Call to Order – Chairman White called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Board members present were J. B. White, Robert Harris, Harvey Norris, Wesley Keber & Burt Jones; Authority staff members present were Marcie Seleb & Joyce Hosey.
Opening Prayer – Mr. Norris 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 May 17, 2011 meeting and approve the same. This was seconded by Mr. Keber and approved unanimously.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Budget Discussion – Ms. Seleb made a presentation on the FY 2012 budget. System growth remains stagnant, but due to conservative budgeting and operations, the Authority is showing a growing net revenue. For FY 2012, both water and sewer operations should be able to function without a rate increase.
The combined operations budget projects $2,865,200 in revenues and $2,763,200 in expenses. Capital project funds include only $20,500 in new revenue and $534,000 in expenditures. A motion was made by Mr. Jones to adopt the FY 2012 budget as presented. This was seconded by Mr. Keber and approved unanimously.
Copies of the draft budget, and presentation slides are attached and made a part of these minutes.
Consider Purchase of Budgeted Flatbed Truck – $35,000 has been budgeted in the current fiscal year for a twelve-foot flatbed truck for the distribution crew. Ms. Seleb presented prices as follows:
• State contract price on Ford – $31,943, but will not be available until September
• Bellamy Strickland Chevrolet – $33,525, ready for delivery now – smaller ten-foot bed also available at $30,641
Mr. White will call Bellamy Strickland to see if he can get a better price for a Chevrolet truck as it is the preferred option.
A motion was made by Mr. Keber for Mr. White to contact Mr. Strickland to get a better price and leave the final decision up to Ms. Seleb so that the purchase could be made during FY 2011. This was seconded by Mr. Jones and approved unanimously.
Consider Limited Policy for Termination of Service to Multiple Accounts Under One Owner – Ms. Seleb advised the Board that the meters of an apartment building on Standard Oil Road have been interconnected by the property owner. Only two of the seven meters are currently in service but all seven apartments have water. Although the accounts are all in the name of the property owner, the owner has recently used one tenant to pay the bill for multiple apartments.
Ms. Seleb proposed a policy for the Board’s approval as follows:
In certain situations where there appear to be fraud or abuse, the Authority may terminate service to all accounts held in the name of a particular customer until all of a customer’s accounts are brought up to a current status in keeping with the Authority’s policies, specifications, and applicable Butts County ordinances.
A motion was made by Mr. Keber to approve the proposed policy as written. This was seconded by Mr. Jones and approved unanimously.
Manager’s Report
Update on Construction Projects
Taps Sold – There were two taps sold in May.
Isaac Head Road Extension – The crew should finish laying pipe this week on Isaac Head Road, with the bore to connect on Fincherville Road to follow.
Walt Banks Road – Walt Banks Road is 100% complete with four customers transferred from Jenkinsburg.
Hwy. 16 Sewer Project – The crew is getting set for the Hwy. 16 Sewer Project work. The contractor will start clearing next week.
Hay Cutting at Bucksnort Land Application System (LAS) – The crew is assisting with hay cutting and brush control at the Bucksnort LAS. Ms. Seleb advised the Board that she has looked at hay pricing in the area and recommended a price of $4.00 per bale for livestock hay, $3.00 per bale for mulch hay, and $2.00 per bale for mulch hay to other local governments. Hay will not be sold until tested safe by the University of Georgia.
Operations Report – Water billing for May was up 8% from April at $211,676, and up 4% from May 2010 with a total customer base of 5,221 and an active customer base of 4,648. Sewer billing for May 2011 was up 13% from April at $36,239, and up 12% from May 2010 with a total customer base of 129 and an active customer base of 119.
The average daily finished water pumped in May 2011 to the Authority, Jackson and Jenkinsburg from the Burford and Stewart plants was 2.5 MGD, with a maximum of 3.0 MGD. The rolling 12-month average loss was 11.4% with the current monthly average loss of 25.6%. The total amount of finished water pumped in May 2011 per plant was: Burford – 71 MG; Stewart – 7 MG. The average wastewater influent at the Bucksnort Ranch LAS was .219 with an average daily effluent of .245/.550 MGD and a maximum 7-day effluent of .319/.550 MGD.
Drought Conditions Here – Ms. Seleb advised the Board that the Stewart Plant is now running from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to help keep up with peak water demand. Systemwide use has been averaging 3 MGD for the month of June so far, thirty percent higher than normal.
Financial Report – Ms. Seleb went over the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations and SPLOST through May 2011. Finances are within budget thus far for FY 2011. Copies of these financial summaries are attached and made a part of these minutes.
Review Bills Paid – Board members reviewed check registers and credit card statements for the month of May 2011. Copies of these registers and statements are attached and made a part of these minutes.
Adjourn – A motion was made by Mr. Keber to adjourn meeting at 7:00 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.