the previous year.
Total water accounts numbered 6,892 at the end of March with 5,719 of those being active customers. There were 5 new connections sold. There were 263 total sewer accounts at the end of March, with 207 of them being active customers.
Financial Report – Ms. Lackey reviewed the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations and Capital Recovery Fees for March 2025 and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) through March 31, 2025.
Water Operations income for March was $334,206 with expenses of $269,632. Water capital recovery fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2024 thus far was $19,947 with $0 in expenses.
Sewer Operations income for March was $52,359 with expenses of $40,099. Sewer Capital Recovery Fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2024 thus far was $20,790 with $0 in expenses.
For the 2019-25 SPLOST, $4,684,855 has been collected. A SPLOST payment of $19,114.96 was received on March 2, 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 March was $16,133,805. Copies of the March 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 6:28 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.