February 2012
Board Meeting Date: February 27, 2012 ~ 4:00 P.M.
PERSONS PRESENT: Nancy Martin, Buzz Ahrens, Steven Woodruff, Eric Wilmarth, Chris Wilbanks, Mike Byrd, Robert Morrison, Tom Heard, David Kubala, Bill Graham, Rick Dobbs, Darrell Caudill, Wesley Banks, Ryan Sarks, Beth Williams, Clint Blackwell, Jeff Hooper, Dwayne Fowler, Randy Mitchell, Dan Carson, Dwight Turner, Mike Venters, Ron Banks, Bill Bartlett, Craig Ferguson, Gil Puffer, and Jerry Haygood.
Nancy Martin, Chair, called the meeting to order.
1. AN INVOCATION WAS GIVEN BY ERIC WILMARTH, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
2. JERRY HAYGOOD ADDRESSED THE BOARD REGARDING THE SEWER TAP ISSUE AT 321 REDDIN ROAD THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT LAST MONTH’S MEETING. Mr. Haygood noted that he is in receipt of a letter (dated 12/1/11) by Authority counsel which sets forth that the Authority has no evidence of authorization for the connection to the Authority’s sewer system for said property. The letter also indicated that sewer fees in the amount of $1742.40 and a sewer tap fee in the amount of $4500.00 are due to the Authority, as well as a penalty in the amount of $2500.00 for an illegal sewer connection. Additionally, the Authority requires proof that an easement from the adjacent land owner, Pointe Development Group, was obtained for the private sewer line connection.
Mr. Haygood noted that it was his understanding that Pointe Development Group, the previous land owner, had previously paid the sewer tap fees for this property. Mr. Haygood also noted that he feels he should not be held responsible for sewer fees or any penalties that have been assessed.
Mr. Haygood noted that he does not have a copy of any receipt that would demonstrate that a sewer tap fee for this piece of property was paid to the Authority by either himself or Pointe Development Group.
Darrell Caudill stated that there is no proof of easement which would allow this service to go across this property. Mr. Caudill also noted that Mr. Haygood dealt with Pointe Development Group regarding the acquisition of sewer for this property. The Authority did not deal with Pointe Development Group regarding this particular sewer issue; however, Mr. Haygood is the owner of this property which is getting the benefit of this particular service. Mr. Caudill stated that no one at the Authority was notified nor did anyone at the Authority approve sewer access or sewer service to this particular piece of property.
Mr. Caudill noted that it is his recommendation to the Board that if payment for the amounts indicated above for sewer tap fees, sewer usage fees, and penalties assessed is not received within 30 days, water service to this piece of property will be disconnected.
IT IS THE CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD TO FOLLOW COUNSEL’S RECOMMENDATION.
3. DAN CARSON QUESTIONED IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED WITH THE ROSE CREEK COLLECTION SYSTEM AND PLANT ODOR CONTROL EVALUATION/SCOPE OF WORK THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY BROWN & CALDWELL.
Tom Heard noted that it was the recommendation of staff to postpone this issue until a later date so that Authority staff can review methods already in place.
IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD TO FOLLOW STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND POSTPONE THIS ISSUE UNTIL A LATER DATE.
4. DWIGHT TURNER PRESENTED LEAK ADJUSTMENT INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JANUARY 2012.
5. MOTION BY CHRIS WILBANKS AND SECOND BY STEVEN WOODRUFF TO APPROVE THE 1/30/12 BOARD MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. All members voted for the motion.
6. BETH WILLIAMS PRESENTED THE FINANCE REPORT. Mrs. Williams reported that total operating revenues are approximately $586,772.00 below budget projections for the period ending 12/31/11. Mrs. Williams also noted that total operating expenses are approximately $332,204.00 below budget projections for the same period.
7. CLINT BLACKWELL PRESENTED THE WATER TREATMENT OPERATIONS REPORT. Mr. Blackwell reported an average daily treatment of 12.409 MGD for the month of February 2012 at the Etowah River Water Treatment Facility. Mr. Blackwell also reported that the Hollis Q. Lathem Reservoir is currently at full pool at 1189 feet. Mr. Blackwell reported a cumulative rainfall total of 59.08” for the past 12 months.
8. MIKE VENTERS PRESENTED THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT OPERATIONS REPORT. Mr. Venters reported an average daily treatment of 2.598 MGD at the Rose Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility, and an average daily treatment of 3.643 MGD at the Fitzgerald Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility.
9. MIKE VENTERS REPORTED THAT A WASTEWATER SPILL HAD OCCURRED ON 1/3/12 AT 104 ASHLEY GLEN IN THE WOODMONT SUBDIVISION IN CANTON, GEORGIA. Mr. Venters noted that approximately 500 gallons had been spilled, and noted that the spill was due to vandalism.
10. BILL GRAHAM PRESENTED THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT. MR. GRAHAM REPORTED THAT THE TIMBERLAKE NORTH WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT IS COMPLETE. MR. GRAHAM NOTED THAT THE HUNT ROAD PROJECT IS ALSO COMPLETE, AND THAT WORK IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN TOMORROW ON THE LEMING DRIVE PROJECT. MR. GRAHAM ALSO NOTED THAT WORK IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN MAY 2012 ON THE KELLOGG CREEK ROAD PROJECT.
11. TOM HEARD PRESENTED THE GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT. MR. HEARD REFERENCED CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED FROM ELIZABETH BOOTH, MANAGER OF THE WATERSHED PLANNING AND MONITORING PROGRAM OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION OF THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. In this correspondence, Ms. Booth noted that the Lake Allatoona/Upper Etowah River (LAUE) Watershed Partnership, consisting of seven counties and three independent water authorities, previously submitted a Watershed Assessment to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD). This document summarized the Assessment conducted for the entire Upper Etowah River Basin, which drains into Lake Allatoona. The Watershed Planning and Monitoring Program (WPMP) reviewed the document and forwarded comments to the Partnership. The Partnership has since submitted a revised Watershed Assessment. Based on a review of the revised document, all comments regarding the original submittal appear to have been addressed. Therefore, representatives of the Watershed Planning and Monitoring Program now concur with the LAUE Watershed Assessment.
In this correspondence, Ms. Booth further noted that the Partnership sponsors should be proud of what they have accomplished with the completion of the LAUE Watershed Assessment. This undertaking required the cooperation of Federal, State and local government entities working together to conduct the study and produce the final document. As a result of these efforts, the current condition of the Upper Etowah Basin has been largely determined through the gathering and analysis of an extensive amount of water quality and biological data collected in the field at monitoring sites located throughout the watershed. This provides a solid basis for the next step in the overall process, which is the development and implementation of the LAUE Watershed Protection Plan.
Ms. Booth further noted in this correspondence that the NPDES permits held by many of the Partnership sponsors require that a Watershed Assessment be conducted and a Watershed Protection Plan be prepared and implemented. The LAUE Watershed Assessment, along with the LAUE Watershed Protection Plan that is currently being finalized by the Partnership, will satisfy these NPDES permit requirements. These documents will also satisfy the requirements for Partnership sponsors that sometime in the future become NPDES permit holders. However, this will only apply for Sponsors that sign and participate in the implementation of the LAUE Watershed Protection Plan. The initial focus of the Watershed Protection Plan is, to a large part, dependent upon what is learned through the current information provided by the Watershed Assessment. It is important that the Protection Plan be based on current information for it to effectively serve as a tool for restoring and protecting streams in the watershed. Therefore, current LAUE Partnership sponsors that do not participate in the development and implementation of the LAUE Watershed Protection Plan, and in the future need to obtain an NPDES permit, might be required to conduct a separate Watershed Assessment and prepare their own Watershed Protection Plan.
MOTION BY ERIC WILMARTH AND SECOND BY CHRIS WILBANKS TO AUTHORIZE TOM HEARD AND DAVID KUBALA TO PROPOSE A CONTRIBUTION OF $50,000.00 FOR THE LAUE WATERSHED ASSESSMENT, WITH ANY EXCESS TO BE NEGOTIATED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE GENERAL MANAGER, UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $82,000.00. All members voted for the motion.
12. DARRELL CAUDILL NOTED THAT, PERTAINING TO THE SEWER TAP ISSUE AT REDDIN ROAD DISCUSSED EARLIER IN THE MEETING, MR. HAYGOOD’S ATTORNEY HAD QUESTIONED IF THE BOARD WOULD CONSIDER REDUCING THE PENALTY IMPOSED ON THIS ACCOUNT.
IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD THAT THE PENALTY IMPOSED ON THIS ACCOUNT WILL REMAIN IN PLACE.
13. MOTION BY BUZZ AHRENS AND SECOND BY MIKE BYRD TO ADJOURN. All members voted for the motion.