Commission Meeting Minutes – Thursday, September 21, 2023

For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Commission Meeting held on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room.

Commission Minutes 9-21-23 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, September 21, 2023, at 2:00 PM 

COMMISSION MINUTES 

PRESENT:                             

G. Ben Turnipseed, Chairman

Tripp Stephens, Vice-Chairman

Charles Cook, Commissioner

Wayne Neal, Commissioner

Kendra Rolle, Commissioner

Clayton Watson, Commissioner

Chad Strickland, Commissioner 

ALSO PRESENT:                  

Andrew Burroughs, Executive Director

Charles A. Dorminy, HBS Legal Counsel

Pam Crosby, Director of Procurement

Todd Kline, Director of Engineering

Kalem Head, AMI/IT Services Manager

Janice Meridith, Executive Commission Admin.

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

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

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Chairman Turnipseed opened the public comment period.

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

COMMITTEE UPDATES

Facilities Committee – Chairman Turnipseed stated that the Facilities Committee met the previous day.  Two approval items were reviewed. The Academy Creek Influent Pumps Purchase was recommended to move forward to the full Commission. We will speak about the contract award for the Canal Road Water Production Facility today. On the ARCO project we are 60% complete on the water and a portion of the sewer is ready. Industry prices are increasing and JWSC needs to find some creative solutions.

Finance Committee – Commissioner Stephens stated that the Finance Committee also met the previous day. The same two approval items from the Facilities Meeting were discussed. The Influent Pumps for Academy Creek were recommended to move forward to the full Commission, in addition to Security Camera System Upgrades. The Finance Committee deferred the Canal Road Water Production Facility also.

APPROVAL

1. Minutes from the August 17, 2023, Regular Commission Meeting

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Stephens to approve the minutes from the August 17, 2023, Regular Commission Meeting.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

2. Minutes from the August 17, 2023, Executive Session Meeting

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Stephens to approve the minutes from the August 17, 2023, Executive Session Meeting.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

3. Contract Award – Canal Road Water Production Facility – A. Burroughs

Chairman Turnipseed commented that this was presented to the Facilities Committee with two bids being provided.  The low bid received was substantially over budget.  Staff will further discuss the project with the Engineer of Record to do some value engineering.  This is a very important project. Mr. Burroughs briefly explained that this item was to be deferred until the next meeting.

Commissioner Stephens made a motion seconded by Commissioner Watson to defer this item until the next meeting in October.  Motion carried 7-0-0. 

4. Academy Creek Influent Pumps Purchase – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs provided that the JWSC operates four (4) submersible pumps at Academy Creek to deliver the wastewater throughout the treatment process. There are currently two pumps down which were sent for rehab but the 12” Yeomans pumps are obsolete, and parts are not available. While some parts could be machined, staff has received quotes of $30,000 to machine a new impeller for the Yeomans pump. Given the critical nature of these pumps, staff solicited quotes from Flyght, KSB, and Grundfos for the purchase of two new pumps for the plant. Hydraulic pumps have been rented to provide additional pumping capacity at the plant during high flow events. Due to advances in motor and pump efficiencies all three manufacturers quoted pumps that were lower hp than the existing 125 hp pumps.  This will allow the existing VFDs to be reutilized with the pumps.  The Flyght pump is preferred for the applications, and they have an adaptor plate to allow for the use of the currently designed guide rail system and pump base. The other two manufacturers’ pumps will require machining an adaptor plate specifically for the plant setup. This item was presented to the Facilities and Finance Committees on September 20, 2023.

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Watson to move that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve the purchase of two new Flyght influent pumps for Academy Creek from Xylem Water Solutions, USA, Inc. in the amount of $161,972.40. Motion carried 7-0-0. 

5. Capital Equipment Purchase – Security Camera System Upgrades – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs stated that in the past year the IT team has upgraded the existing network video recorders for the Administrative Building, Academy Creek WWTP, and South Harrington Water Distribution office while also adding additional cameras at each location. To increase access control security monitoring, warehouse activity, and process monitoring at these locations, additional cameras are needed. Likewise, complete camera systems need to be installed by staff at the Dunbar Creek and Southport WWTPs where no access control video security monitoring presently exists. To provide this increase in security monitoring while minimizing the upfront costs, installation will be performed by the AMI/It Field Technicians as a function of their regular duties. The capital expense was previously approved in the amount of $70,000 for itemized hardware, wiring, connectors, and other incidentals being purchased, as needed, through the approved Building Maintenance budget.

Commissioner Stephens made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal that the JWSC approve the capital investment of $69,843.50 to purchase cameras and additional hardware to establish or to increase security and process monitoring at our facilities.  Motion carried 7-0-0. 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE

Mr. Burroughs advised that the pre-construction meeting for the four pump station rehabs that have been awarded was held last week with Popco, Inc.  Popco is also working on the repairs out on 341.  That is now on bypass and is going well at this point.  Next week a pre-construction meeting will be held for the North Mainland Water Loops Project. The base phase of the Dunbar Project is expected to be completed in November.  They have begun installation of the mechanical equipment for the filters and the UV system. The aeration basin is back online and doing very well. The roadway work on the main entrance should begin in the next couple of weeks and be wrapped up in November. Construction times will be coordinated in order to not affect traffic at the end of October. For the additional work at Academy Creek we are still waiting on the EPD approval for the RAZ pumps, and the equipment for the UV system is expected to be delivered next week. 

COMMISSIONERS’ DISCUSSION

Commissioner Neal inquired about the progress on alternative sewer programs.  Mr. Burroughs advised that staff is finalizing the updated standards.  Stakeholders’ meetings will be held on the new standards.  Hopes are to bring that before the Commission in November for approval.  Mr. Burroughs has also had some conversations with EPD about opportunities for sewer alternatives in the farther out areas. 

CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE

The Chairman noted he is concerned about increases in material costs, labor costs, availability, and long delivery lead times. This is significantly happening industry wide within water and sewer projects. JWSC may want to delay some of the larger projects. We must find more revenue and may have to consider raising rates in the future.  Chairman Turnipseed noted his concern on this issue. We will continue to work on this, as we have to work with it.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

There was no Executive Session. 

ADJOURN

There being no additional business to bring before the Commission, Chairman Turnipseed requested a motion to adjourn the meeting. 

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Stephens to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0-0. 

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 2:17 p.m.