Call to Order – Chairman White called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Board members present were J. B. White, Mitch McEwen, Harvey Norris, Bob Harris and Wesley Keber; representing Jenkinsburg was Mayor Kenneth Rooks; representing Haisten & Johnston was Rae Johnston; representing Ingram & Associates Engineering was Tim Ingram; staff members present were Marcie Seleb & Joyce Hosey.
Opening Prayer – Mr. Norris opened the meeting with a prayer.
Approval of Minutes from Previous Meetings – Mr. Harris made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes from the December 9, 2008 meeting and approve the same. This was seconded by Mr. Keber and approved unanimously.
Presentation of FY 2008 Audit – Rae Johnston, Haisten & Johnston – Rae Johnston gave a brief overview of the Financial Statements for the FY 2008. She summarized the Authority’s financial situation by stating that the Authority had remained stable during the year despite a floundering economy. Ms. Johnston excused herself from the meeting at 6:15 p.m.
A copy of this audit is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Alternatives for Renovating Ocmulgee Ground Storage Tank – Tim Ingram, Ingram & Associates Engineering – Tim Ingram reported to the Board of the structural condition of the Ocmulgee ground storage tank. A curtain installed in 1996 to give added chlorine detention time has compromised the tank roof & at connection points on the floor. Mr. Ingram feels that with repairs and painting, the storage tank could be useful another twenty years.
A motion was made by Mr. Keber to allow Ingram & Associates to design and bid the renovations to the tank for a sum not to exceed $4,000. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously. Mr. Ingram excused himself from the meeting at 6:50 p.m.
A copy of photographs and illustration are attached and made a part of these minutes.
Update on Transmission Main Project – Ms. Seleb advised the Board that the possible completion date for the transmission main is now January 31, 2009. Sweetgrass Inc. is usually working two crews. They are now crossing a deep gully behind Buttrill Court. The project has also been slowed by two leaks on the first leg of the project near Barnes Road and by a septic tank line within the right of way at George Tate Drive. The Authority has acquired the additional easement to get past this septic tank line.
Manager’s Report
Tank Painting – Ms. Seleb advised the Board that the elevated tank on Hwy. 16 is being painted. A motion was made by Mr. McEwen to have the phrase “Welcome to Beautiful Butts” painted on the tank. This was seconded by Mr. Keber and approved unanimously. Mr. White abstained from this vote.
Tap Sales Progress
- Higgins Road – have sold eight of the twenty petitioned with a deadline of December 27, 2008. A total of fifteen is needed for this project.
- Hamm Road – have sold four of the seven petitioned with a deadline of December 27, 2008. A total of five is needed for this project.
- West Ball Road – have sold one of the seven petitioned with a deadline of February 6, 2009. A total of seven is needed for this project.
- Tom Goddard Road – have sold zero of the eleven petitioned with a deadline of February 6, 2009. A total of nine (9) is needed for this project.
Construction Schedule
- Cooper Road – The Cooper Road extension is complete.
- Fox Drive – The Fox Drive extension is underway at this time.
- Force Main Leak – Ms. Seleb advised the Board that on December 28, 2009, approximately 7,500 gallons leaked from a force main at Hwy. 36 and Prison Boulevard. This was low toxicity wastewater, coming primarily from the Ready Pak salad plant. It was repaired within four hours of being reported. Water from the leak flowed directly into a culvert on Georgia Diagnostic Prison property and on to the facility’s lake. The Authority will be monitoring the lake for two months. Monitoring thus far shows no discernable impact.
- Copies of photographs of the leak site are attached and made a part of these minutes.
Operation Statistics – Ms. Seleb went over the water and sewer statistics for the month of December 2008. Water billing was down for the month at $149,849, with an active customer base of 5,132. Sewer billing for the month was up for the month at $22,126 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 1.9 MGD, with maximum of 2.9 MGD. The rolling 12-month average loss of 13.0%. The total amount of water pumped in December 2008 per plant was: Ocmulgee – 55 MG; Stewart – 5 MG. The average wastewater sprayed at the Bucksnort Ranch LAS was .181/.550 MGD with a maximum 7-day effluent of .206/.550 MGD.
Calendar year 2008 saw a 5% drop in water and sewer billing from 2007. Billing has decreased for the past four months despite a rate increase in September. This is a reflection of the overall economy, but the first time that the Authority has seen an annual reduction since operation began in 1988.
A copy of these statistics is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Financial Report – Ms. Seleb went over the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations and SPLOST through December 2008. A copy of the financial summaries, as well as combined balance sheets and income statements are attached and made a part of these minutes.
Review Bills Paid – Board members reviewed check registers for the month of December 2008. A copy of the check registers is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Adjourn – A motion was made by Mr. Norris to adjourn meeting at 7:35 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Harris and approved unanimously.