Call to Order – Chairman White called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Board members present were J. B. White, Harvey Norris, Eddie Roberts, Jr., Burt Jones & Eddie Ford. Staff members present were general manager Marcie Seleb and Joyce Hosey, clerk to the board.
Approval of Minutes from November 11, 2014 Meeting – Mr. Roberts made a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes from the November 11, 2014 meeting. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.
Sewer Ordinance Revision – Ms. Seleb advised the Board of a revision to the Butts County Sewer Ordinance that was adopted by the Board of Commissioners on December 8, 2014. The revision makes a connection mandatory for new construction within 300 feet of Authority-owned gravity sewer lines. Connection is also required for existing structures within 300 feet of Authority-owned gravity sewer lines if the existing on-site system fails, a new business license is obtained, or by order of the health department or public court. A complete copy of the Sewer Ordinance revision is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Manager’s Report
Construction Update
- Nathan Thaxton/Brownlee/East Ball Road Water Main – The Authority’s crew has tied in the main at High Falls Road.
- West Butts Tank – There is no construction activity underway at present. The Board agreed to paint the tank with the color “Tank White”, which is consistent with the two other elevated tanks in the water system.
- Colwell Road Lift Station – Crawford Grading and Pipeline is rebuilding the retaining wall around the lift station to an acceptable grade. The emergency generator & SCADA system remain to be tested. The Authority crew is ready to start gravity sewer and force main work to complete this project.
Operations
Water & Sewer Statistics – The average daily finished water pumped in November 2014 to the Authority, Jackson and Jenkinsburg from the Burford and Stewart plants was 2.2 million gallons per day, with a maximum of 2.5 million gallons per day. The rolling twelve-month average loss was 13.5% with the current month average loss of 17.3%. The total amount of finished water pumped in November by each plant was: Burford – 61 million gallons and Stewart – 6 million gallons.
Water billing for November 2014 was $201,890, down 11% from October 2014 and down 4% from November 2013. Sewer billing for November 2014 was $55,087, down 9% from October 2014 and up 18% from November 2013.
The average wastewater influent at the Bucksnort Ranch Land Application System was 280,000 gallons per day with an average daily effluent of 246,000 gallons per day and the maximum 7-day effluent was 329,000 gallons per day.
The total water customer base was 5,370 accounts, with active water customers numbering 4,846. There were two new taps sold on the existing system and two construction taps sold during the month of November. The total sewer customer base was 143, with active sewer customers numbering 138. There were no new sewer services sold during the month of November.Ready Pac Salad Plant – There was a discolored water incident at Ready-Pac on November 24th & 25th, apparently due to a repair on the west Butts transmission main. The in-plant filter design has been completed and was submitted to Ready Pac for review. Two hydrants have been installed to flush the main through Georgia Diagnostic Prison property.
20″ Main Break – The crew will be repairing a crack in the west Butts transmission main with a special clamp to avoid line cutting or a full shutdown. The leak has been contained. The crew is scheduled to repair the leak on Sunday, December 14th to minimize impacts on area businesses.
AdministrativeGriffin Water Rate – The City of Griffin is set to increase water rates from $4.74 to $4.81 per 1,000 on January 1, 2015.
Collections Through Magistrate Court – Eight accounts with a total receivable value of $1,800 have been given to legal counsel to carry to Butts County Magistrate Court. The approximate cost to the Authority in legal fees thus far has been $1,000.
Insurance
- Worker’s Compensation – J. Smith Lanier has dropped the Authority’s Workers Compensation premium by 4% at a cost of $26,576.
- Health – Coventry is eliminating the Authority’s current health insurance plan and proposing a much less attractive coverage at a 25% increase in rates. Michelle Cole, the Authority’s insurance broker and Ms. Seleb are looking at plans with other companies and through the federal health insurance marketplace.
Butts County Day at Capital -Ms. Seleb told board members about Butts County’s Day at the Capital on February 11, 2015. Locals will travel to Atlanta to connect with legislators and government officials. The Board asked her to represent the Authority.Financial Report -Ms. Seleb went over the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations, and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for November 2014. For the month, water operations income was $234,810 and expenses were $208,013. Water capital recovery fee revenue for the fiscal year so far is $10,848, with interest expense of $4,616 and debt service of $30,936 paid on the Sandy Creek land loan.
Sewer operations income for November was $56,388, and expenses were $19,352. Sewer capital recovery fee revenue for the fiscal year thus far is $9,859, with no expenses.
To date, $3,448,277 in revenue has been received in 2007-12 Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax (SPLOST 2007) funds with $124,611 remaining, all of which is budgeted to pay debt on the 207 Bucksnort Ranch land application system expansion. $177,192 in SPLOST 2007 funds was transferred on December 1st for the first payment on 2014 Revenue Bond. $745,465 has been collected in 2013-19 Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax with $234,160 funds expended, all on the Highway 16 sewer project completion.
Total cash on hand at the end of November was $7,505,584. This is $626,015 over the June 30, 2014 balances. Copies of financial summaries, combined fund balance sheets, and combined fund income statements are attached and made a part of these minutes.
Review Bills Paid – Board members were given copies of check registers for November 2014. The check registers are attached and made a part of these minutes.
Adjourn – A motion was made by Mr. Ford to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Roberts and approved unanimously.