Call to Order – Chairman Marett called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Board members present were Harry Marett, J.B. White, Eddie Roberts, Eddie Ford, Curtis Taylor, Bill Jones and Ken Rivers. Staff members present were Alyssa Hopson, general manager and Amber Eason, clerk to the board.
Approval of Minutes from July 18, 2023 Meeting – Mr. Rivers made a motion to dispense with the reading of, and to adopt the minutes from the July 18, 2023 meeting, with the necessary corrections being made. This was seconded by Mr. Roberts and approved unanimously.
Excavator Proposals – Ms. Hopson noted that a larger excavator had been included in the current fiscal year budget to increase productivity. She presented a proposal for a Caterpillar 420-07XE from Yancey Brothers. The lease/purchase three-year net cost offered was $164,861. The four-year net cost was $171,020. A motion was made by Mr. Rivers to enter into the four-year lease/purchase for the Caterpillar 420-07XE. This was seconded by Mr. Jones and approved unanimously. Copies of both proposals are included and made a part of these minutes.
Consider Resolution: Intergovernmental Agreement for 2025-2031 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) – Board members discussed the proposed intergovernmental agreement for distribution of a future SPLOST which will be placed on the ballot in November 2023. The agreement anticipates a total SPLOST collection of $40,000,000. Butts County will take $28,000,000 of the total for special general obligation bond projects. The Authority will receive 11% of the remainder, estimated to be roughly $3,080,000.
Mr. Ford made a motion to pass a resolution authorizing Chairman Marett to sign the intergovernmental agreement for disbursement of the proposed 2025-2031 SPLOST. The motion to approve the resolution was seconded by Mr. Rivers and approved unanimously.
Managers Report-
Personnel Matter – According the Authority’s accrued annual leave policy, any regular, full-time employee that has more than thirty (30) days on December 31st of each year may elect to be paid for the excess days. The request for this pay is solely the employee’s responsibility and must be made in writing prior to January 14th of the following year. Charles Smith would like cash in his accrued annual leave prior to his scheduled 2024 retirement. A motion was made by Mr. Rivers to allow Mr. Smith to cash in his annual leave. This was seconded by Mr. White and approved unanimously.
Winding Way- Ms. Hopson reported the crew has laid 2,400 feet of water main on Winding Way.
Transmission Main Extension- Ms. Hopson reported that she will be meeting with RINDT Engineering on August 22nd to discuss the transmission main project. The main will extend from High Falls Road to the River Park Development located on Highway 16 W.
Operations Statistics – Ms. Hopson went over the water production, water loss and customer statistics for July. The average daily finished water pumped to the Authority, Jackson, and Jenkinsburg from Burford and Stewart plant was 2.86 million gallons per day, with a maximum of 3.26 million gallons per day. The rolling twelve-month average loss of 11% with the current monthly average at 19%. The total amount of finished water pumped in July by each plant was: Burford 86 million gallons and Stewart 2 million gallons.
Water billing for July was $350,522 up 15% from the previous month, up 12% over a rolling 12-month total, and up 11% the same month for the previous year. Sewer billing for July was $65,000 up 29% from the previous month, up 14% over a rolling 12-month total, and up 11% from the previous year.
Total water accounts numbered 6,892 at the end of July with 5,648 of those being active customers. There were 2 new connections sold. There were 263 total sewer accounts at the end of July, with 207 of them being active customers.
Financial Report – Ms. Hopson reviewed the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations and Capital Recovery Fees for July 2023 and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) through July 31, 2023.
Water Operations income for July was $360,258 with expenses of $502,660. Water capital recovery fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2023 thus far was $289,666 with $0 in expenses.
Sewer Operations income for July was $67,935 with expenses of $-7,496. Sewer Capital Recovery Fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2023 thus far was $167,855 with $0 in expenses.
For the 2019-24 SPLOST, $3,091,188 has been collected. A SPLOST payment of $89,887.66 was received on August 4, 2023. 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 July was $13,730,162. Copies of the July 2023 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. Rivers to adjourn the meeting at 6:24p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Marett and approved unanimously.