Board Meeting Date: October, 31 2011 ~ 4:00 P.M.
PERSONS PRESENT: Nancy Martin, Buzz Ahrens, Steven Woodruff, Eric Wilmarth, Chris Wilbanks, Mike Byrd, Tom Heard, David Kubala, Bill Graham Rick Dobbs, Darrell Caudill, Wesley Banks, Clint Blackwell, Ryan Sarks, Randy Mitchell, Dan Carson, Dwight Turner, Dwayne Fowler, Mike Venters, Ron Banks, Brad Dickerson, Randall Watkins, and Joyce Watkins.
Nancy Martin, Chair, called the meeting to order.
1. AN INVOCATION WAS GIVEN BY STEVEN WOODRUFF, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
2. RANDALL WATKINS ADDRESSED THE BOARD REGARDING HIS CURRENT WATER SITUATION. Mr. Watkins noted that his family’s sole water source has been from a well on property they jointly own with separate family members. However, this well is beginning to run dry, and Mr. Watkins would like to tie on to the Authority’s system. Mr. Watkins has been informed by Authority staff that the cost to tie on to the Authority’s system is $1750.00, which includes a $50.00 deposit and $1700.00 water connection fee for a ¾” meter. Mr. Watkins noted that payment of the $1700.00 connection fee would be a financial hardship at this time, and requested that he be allowed by pay the $1700.00 connection fee over time, in a potential series of monthly payments.
Dwight Turner noted that the Authority currently does not have a policy in place that would allow Mr. Watkins to make this payment over time.
Darrell Caudill noted that enactment of such a policy would require that the Board determine the qualifications of a hardship, as well as determine under what circumstances the Authority would offer payments over time.
MOTION BY BUZZ AHRENS AND SECOND BY CHRIS WILBANKS TO AUTHORIZE STAFF AND COUNSEL TO DRAFT A PROPOSED POLICY REGARDING THIS ISSUE, WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR REVIEW AT THE NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING, AND WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA AS A BASIS OF DETERMINING THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A HARDSHIP:
1) WELL GOING DRY FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
2) RESTRICTED TO METER ONLY
3) RESTRICTED UP TO AND INCLUDING ¾” METERS
4) FRONTAGE IN EXISTING MAIN
5) RESIDENCE IS PRIMARILY OCCUPIED
All members present voted for the motion.
3. DWIGHT TURNER PRESENTED A REQUEST FROM MELISSA EAZZETTA OF RIDGE ROAD OFFICE INVESTORS, LLC. In correspondence received from Ms. Eazzetta, Ms. Eazzetta requested that the Board consider a leak adjustment by removing the sewer charges on the billing for Ridge Road Office Investors.
Dwight Turner noted that, per Board ruling at the 1/31/11 Board meeting, leak adjustments are available for meters up to and including one inch in size. Mr. Turner noted that the meter for the Ridge Road Office Investors account is a 2” meter. Therefore, this account would not be eligible for a leak adjustment.
IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD TO ABIDE BY EXISTING POLICY.
4. DWIGHT TURNER PRESENTED LEAK ADJUSTMENT INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 2011.
5. DAN CARSON PRESENTED THE RESULTS FROM THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE HOLLIS Q. LATHEM RESERVOIR MANAGERS OFFICE EXPANSION PROJECT. MR. CARSON PRESENTED A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD TO BM&K IN A NOT-TO-EXCEED BUDGET AMOUNT OF $130,000 PLUS $20,000 CONTINGENCY FOR THIS SCOPE OF WORK.
MOTION BY STEVEN WOODRUFF AND SECOND BY ERIC WILMARTH TO AWARD THE HOLLIS Q. LATHEM RESERVOIR MANAGERS OFFICE EXPANSION PROJECT TO BM&K IN A NOT-TO-EXCEED BUDGET AMOUNT OF $130,000 PLUS $20,000 CONTINGENCY. All members present voted for the motion.
6. DAN CARSON PRESENTED THE RESULTS FROM THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE ETOWAH RIVER WTP DREDGING PROJECT. MR. CARSON PRESENTED A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD TO BIO NOMIC IN A NOT-TO-EXCEED BUDGET AMOUNT OF $900,000 PLUS $100,000 FOR ENGINEERING AND CONTINGENCY.
MOTION BY ERIC WILMARTH AND SECOND BY CHRIS WILBANKS TO AWARD THE ETOWAH RIVER WTP DREDGING PROJECT TO BIO NOMIC IN A NOT-TO-EXCEED BUDGET AMOUNT OF $900,000 PLUS $100,000 FOR ENGINEERING AND CONTINGENCY. Members Wilmarth, Wilbanks, Ahrens, & Byrd voted for the motion. Member Woodruff abstained from voting. Motion passed.
7. MOTION BY STEVEN WOODRUFF AND SECOND BY ERIC WILMARTH TO APPROVE THE 9/26/11 BOARD MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. All members present voted for the motion.
8. THERE WAS NO FINANCE REPORT GIVEN THIS MONTH DUE TO THE AUDIT IN-PROGRESS.
9. CLINT BLACKWELL PRESENTED THE WATER TREATMENT OPERATIONS REPORT. Mr. Blackwell reported an average daily treatment of 14.369 MGD at the Etowah River Water Treatment Plant for the month of October 2011. Mr. Blackwell reported that the Hollis Q. Lathem Reservoir is currently 3.0 ft. below full pool at 1186 ft. Mr. Blackwell reported a cumulative rainfall total of 53.57” for the past 12 months.
10. MIKE VENTERS PRESENTED THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT OPERATIONS REPORT. Mr. Venters reported an average daily treatment of 2.809 MGD at the Rose Creek facility, and an average daily treatment of 2.708 MGD at the Fitzgerald Creek facility.
11. MIKE VENTERS REPORTED THAT A WASTEWATER SPILL HAD OCCURRED ON 9/25/11 AT THE INTERSECTION OF TOWNE LAKE PARKWAY AND EAGLE DRIVE IN WOODSTOCK. Mr. Venters noted that an air release valve failure was the cause of the spill, which resulted in a lack of pressure in the system. Mr. Venters reported that approximately 5,400 gallons were spilled. Mr. Venters noted that CCWSA construction crews have made the necessary repairs to the air release valve.
12. BILL GRAHAM PRESENTED THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT. MR. GRAHAM NOTED THAT THE WATER LINE FOR THE SUGAR PIKE ROAD PROJECT SHOULD BE COMPLETED ON 11/1/11, AND TESTING SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE WEEK.
13. MR. GRAHAM NOTED THAT THE TIMBERLAKE NORTH WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT SHOULD BEGIN SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.
14. TOM HEARD PRESENTED THE GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT.
15. IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD TO SCHEDULE THE NOVEMBER 2011 BOARD MEETING FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2011 AT 9:00 A.M. THERE WILL BE NO BOARD AGENDA MEETING/WORK SESSION SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER. NOTIFICATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE PRESS.
16. IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD TO SCHEDULE THE DECEMBER 2011 BOARD AGENDA MEETING/WORK SESSION FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011 AT 3:30 P.M. THIS MEETING WILL BE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE MONTHLY BOARD MEETING AT 4:00 P.M. NOTIFICATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE PRESS.
17. IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OF THE CCWSA PLANNING COMMITTEE TO MEET ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2011 AT 3:30 P.M. FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEWING THE AUTHORITY’S CIP/FUTURE PROJECTS LIST.
18. MOTION BY BUZZ AHRENS AND SECOND BY MIKE BYRD TO ADJOURN. All members present voted for the motion.