Call to Order – Chairman White called the meeting to order at 5:29 p.m. Board members present were J. B. White, Eddie Ford, Eddie Roberts and Burt Jones. Staff members present were Alyssa Hopson, deputy general manager, and Amber Eason, clerk to the board.
Approval of Minutes from October 19, 2021 Meeting – Mr. Ford made a motion to dispense with the reading of, and to adopt the minutes from the October 19, 2021 meeting with the percent loss being corrected by Ms. Eason and the minutes reprinted. This was seconded by Mr. Roberts and approved unanimously.
Met-Life CY 2022 Pricing – Ms. Hopson presented the Board a renewal rate analysis from Metlife for Dental, Life and Disability insurance. The long term disability will increase by 4.8%. The current rates for dental, life and short term disability will remain the same. A motion was made by Mr. Roberts to accept the renewal rates for calendar year 2022. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.
City of Griffin wholesale Rate for 2022 – Ms. Hopson reported the City of Griffin’s 2022 wholesale rate which raises pricing from $5.46 per 1000 gallons to $5.59 per 1000 gallons. This rate applies to customers on Chappell Mill Road, Fenner Road and the Brushy Creek Subdivision. A copy of the letter is attached and made part of these minutes.
Worker’s Compensation Proposal – Ms. Seleb presented the Board with a proposal from J. Smith Lanier and Company for workman’s compensation insurance from Builders Insurance. The proposed premium is $26,159, a savings of $4868. A motion was made by Mr. Jones to accept the proposal by J. Smith Lanier for calendar year 2022. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously. A copy of the proposal is included and made part of these minutes.
Manager’s Report
Construction
Hwy 16 West – Looping the water main on Georgia Hwy 16 from Wallace Rd to Windy Lane is underway with several hundred feet of rock blasting remaining before completion.
Dukes Road Water Request- Ms. Hopson noted that Dukes Road water main installation was previously approved at the September 19, 2017 board meeting. Installing a water main would provide fire protection and eliminate multiple private service lines on Georgia Hwy 36 E. Ms. Hopson recommended making Dukes Road a priority. Mr. Jones made a motion to move forward with installing the main on Dukes Rd. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.
Medical Leave – Ms. Hopson reminded Board members of her six-weeks medical leave. Therefore the regular scheduled Board meeting on January 18, 2022 will be canceled. In the event of any emergencies, Interim Office Manager Sandra Daniel, Water Production Superintendent Herbert Head, and Distribution Superintendent Paul Martin is in charge.
Available Funds – Chairman White noted that the Authority is frugal on spending available funds. The cash on hand is for the sake of Butts County citizens. If SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) distributions were no longer made available, the Authority’s cash on hand will be needed for maintenance and water main projects to unserved roads within the County.
Operations Statistics – Ms. Hopson went over the water production, water loss and customer statistics for November. The average daily finished water pumped to the Authority, Jackson and Jenkinsburg from Burford and Stewart plant was 2.25 million gallons per day, with a maximum of 2.56 million gallons per day. The rolling twelve-month average loss of 12% with the current monthly average at 7%. The total amount of finished water pumped in November by each plant was: Burford – 65 million gallons and Stewart – 3 million gallons.
Water billing for November was $272,949, up 12% from the previous month, up 6% over a rolling 12-month total, and up 12% the same month for the previous year. Sewer billing for November was $50,027, up 5% from the previous month, up 9% over a rolling 12-month total, and down 11% from the previous year.
Total water accounts numbered 5,971 at the end of November with 5,465 of those being active customers. There were 8 new connections sold. There were 196 total sewer accounts at the end of November, with 191 of the being active customers.
Financial Report – Ms. Hopson reviewed the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations and Capital Recovery Fees for November 2021 and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) through October 18 , 2021.
Water Operations income for November was $287,931 with $279,459 in expenses. Water capital recovery fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2021 thus far was $16, 775 with $0 in expenses.
Sewer Operations income for November was $52,029 with expenses of $49,031 Sewer Capital Recovery Fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2021 thus far was $2,000 with $0 in expenses.
For the 2019-24 SPLOST, $1,191,920 has been collected. A SPLOST payment of $79,522 was received on November 5, 2021 . 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 November was $11,439,468. Copies of the November 2021 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. Ford to adjourn the meeting at 6:29 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Roberts and approved unanimously.