Call to Order – Chairman White called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Board members present were J. B. White, Eddie Roberts, Jr., Eddie Ford, Harvey Norris & Burt Jones; staff members present were Marcie Seleb, general manager, and Alyssa Hopson, clerk to the board.
Approval of Minutes from September 11, 2018 Meeting – Mr. Roberts made a motion to dispense with the reading of, and to approve, the minutes from the September 11, 2018 meeting. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.
Discuss Local Needs for Septage Receiving- Mr. White suggested that the Authority needs to come up with a plan for accepting septage hauled in Butts County. Ms. Seleb suggested that she obtain a proposal from an engineering consultant to study options and costs. Board members directed her to do so.
Review Updated Water Line Extension Priority List – Ms. Seleb presented a proposed updated water extension priority list. She asked for Board input. Board members suggested running water first on roads with the most customers and where obtaining easements is not an issue.
Enter into Executive Session – A motion was made by Mr. Roberts to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel issue. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.
Leave Executive Session – A motion was made by Mr. Norris to come out of Executive Session after discussing a personnel issue. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.
Employee Termination – A motion was made by Mr. Roberts to terminate Russell Nail’s employment. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.
Manager’s Report
New Water Bills – Ms. Seleb reported Arista will print and mail the bills starting in November 2018, rather than the planned October date.
New Hire Confirmation – Ms. Seleb reported Bailey Cawthon was hired September 20, 2018 as a distribution crew member.
Promotions – Board members named Johnny P. Martin as Superintendent of Distribution and Collection and Travis Clay as Assistant Superintendent of Distribution and Collection.
Joint Quarterly Meeting – The Butts County Board of Commissioners will sponsor the joint quarterly meeting of local governments, boards and authorities on November 15, 2018.
Discolored Water – Ms. Seleb reported discolored water in Highway 36 W area during the previous week. This was though to have been caused by system flow changes due to a fire at the Flying J Truck Stop on Interstate 75. Dave Domain, a customer in the Harbour Shores subdivison requested that he be reimbursed for a plumbing bill due to a clogged pressure reducing valve during that time. Board members declined to reimburse Mr. Domain.
Construction – Ms. Seleb reported that the Authority’s crew is installing water on Barnes Road. Projects set to begin the next few weeks include the Highway 36 East Yellow Water Creek Bridge water relocation and the water extension on Hwy. 16 West to the Spalding County line. The Authority will soon bid out the Highway 16 West sewer extension, the Flying J sewer extension, and move a fire hydrants on Wilson Road and Marina Circle.
Operations Statistics – Ms. Seleb reviewed 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 plants was 2.3 million gallons per day, with a maximum of 2.6 million gallons per day. The rolling twelve-month average loss was 13.2% with the current monthly average loss at 17.8%. The total amount of finished water pumped in September by each plant was: Burford – 63 million gallons and Stewart – 5 million gallons.
Water billing for September was $233,177, down 3% from the previous month and up 7% the same month for the previous year. Sewer billing for September was $48,303, down 5% from the previous month and down 12% from the previous year.
Total water accounts numbered 5,610 at the end of September with 5,144 active water customers. One new water tap was purchased on the existing system.
There were 183 total sewer accounts at the end of September, with 178 of those being active customers.
Financial Report – Ms. Seleb reviewed the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations, Capital Recovery Fees, and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for September 2018. Water operations income for September was $287,087 with $193,456 in expenses. Water capital recovery fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2019 thus far was $6,877.
Sewer Operations income for September was $54,864 with expenses of $44,712. Sewer Capital Recovery Fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2019 thus far was $4976 with $0 in expenses. To date, $2,495,997 has been collected in 2013-19 SPLOST and interest, with $2,133,297 expended. Total cash on hand at the end of September was $10,150,031. This is $535,497 under the June 30, 2017 balances. Copies of the September 2018 financial summaries, the consolidated fund balance sheet and the consolidated fund income statement are attached and made a part of these minutes. Also attached is a copy of the monthly check register.
Adjourn – A motion was made by Mr. Jones to adjourn the meeting at 6:58 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.