Facilities Committee Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Written by Janice Meridith on August 18, 2023. Posted in Facilities Committee Minutes.

For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Facilities Committee Meeting held on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room.

Facilities Minutes 7-19-23 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 & Sewer Commission

1703 Gloucester Street, Brunswick, GA 31520

Commission Meeting Room

Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at 1:00 PM

FACILITIES COMMITTEE MINUTES

PRESENT:

Ben Turnipseed, Chairman

Tripp Stephens, Commissioner

Charles Cook, Commissioner

Andrew Burroughs, Executive Director

ALSO PRESENT:

Todd Kline, Director of Engineering

LaDonnah Roberts, Deputy Executive Director

David Owens, Director of Finance

Pam Crosby, Director of Procurement

Christa Free, Procurement Coordinator

Chairman Turnipseed called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM.

Chairman Turnipseed provided an invocation.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Chairman Turnipseed opened the Public Comment Period.

There being no citizens that wished to address the Committee, Chairman Turnipseed closed the Public Comment Period.

APPROVAL

Minutes from Facilities Committee Meeting June 14, 2023

Commissioner Stephens made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook to approve the minutes from the Facilities Committee Meeting held on June 14, 2023. Motion carried 3-0-0.

Capital Equipment Purchase – Trimble GPS Units – A. Burroughs

The JWSC utilizes GIS for mapping in order to organize and manage operational asset data. Accurate collection of this data as new assets are added, or repairs are made to existing ones, is critical to the asset management function. Within the JWSC, this data is collected by Operations crews in the Planning/Construction and Operations divisions. The current Trimble model Geo7X handheld GPS units used for GIS mapping have been discontinued with technical repair and support being phased out. JWSC staff has selected the Trimble model TDC600 handheld model as a replacement along with all coordinating technical support software. JWSC will purchase four (4) new Trimble units with two (2) to be utilized by the Planning/Construction division and two (2) to be used by the Systems Pumping and Maintenance division. The price for the four units is $27,615.00, including a $1,135.00 discount. The units are being purchased from Duncan-Parnell, Inc.

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Stephens that the Facilities Committee recommend the full Commission approve the purchase of four (4) Trimble units from Duncan-parnell, Inc. in the amount of $27,615.00. Motion carried 3-0-0.

Contract Award – Ground Storage Tanks Rescreening – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs advised that during the most recent inspection by Georgia EPD and U.S. EPA, the regulatory agencies identified the need to replace the mesh screens at 11 of the 15 ground storage tanks for water storage. Screening is also required inside the overflow vents at each site, of which there are 28 that require rescreening. CROM, LLC proposed a cost of $92,228.00 for mobilization, aerator rescreening overflow vent rescreening, guaranteed electric service and bonds. CROM estimates three weeks for completion of the work once mobilized.

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Stephens that the Facilities Committee recommend the full Commission approve a contract award in the amount of $92,228 to CROM Coatings and Restoration, LLC for the rescreening of aerators and overflow vents at ground storage tank sites. Motion carried 3-0-0.

Capital Equipment Purchase – Lead Detection Units – A. Burroughs

The US EPA is requiring community water utilities to complete and submit inventory of their lead service lines by October 16, 2024. The requirement is to identify services on both the JWSC and customer side of the meter. Utilities are required to determine if the services are lead, not lead, or unknown. GA EPD has established that any service installed after January 1, 1990 can be considered not lead. That leaves approximately 11,700 services connected to the JWSC water system that were built or installed prior to 1990. In order to minimize cost and disruption of customer services, staff has determined that the purchase of two (2) ElectroScan Swordfish Lead Detection units was in the best interest of the JWSC. The $130,750.00 quoted price will include the two (2) units as well as all annual support and maintenance, a one-time set-up fee, and one annual license seat. Funding for this purchase was approved as part of the Water Distribution Capital purchase budget for the 2024 Fiscal Year. Mr. Burroughs explained to the Committee that hiring a 3^rd party contractor for this process would be cost prohibitive. He also stated that all homes will not need to be part of the process, just a percentage of the number in each respective neighborhood. When asked if the JWSC could possibly rent or sell the units to another utility after the inspections have been completed, Mr. Burroughs stated that was a possibility.

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Stephens that the Facilities Committee recommend the full Commission approve the purchase of two (2) ElectroScan Lead Detection units in the amount of $130,750.00. Motion carried 3-0-0.

Academy Creek Sludge Dryer Rehabilitation – A. Burroughs

The Academy Creek WWTP operates a Fenton sludge dryer for the process of drying pressed sludge. Currently, sludge is disposed of in the municipal solid waste landfill site in Folkston, GA. Recently, staff has been working through issues with the dryer not functioning properly due to large clumps of sludge caking the inside of the dryer. This is due to wear on the agitator paddles. The paddles no longer clean the inside of the drum fully which leads to lower performance, increased maintenance and extended downtime to clean out caked material. Staff solicited a quote from AIT Services out of Brownwood, TX to fabricate new paddles as the Fenton manufacturer has been out of business for several years. Total cost to fabricate new paddles and replace the existing paddles is $30,380.00.

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Stephens that the Facilities Committee recommend the full Commission award a contract in the amount of $30,380.00 to AIT Services for fabrication of new paddles and replacement of the existing paddles on the Fenton sludge dryer at Academy Creek. Motion carried 3-0-0.

Dedication of Private Infrastructure & Easement – T. Kline

Autumns Wood Phase 3A – Dedication of Infrastructure
151 Old Cate Road – Dedication of Infrastructure
Beverly Villas – Dedication of Infrastructure & Easement

Mr. Kline provided that the Developers of the above-mentioned properties wish to convey easements and dedicate infrastructure. They have submitted necessary legal documents defining the transfer of ownership and conveying the easements for access and maintenance. All requirements of the JWSC Standards for Water & Sewer Design and Construction and Development Procedures have been meet, and all related documents submitted.

Commissioner Stephens made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook that the Facilities Committee recommend the full Commission approve and accept the above-mentioned Dedications and Easements. Motion carried 3-0-0.

*Commissioner Stephens excused himself from the Discussion portion of the meeting

DISCUSSION

Water Production Report – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs presented the Water Production Report for the month of June 2023 to the Facilities Committee. This report provides the Committee with the monthly and daily water production in millions of gallons for each of the BGJWSC water production facilities (wells). The following are Brunswick District production facilities: Howard Coffin, Goodyear Park, Brunswick Villa, FLETC, I-95, Golden Isles I, Golden Isles II, Canal, and Ridgewood. The South Mainland District wells include Fancy Bluff, Exit 29, and Brookman. Mallery, Airport, Harrington, and Hampton South are the wells located in the St. Simons Island District.

WPCF Plant Flows Report – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs reviewed the monthly Wastewater Flow Reports with the Commissioners. This report contains data regarding the influent and effluent flows, concentration of elements and chemicals, plant capacity, etc. June 2023 had slightly more recorded rainfall at Academy Creek than the month of May. The influent flow at Academy Creek for June was 6.3 MGD as compared to May at 6.2 The effluent flow for June increased from May’s 5.3 MGD to 5.7 MGD, with the plant operating at 42% of its capacity. The influent flow at Dunbar Creek for the month of June was 3.1 MGD, and the effluent flow at 3.0 MGD, and the plant operating at 76% capacity. The influent flow at South Port was at 0.416 and the effluent flow reported at 0.522, with the plant operating at 35% capacity. JWSC’s wastewater treatment plants are operating very well.

Capital Project Report – T. Kline / A. Burroughs

Mr. Kline and Mr. Burroughs presented an update on the monthly Project Report for Capital Projects currently in process including those in the engineering phase and those in construction. The Commissioners were provided with a packet containing: the Capital Project Photographs, Capital Project Report Spreadsheet, the Capital Project Gantt Chart of project timelines, and the Earned Value Analysis Report. Mr. Kline and Mr. Burroughs thoroughly presented the update by discussing each project along with excellent photographs and descriptive details.

There being no further business, Chairman Turnipseed requested a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Stephens to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 3-0-0.

Chairman Turnipseed adjourned the meeting at 1:52p.m.