Call to Order – Chairman White called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Board members present were J. B. White, Emerson Burford, Mitch McEwen, Harvey Norris and Bob Harris; staff members present were Marcie Seleb and Joyce Hosey; representing the Jackson Progress Argus was Stewart Voegtlin, and representing Smith, Welch and Brittain was attorney Will White.
Opening Prayer – Mr. Burford opened the meeting with a prayer.
Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting – Mr. Harris made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes from the March 11, 2008 meeting and approve the same. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.
Action on Condemnation of Access to Sandy Creek Property – A motion was made by Mr. Norris to approve the resolution authorizing the condemnation of property rights on the 3.19 acres under the option to purchase with Butts Holdings, LLC and to have Chairman White to sign the same. This was seconded by Mr. Harris and approved unanimously. Mr. McEwen abstained from this vote. A copy of this resolution is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Results of Hwy. 36 to Hwy. 16 Transmission Bid – A motion was made by Mr. Burford to award the contract for the 20″ transmission main from Hwy. 36 to Hwy. 16 to Sweetgrass, Inc., the low bidder, in the amount of $1,216,660.70. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously. A copy of this award and a complete list of bidders is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Request for Water Extension on Walter Moore Road – Brad Lundstrum – A motion was made by Mr. McEwen to approve an extension of 700lf of six-inch water main on Walter Moore Road at the property owner’s expense for materials. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously. A copy of a general site layout is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Enterprise Industrial – A motion was made by Mr. Harris to approve an extension of 800 lf of eight-inch water main off of Bucksnort Road near Hwy. 36 at the developer’s expense for materials, labor, equipment, and all incidental costs. This was seconded by Mr. Burford and approved unanimously. A copy of a map is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Proposal to Use Stark Elevated Tank for Internet Transmission – A motion was made by Mr. Burford to enter a proposed agreement with Web:logic, Inc. under certain conditions. Web:logic, Inc. proposes to mount three (3) 120 degree antennas for high speed internet transmission onto the Stark elevated water tank. The monthly lease will begin at $225 per month and ramp up to $325 per month as customers increase. Board members added provisions that this be a one-year renegotiable lease, include hold-harmless language, and that Web:logic, Inc. pay all legal costs. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.
State Water Use Requirements Update – The Authority/Jackson/Jenkinsburg did not meet the State’s 10% use reduction requirement in March. It is possible that Notices of Violation will be received for January -March 2008.
Ms. Seleb advised the Board of the latest guidance from the Environmental Protection Division from a March 28th meeting in Atlanta. It appears that the 10% reduction requirement will be lifted, but no official decision has been made.
Ms. Seleb recommended that the Authority not impose residential conservation rates. Analysis of our customer base shows very few using more than 15,000 gallons per month, and of those, many are using water for large families, livestock, or gardens. Illustrative charts are attached and made a part of these minutes.
Ms. Seleb advised the Board that our source of supply looks very good when considering a “worst case scenario” . The pumps at the Ocmulgee should operate even at 10 cubic feet per second flow in the river. An illustration showing worst case river levels vs. pump capability is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Manager’s Report
Review CD Plan to Maximize Interest Rates – Board members reviewed interest rates offered for certificates of deposit and the State of Georgia investment pool, Georgia Fund 1. A motion was made by Mr. McEwen to purchase $2,450,000 in 180 day CD’s from McIntosh State Bank to open two with the Georgia Fund 1 for SPLOST funds which need to be accessible in a shorter period of time. A table is attached to these minutes showing the breakdown by fund. This was seconded by Mr. Harris and approved unanimously.
Revise Pressure Reducing Valve Policy – A motion was made by Mr. McEwen for Ms. Seleb to initiate a change in the Water Ordinance revising the pressure reducing valve policy such that pressure reducers are only installed at pre-existing houses. This was seconded by Mr. Burford and approved unanimously.
Operation Statistics – Ms. Seleb went over the water and sewer statistics for the month of March 2008. Water billing for the month was $147,697 with an active customer base of 5,055. Sewer billing for the month was $19,861 with an active customer base of 125.
The average daily water pumped to the Authority, Jackson and Jenkinsburg from the Ocmulgee and Stewart plants were 2.03 MGD, with maximum of 2.39 MGD. The rolling 12-month average loss of 12.7%. The total amount of water pumped in January 2008 per plant was: Ocmulgee – 67 MG; Stewart – 7 MG. The average wastewater treated at the Bucksnort Ranch LAS was .158/.550 MGD with a maximum 7-day effluent of .213/.550 MGD. The LAS is now officially approved to operate at 550,000 gallons per day.
Construction Update
- Pineview Upgrade – The crew is still working on new meter tie-ins for the Pineview upgrade.
- Old South River Project – The crew has completed the Old South River Road project.
- Kinard Mill/Towaliga Church/Evans/Ridgeway Roads (part) – The extension for Kinard Mill / Towaliga Church / Evans / Ridgeway (part) started this week.
Financial Report – Ms. Seleb went over the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations and SPLOST through March 2008. All operating funds are within budget. Revenue for Capital Recovery Fees is below budget. Board members also reviewed combined balance sheets for all funds for the month of March 2008. A copy of these financial summaries and combined balance sheets is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Review Bills Paid – Board members reviewed check registers for the month of March 2008. A copy of these check registers is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Adjourn – A motion was made by Mr. Burford to adjourn meeting at 7:20 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Harris and approved unanimously.