For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Commission Meeting held on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room.

Commission Minutes 8-19-21 with Attachments

To read the minutes, please open or download the pdf from the link above, or you may see more below.

Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission

1703 Gloucester Street, Brunswick, GA 31520

Thursday, August 19, 2021 at 2:00 PM 

COMMISSION MINUTES 

PRESENT:                             

G. Ben Turnipseed, Chairman

Bob Duncan, Vice-Chairman

Charles Cook, Commissioner

Cornell L. Harvey, Commissioner

Wayne Neal, Commissioner

Chad Strickland, Commissioner 

ALSO PRESENT:                  

Andrew Burroughs, Executive Director

Charlie Dorminy, HBS Legal Counsel

LaDonnah Roberts, Deputy Executive Director

Todd Kline, Director of Engineering

Jay Sellers, Director of Administration

Janice Meridith, Executive Commission Admin. 

ABSENT:                               

Tripp Stephens, Commissioner 

MEDIA:                                  None Present                                                                                  

Chairman Turnipseed called the meeting to order at 2:00 PM.

Chairman Turnipseed provided the invocation and Commissioner Strickland led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Chairman Turnipseed opened the public comment period.

There being no additional citizens for public comment, Chairman Turnipseed closed the public comment period.

Chairman Turnipseed requested a motion to excuse Commissioner Stephens from this meeting due to high priority responsibilities at SGHS.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal to excuse Commissioner Stephens from this Commission Meeting.  Motion carried 6-0-1.  (Commissioner Stephens was absent from the meeting.)

SPECIAL PRESENTATION

            Proclamation Dedicating August 11^th as “Safe Digging Day” – M. Fields / T. Tiner

Region 5 Georgia Utilities Coordinating Council members Mike Fields and Tiffany Tiner announced that August 11^th has been formally named by the GUCC as “Safe Digging Day” and presented the BGJWSC with two Proclamations declaring this recognized day.  Mr. Fields read the Proclamation executed by the City of Brunswick Fire Department and the second Proclamation executed by the Glynn County Fire Department to the Commission.  

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION – Certificate Presentations

IT Certification For AMI-IT Field Service Technicians – C. Harvey / K. Head

• Silvestre Cruz-Lopez
• Bobby Scott
• Lucas Dominguez-Gonzalez
• Courtney Smith

Commissioner Harvey and Kalem Head, AMI/IT Services Manager, recognized four JWSC staff members for recently earning IT Certifications.  Mr. Head commented on the hard work and assessments that were required from each of these staff members in order to become certified as AMI-IT Field Service Technicians.  Commissioner Harvey expressed the Commission’s appreciation to each of the staff members for all of their efforts and hard work, and as he presented each with their official certificate he congratulated them for their success in earning their certifications.

COMMITTEE UPDATES

Facilities Committee – Chairman Turnipseed

Chairman Turnipseed reported that the Facilities Committee had met the previous day at 1:00 p.m. The Chairman stated that the Committee reviewed and forwarded two items to the full Commission for their approval. These items include a Contract Item Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for the State Route 303 Resurfacing Project, and Change Order No. 1 for the SPLOST North Mainland Phase III Pump Station Project to add funding as well as an additional 30 days construction time to the contract.  The WPCF Plant Flows Report indicated that all water treatment plants are operating very well and within compliance.  The Project Report included project photos and information on the projects JWSC currently has underway. 

Finance Committee – Commissioner Duncan

Committee Chairman Duncan reported that the Finance Committee meeting was held on the previous day at 3:00 p.m. The Committee recommended that three items be forwarded to the full Commission for their approval.  These items include the Contract Item Agreement with the GDOT for the State Route 3030 Resurfacing Project, surplus vehicles and equipment for disposal, and Change Order No. 1 for the SPLOST North Mainland Phase III Pump Station Project.  Mrs. Wilson presented the Financial Statements for month ending July 31, 2021 and reviewed particular details with the Committee. 

APPROVAL

1. Minutes from the July 15, 2021 Regular Commission Meeting

Commissioner Strickland made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to approve the minutes from the July 15, 2021 Regular Commission Meeting.  Motion carried 5-0-2.  (Commissioner Cook abstained due his absence from July 15 meeting.  Commissioner Stephens was absent from this meeting.) 

2. Minutes from the July 15, 2021 Executive Session

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal to approve the minutes from the July 15, 2021 Executive Session. Motion carried 5-0-2.  (Commissioner Cook abstained due to his absence from the July 15 meeting.  Commissioner Stephens was absent from this meeting.)

3. GDOT State Route 303 Resurfacing Contract Item Agreement – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs highlighted the details of the Agreement with the GDOT regarding the resurfacing of SR 303 and the need for JWSC assets to be adjusted after the resurfacing.  He advised that the cost has been estimated and will be adjusted once the bids have been received.  Additionally the GDOT will handle all of the work and JWSC inspectors will handle the inspections of the manhole and valve grade adjustments.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal to move that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water & Sewer enter into the Contract Item Agreement with Georgia Department of Transportation for infrastructure grade adjustments along State Route 303 in the amount of $35,500.00.  Motion carried 6-0-1.  (Commissioner Stephens was absent from the meeting.)

4. Surplus Vehicles and Equipment – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs advised the Commission that there are four (4) vehicles and one (1) Cannon plotter which the staff recommended declaring as surplus to be disposed of.  These are items which are no longer of use to the mission of JWSC, and are typically placed on GovDeals for sale.

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to move that the Brunswick-Glynn joint Water and Sewer Commission approve the above listed items as surplus and disposed of in a manner most beneficial to the JWSC.  Motion carried 6-0-1.  (Commissioner Stephens was absent from the meeting.)

5. Change Order No. 1 SPLOST North Mainland Phase III Pump Stations – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs provided a brief background of the requested change order.  Due to delays resulting from the COVID pandemic $31,798.00 more funding has been requested to cover the additional time for rental of bypass pumps, as well as 30 consecutive calendar days to be added to the contracted construction time for the project.  Mr. Burroughs also noted that the stairs and walkway in the wet well for Pump Station 4035 will need to be demolished and disposed of due to the corrosion and possible hazard.  This will require additional funding in the amount of $23,710.00 for the Contractor to add to the scope of work.  The total amount of funding increase is $55,508.00 along with the 30 additional days of construction time.

Commissioner Harvey made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook to move that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve Change Order No. 1 to the SPLOST North Mainland Phase III Pump Station Project to Southern Civil, LLC to increase the contract amount by $55,508.00 and contract time by 30 consecutive calendar days.  Motion carried 6-0-1.  (Commissioner Stephens was absent from the meeting.)

6. Approval of Supplemental Bond Resolution and Sale of Revenue Bonds – A. Burroughs / Courtney Rogers-Davenport & Company / Jon Pannell-Gray, Pannell and Woodward

Mr. Burroughs provided a memo containing the background information and staff report regarding consideration for approval of the Supplemental Bond Resolution and Sale of Revenue Bonds.  The background contained broad general descriptions of four areas of infrastructure needs JWSC has identified.  The staff report advised that at the vote of the Board, the financial advisors would price bonds on the morning of August 19, 2021 and would bring that information to the Board at this meeting. The Board would then be requested to approve a Supplemental Bond Resolution as well as award the winning bid for the Revenue Bonds based on a pricing results presentation from Courtney Rogers that included: a summary of the Water & Sewer Rating received by Moody’s; a market update; a summary of the bids received from the competitive sale that morning; pricing results of the winning bid; and, final debt service of the Series 2021 Bonds along with an overview of the aggregate debt service (including the Series 2017 Bonds) detailing the structure of the new bonds.  Jon Pannell provided that the second phase of this undertaking is the Bond Validation Process in the Court which will be handled by JWSC legal counsel, Charlie Dorminy.  The Bond Issue in the aggregate principal amount of $15,815,000.00 should be ready to close on September 16, 2021.  Jon Pannell commended LaDonnah Roberts and Frances Wilson for all of their efforts, hard work and professionalism during the preparations for the Bond Issuance.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Strickland to move that the Commission approve the Third Supplemental Bond Resolution providing for the issuance of Series 2021 Bonds as presented.  Motion carried 6-0-1. (Commissioner Stephens was absent from the meeting.)

DISCUSSION

There were no items for discussion.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE

Mr. Burroughs reported that the remaining SPLOST funds would be used for repairs in Sea Palms West.  The RFP regarding proposals for a design-bid project at Dunbar Creek was to be release in the next week.  A virtual Reverse Trade Show was planned for the following week.  The force main on Harry Driggers PS4003 is to be completed in the following week.

CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE

Chairman Turnipseed commented on the projects that are being completed.  He also commended the JWSC staff for their hard work on all projects.  For the next Facilities Committee Meeting, the Chairman requested for staff to prepare maps to be used in discussion of areas to extend the sewer system and increase the customer base.  All the Commissioners were commended for voting on the Bond Issuance.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to enter into Executive Session to discuss Property and Litigation.  Motion carried 6-0-1.  (Commissioner Stephens was absent from the meeting.)

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to come out of Executive Session.  Motion carried 6-0-1.  (Commissioner Stephens was absent from the meeting.) 

Return to Regular Session 

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to return to Regular Session.  Motion carried 6-0-1.  (Commissioner Stephens was absent from the meeting.) 

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal to amend the agenda and add Approval Item #7.  Motion carried 6-0-1.  (Commissioner Stephens was absent from the meeting.) 

APPROVAL cont.

7. Commercial Purchase and Sale of Property – A. Burroughs

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to move that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve the Commercial Purchase and Sale of the Property as noted on the Agreement document.  Motion carried 6-0-1.

There being no additional business to bring before the Commission, Chairman Turnipseed adjourned the meeting at 3:04 p.m.