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Commission Meeting Minutes – Thursday, January 7, 2021

Written by Janice Meridith on . Posted in Commission Meeting Minutes.

For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Commission Meeting held on Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room.

Commission Meeting Minutes 1-7-21 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, January 7, 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

Tripp Stephens, Commissioner

Chad Strickland, Commissioner

 ALSO PRESENT:                  

Andrew Burroughs, Executive Director

Charlie Dorminy, HBS Legal Counsel

LaDonnah Roberts, Deputy Exec. Director

Todd Kline, Director of Engineering

 Jay Sellers, Director of Administration

Frances Wilson, Senior Accountant

Ellis Zettler, Asset Management Manager

Janice Meridith, Exec. Commission Administrator

MEDIA PRESENT:               

Taylor Cooper, The Brunswick News

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

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

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Chairman Turnipseed opened the public comment period.

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

COMMISSIONERS’ SWEARING-IN CEREMONY – The Honorable Debra Godwin Duncan

Chadwick J. Strickland, Commissioner 2021-2024 (Elected – Post 1)

The Honorable Judge Debra Godwin Duncan presented and read the Official Oath of Commissioner of the Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water and Sewer Commission to incoming Commissioner Chad Strickland who was elected to serve for Post 1.  Commissioner Strickland repeated his Commissioner’s oath swearing to support and defend the Local Act enabling the BGJWSC as well as the Constitutions of the United States and of the State of Georgia.  After swearing him into his new public office position, Judge Duncan congratulated Commissioner Strickland and wished him success.

COMMISSIONERS’ SWEARING-IN CEREMONY– The Honorable Debra Godwin Duncan (cont.)

Charles Cook, Commissioner 2021-2024 (Grand Jury Appointed)

Commissioner Charles Cook took his official oath of Commissioner of the Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water and Sewer Commission.  Judge Debra Godwin Duncan read the oath as Commissioner Cook repeated it swearing and affirming to faithfully discharge his duties of Commissioner of the BGJWSC in all matters which require his official action.  Commissioner Cook was appointed by the Grand Jury to serve as Commissioner for a four year term ending December 31, 2024. Judge Duncan congratulated Commissioner Cook and wished him the best.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Commissioner Stephens nominated Chairman Turnipseed to serve as Chairman for the calendar year 2021.  The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Duncan.  No additional nominations were received.  The nomination carried 7-0-0.

Commissioner Harvey nominated Commissioner Duncan to serve as Vice-Chairman for the calendar year 2021.  The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Stephens.  No additional nominations were received.  The nomination carried 7-0-0.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

Richard Ellis Zettler, Wastewater Collection Systems Operator

Commissioner Harvey congratulated Richard Ellis Zettler for being a part of the JWSC staff, and also advised that his best was always expected from him as a part of the organization.  Commissioner Harvey then read the statement on the certificate as presented to Mr. Zettler.  Executive Director Andrew Burroughs joined Commissioner Harvey in congratulating Mr. Zettler on his accomplishment.  

APPROVAL

  1. Minutes from the December 17, 2020 Regular Commission Meeting

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal to approve the minutes from the December 17, 2020 Regular Commission Meeting.  Motion carried 7-0-0. 

  1. Minutes from the December 17, 2020 Executive Session

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Stephens to move to approve the minutes from the December 17, 2020 Executive Session.  Motion carried 7-0-0. 

  1. Project 703 – PS4003 Upgrade Change Order #1 – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs advised that this is a SPLOST project for the City of Brunswick on “K” Street.  The project includes a pump station overhaul, a new wet-well, all new internals and electric systems, as well as an overhaul of the building and some gravity improvements coming into PS4003.  He added that the contractor Petticoat Schmidt has been working diligently on the project.  This change order does two things.  First is a slight cost reduction on the project due to cost reductions with a cast in place wet-well versus a pour in place wet-well, and second is a 30 day extension on the contract.

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Duncan to move that the Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve the above described Change Order #1.  Motion carried 7-0-0. 

  1. Pump Station SCADA Replacements – Contract Award – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs stated that this project was released for RFP on November 6, 2020.  The requested improvements include 136 pump station sites to be added to JWSC’s SCADA system.  Mr. Burroughs explained that SCADA is a monitoring system that does remote monitoring of JWSC’s assets.  This project involves a total of four tasks which he described: existing system audit, SCADA RTU production, VTScada application, and installation and integration of RTUs at pump station sites.  This is a 300 day contract.  Two firms submitted proposals.  After reviewing the proposals, staff recommended moving forward with an award to Electric Machine Control in the amount of $2,628,979.90 which was higher than the original staff estimates of $2,000,000.  The additional costs are mainly due to costs to install new mounting hardware.  Approval of this project requires allocating $630,000 in additional funding to the project budget from the R&R reserve.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Stephens to move that the Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve the contract award for Pump Station SCADA Replacements to Electric Machine Control, Inc. in the amount of $2,628,979.90.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

DISCUSSION

  1. Asset Management Update – E. Zettler

Mr. Zettler Provided copies of the Asset Year End Report for year 2020-2021 to the Commissioners for their review.  He named the goals of Asset Management which are: restructure vertical hierarchy, implement mobile application, decrease in reactive work and increase in planned and PM work orders, digitize paper form inspections, train personnel to use the system and its new changes, increase the number of personnel using CityWorks, and push to have every major asset inventoried and listed in CityWorks.   Mr. Zettler commented that the organization made large strides during this past year concerning Asset Management, and he listed the various areas and items that will be worked on throughout the coming year.  In addition to the report pages, Mr. Zettler included charts and graphs indicating monthly work order totals for comparing what planned and unplanned work was done in 2019 with the percentages completed during the year of 2020.  Preventive maintenance work orders, reactive work orders, and inspections were reviewed and discussed.  Mr. Zettler provided a preview of the goals and plans for this year of 2021.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE

Mr. Burroughs congratulated Commissioner Strickland for joining the JWSC Board, and Commissioner Cook for rejoining the Board for another four years.  The North Mainland SPLOST bids for the force main reroute down Harry Driggers Blvd. and the two pump station upgrades are due on this coming Tuesday at 12:00 noon.  The Ridgewood Water Production Facility went online this morning.  Academy Creek construction will begin next week.  The Altama Avenue CIPP project is scheduled to be completed during the next week.  The Prince Street Water Tank Project mobilization of crews will begin next week as well.

CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE

The Chairman stated that he wanted to reiterate what Mr. Burroughs said and welcome Commissioner Strickland to the Commission, and added that he will be a great addition to the Board.  Chairman Turnipseed also thanked Commissioner Cook for serving another four years and noted that we all look forward to that.  There is a work session/retreat on Wednesday, January 20th at the offices of Hall Booth Smith P.C. to begin planning for the upcoming year and discuss the Commissioners shared ideas.  Chairman Turnipseed closed by thanking the Commission for allowing him to be the Chairman for another year, and thanked Mayor Harvey and Commissioner Neal for remaining for another term.

EXECUTIVE SESSION – Personnel

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Duncan to move to enter into Executive Session to discuss Litigation and Property with no vote to be taken.  Motion carried 7-0-0. 

Return to Regular Session 

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal to move to return to Regular Session.  Motion carried 6-0-1.  (Commissioner Stephens was not in the room for the vote.)

There being no additional business to bring before the Commission, Chairman Turnipseed adjourned the meeting at 3:09 p.m.