For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Commission Meeting held on Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 2:30 p.m.

Commission Meeting Minutes 4-4-19 with Attachments

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

Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water and Sewer Commission

1703 Gloucester Street, Brunswick, GA 31520

Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 2:30 PM 

COMMISSION MINUTES 

PRESENT:                             

G. Ben Turnipseed, Chairman

Steve Copeland, Vice-Chairman

Donald Elliott, Commissioner

Cornell L. Harvey, Commissioner

Tripp Stephens, Commissioner

Wayne Neal, Commissioner

Bob Duncan, Commissioner

ALSO PRESENT:                 

Jimmy Junkin, Executive Director

Charlie Dorminy, Legal Counsel HBS

Andrew Burroughs, Deputy Executive Director

Todd Kline, Director of Engineering

John D. Donaghy, Director of Finance

Jay Sellers, Director of Administration

Pam Crosby, Director of Procurement

MEDIA PRESENT:               

Taylor Cooper, The Brunswick News

Pamela Permar Shierling, The Islander

Chairman Turnipseed called the meeting to order at 2:30 PM.

Chairman Turnipseed provided the invocation and Commissioner Copeland led the pledge.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Chairman Turnipseed opened the public comment period.

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

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION – B. Turnipseed

            Mark Whitlow – Wastewater Operator Class 2

Chairman Turnipseed presented Mark Whitlow with his Wastewater Operator Class 2 certificate.  Chairman Turnipseed and Superintendent Mark Ryals congratulated Mr. Whitlow on his accomplishment.

COMMITTEE UPDATES

Facilities Committee – Chairman Turnipseed

Chairman Turnipseed provided an update on the Facilities Committee meeting from April 3, 2019.  He highlighted two items that the committee discussed and approved:  the award for engineering services for a study on providing sewer services to unserved areas, and also for the Academy Creek Basin odor control.  Chairman Turnipseed reported that the discussion items included a RFP for manhole rehabilitation, a video review of the North Mainland SPLOST Project sewer lines, the Ridgewood Water Production Facility, a large meter testing program, SPLOST 2020 recommended projects, the status of projects, increasing the capacity in the South Mainland and on Altama Avenue, and the committee also discussed the St. Simons Island smoke testing study.

Finance Committee – Commissioner Copeland

Commissioner Copeland reported that the Finance Committee met on March 22, 2019.  He noted that most of the meeting was spent reviewing the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget draft and details within and provided that the next Finance Committee meeting would be held on April 17^th at 1:30 p.m.

Emergency Preparedness Committee – Commissioner Stephens

Commissioner Stephens advised that he would like to have an Emergency Preparedness Committee meeting prior to the hurricane season for 2019.

There were no additional committee updates.

APPROVAL

1. Minutes from the March 21, 2019 Regular Commission Meeting

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Copeland to approve the minutes from the March 21, 2019 Regular Commission Meeting.  Motion carried 7-0-0. 

2. Minutes from the March 21, 2019 Executive Session

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to approve the minutes from the March 21, 2019 Executive Session.  Motion carried 6-0-1.  (Commissioner Stephens abstained due to being absent for that Executive Session.) 

3. Amendments to Pension Plan – J. Donaghy

Chairman Turnipseed remarked that the Pension Plan Amendment documents had not been presented to the Finance Committee and questioned if it should be reviewed and forwarded by that committee prior to full commission.  Mr. Junkin provided that this is only somewhat of a formality, and John Donaghy stated that there was only one real change which was wording to come into compliance with new laws.  It was determined that there was sufficient time for this item to be deferred for review by the Finance Committee and the Human Resources Committee prior to full Commission approval.

Commissioner Copeland made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to defer approval item 3 until the Finance Committee reviews it.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

4. Award of Engineering Study to Provide Service to Unserved Areas – P. Crosby

Chairman Turnipseed provided that this item had been presented to the Facilities Committee at the meeting on the previous day.  He highlighted the three unserved areas that would be included in this particular study.   JWSC received five proposals from engineering firms, and after evaluation of the proposals, the recommendation was made to approve the award to Georgia Water and Environmental Services in the amount of $17,636.00.  It is expected that the study should be completed by the first of July, 2019.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to move that the Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water and Sewer Commission enter into a contract with Georgia Water and Environmental Services in the amount of $17,636.00 for engineering services to perform a Cost Study to Provide Sewer Service to Select Unserved Areas of Glynn County.  Motion carried 7-0-0. 

5. Award of Engineering Study for Academy Creek Basin Odor Control – P. Crosby

Chairman Turnipseed provided that this item had been presented to the Facilities Committee at the meeting on the previous day.  This study will include eight upstream pump stations that discharge directly into the Academy Creek gravity basin, and will determine if it is more cost effective to treat odors at the upstream stations or treat the odor once it reaches the Academy Creek Wastewater Pollution Control Facility.  The RFP was issued on February 27, 2019 with four proposals received for consideration.  After reviewing the proposals, staff recommended moving forward with and award to Stantec in the amount of $51,499.00.  Commissioner Harvey commented that odor control has been an ongoing problem and that JWSC has tried other solutions to control the odor and if this can make it to a point of dramatically minimizing the odor then he supports it and the City of Brunswick is 100% behind it.  The study should be completed within 60 days from the start and is expected to provide a solution for action.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to move that the Brunswick Glynn County Joint Water & Sewer Commission enter into a contract with Stantec in the amount of $51,499.00 for engineering services to conduct an Odor Control Study for the Academy Creek Water Pollution Control Facility.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

DISCUSSION

1. Possible SPLOST 2020 Projects – J. Junkin

Mr. Junkin introduced the discussion on possible SPLOST 2020 projects for JWSC and provided a prioritized list of those for the Commission to review.  Commissioner Harvey commented that the City is committed to more emphasis on water and sewer projects and is in favor of increased funding for JWSC.  Chairman Turnipseed requested that staff provide some anticipated costs/budget for each project on the list for review at the next Facilities Committee meeting.   The prioritized list of projects is as follows:

1. Cooperative Projects with City/County SPLOST projects
2. Purchase of additional permanent bypass pumps/generators for priority lift stations
3. I&I reduction projects in Basins 2002, 2003, 4002, and 4017
4. City of Brunswick neighborhood water improvement projects such as Waverly Pines, Beverly Shores, and L Street Phase II
5. Water Production Facility and Elevated Storage Tank at Exit 42 for economic development projects
6. Expansion of water and sewer systems to neighborhoods with failing septic systems or poor private drinking water systems
7. Replacement of metal force mains
8. Water meter replacements

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE

Mr. Junkin updated the Commission on the Georgia Association of Water Professionals Executive Forum he attended on March 25^th and thanked the Commission for the opportunity to attend.  He also commented that the 2020 budget is moving along in draft form.  Mr. Junkin then updated on the Customer Payment Assistance Program moving forward and gave some details on the marketing and the system billing software being used as a tool for marketing and informing the public as what they can do to participate.  As a final update, he then provided the status of the GEFA loan and that our project is to go before the board closer to our actual construction start date, and he commented there is no issue as to obtaining the loan, this is just an alignment of the schedule to the bidding cycle.  

CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE

Chairman Turnipseed commented that with many people retiring, GAWP is an excellent source for developing people.  He added that it is so good to see our employees obtaining their certifications and encouraged the superintendents to continue encouraging and mentoring their staff to further their education.

Commissioner Harvey commented that at the City meeting the previous night, a representative from Workforce Development spoke about the City of Brunswick partnering with them for internships for high school graduates.  He noted that this may be a good opportunity for JWSC as well.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Chairman Turnipseed advised that there would be an executive session to discuss property with a vote to be taken after.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to enter into Executive Session to discuss Property.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

Return to Regular Session.

Chairman Turnipseed made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to return to regular session.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

Chairman Turnipseed requested a motion to amend the agenda and add Approval Item #6 for the purchase and sale of property.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Stephens to amend the agenda and add Approval Item #6, a purchase and sale agreement.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

APPROVAL cont.

6. Purchase and Sale of Property – C. Dorminy

Charlie Dorminy presented the purchase and sale agreement and a supplemental sale agreement to the Commission for the property located at 2307 Gloucester Street.  He ad vised the property had previously been appraised at $475K and that an offer was made for $500K contingent upon multiple items, but including primarily a grant for the purchaser, which is a group doing senior low-income housing.  If the purchaser obtains the grant, the property would close before March 31, 2020.

Commissioner Stephens made a motion seconded by Commissioner Duncan to authorize the chairman to execute the Purchase and Sale Agreement as just discussed.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

There being no additional business to bring before the Commission, Chairman Turnipseed adjourned the meeting at 3:25 p.m.