Call to Order – Chairman Marett called the meeting to order at 5:43 p.m. Board members present were Eddie Roberts, Curtis Taylor and Eddie Ford. Also present was Project Lighthouse Representatives, Tim Ingram with Ingram and Associates and Amber Eason, clerk to the board. Staff members present were Alyssa Lackey, general manager, Alex McCart, project engineer.
Approval of Minutes of August 18th Meeting- Mr. Roberts made a motion to dispense with the reading of, and to adopt the minutes of August 18th, 2026 meeting, with any necessary corrections being made. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.
Project Lighthouse Update – It was reported that construction at Burford Water Treatment Plant is scheduled to begin Q3 of 2027.
Managers Report-
Ms. Lackey informed the Board that the Authority was awarded a 1.6 million GEFA grant to fund a system wide water meter changeout project. An estimated 4,300 meters is expected to be replaced. The project is expected to begin mid-October with plans to be completed by December 2026.
Ms. Lackey reported that at the April 21st board meeting the board voted against providing services to the Bucksnort Road Recreational Vehicle (RV) Park. On September 10, 2026 the Butts County Planning and Zoning Board voted to recommend rezoning. The project is proposing a total of 770 RV parking spaces. Butts County Commissioners will hear the case on October 12, 2026 and have a final action.Operations Statistics – Ms. Lackey went over the water production, water loss and customer statistics for September. The average daily finished water pumped to the Authority, Jackson, and Jenkinsburg from Burford and Stewart plant was 3.00 million gallons per day, with a maximum of 3.65 million gallons per day. The rolling twelve-month average loss of 4% with the current monthly average at -10%. The total amount of finished water pumped in August by each plant was: Burford 73 million gallons and Stewart 20 million gallons.
Water billing for September was $494,366, up 38% from the previous month, up 10% over a rolling 12-month total, and up 19% the same month for the previous year. Sewer billing for September was $89.701, up 30% from the previous month, up 6% over a rolling 12-month total, and down 7% from the previous year.
Total water accounts numbered 6,892 at the end of September with 5,810 of those being active customers. There were 0 new connections sold. There were 263 total sewer accounts at the end of September, with 215 of them being active customers.
Financial Report – Ms. Lackey reviewed the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations and Capital Recovery Fees for December 2025 and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) through August 31, 2026.
Water Operations income for September was $581,427 with expenses of $351,754. Water capital recovery fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2027 thus far was $2,821 with $0 in expenses.
Sewer Operations income for September was $122,973 with expenses of $87,024. Sewer Capital Recovery Fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2027 thus far was $465 with $0 in expenses.
For the 2019-27 SPLOST, $4,686,969 has been collected. Overages in the 2019-26 SPLOST are being covered by temporary transfers from the Water Operations fund.
For the 2026-2031 SPLOST a payment of $88,122.81 was received on September 3, 2026. To date $927,497 has been collected.
Total cash on hand at the end of September was $17,142,439. Copies of the September 2026 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 6:44p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Taylor and approved unanimously.