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Finance Committee Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Written by Janice Meridith on . Posted in Finance Committee Minutes.

For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Finance Committee Meeting held on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room.

Finance Minutes 2-14-24 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, February 14, 2024, at 3:00 PM 

FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT:         

Clayton Watson, Finance Committee Chairman

Charles Cook, Commissioner

Lance Sabbe, Commissioner

Andrew Burroughs, Executive Director                                               

ALSO PRESENT:                  

Ben Turnipseed, Commission Chairman

Dave Ford, Commissioner

David Owens, Director of Finance

Frances Wilson, Accounting Manager

LaDonnah Roberts, Deputy Executive Director

Pam Crosby, Director of Procurement

Charlie Dorminy, HBS Legal Counsel

 Janice Meridith, Executive Commission Admin.

Committee Chairman Watson called the meeting to order at 3:10 PM. 

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

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

AMEND AGENDA

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Sabbe to amend the agenda by adding an Executive Session for Personnel, and to defer Approval Item #2 until the Commission Meeting and defer Approval Items #3 and 4 until the next Finance Committee Meeting.  Motion carried 3-0-0. 

DISCUSSION

  1. Annual Property & Liability Insurance Renewal – Fred McGinty, Oakbridge

Mr. McGinty presented the Committee with an update on the current market conditions for property and liability insurance. This is the worst year for coastal property insurance.  From a property standpoint there has been an 8%-15% increase on property insurance rates for customers who have no claims activity on their account. Last year property premiums went up as much as 50%.  Mr. McGinty does not yet know what the property premiums for JWSC will be. JWSC properties are in the appraisal process and as the schedules of values increase premiums will increase as well. Regarding auto and liability, last year there was a 29% increase in premiums. Traveler’s wanted a 30% increase in this year’s premiums.  Mr. McGinty is searching for more carriers to quote with hopes of resulting in only a 10% increase.  This item is expected to be presented to the Finance Committee and Commission in March for approval of renewal. 

APPROVAL

  1. Minutes from the December 20, 2023, Finance Committee Meeting

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Sabbe to approve the minutes from the December 20, 2023, Finance Committee Meeting.  Motion carried 3-0-0. 

  1. Equipment Purchase – Dunbar Creek WPCF Influent Pumps – A. Burroughs

This item was deferred until the Commission Meeting.

  1. Academy Creek RAS and UV Upgrades – A. Burroughs

This item was deferred until the next Facilities Committee Meeting.

  1. Academy Creek RAS and UV Upgrades – Construction Phase Services – A. Burroughs

This item was deferred until the next Facilities Committee Meeting.

  1. North Mainland WPCF Antidegradation Analysis – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs advised that BGJWSC has been working with a large parcel owner on the northwest quadrant of Exit 42 to acquire property for a new wastewater treatment plant for flows in the Exit 42 and Highway 99 area. This area is primed for rapid commercial and residential growth on top of the existing customer base in the area. The first step in constructing a new facility is to begin the permitting process for the new discharge. BGJWSC had an existing wasteload allocation (WLA) for the discharge and has requested the updated WLA for the past few years but has not received it due to staffing shortages at the state level. The preliminary WLA was included in the Brunswick Harbor TMDL for dissolved oxygen issued in 2020. The first step in the permitting process is to receive an updated preliminary WLA and complete an antidegradation analysis for the proposed new facility. Staff requested a proposal from Four Waters Engineering (4Waters) to complete the requested antidegradation analysis. 4Waters was chosen for this work as they prepared the most recent BGJWSC Master Plan Update and have a detailed understanding of the current and projected flows for this region. They have also helped coordinate multiple permitting issues for the BGJWSC in the past. 4Waters provided a proposal with a lump sum cost of $29,275.00 for consideration.  This work would be paid for with the ARPA funding provided for Project No. 2211.

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Sabbe that the Finance Committee recommend the full Commission enter into an agreement with Four Waters Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $29,275.00 for completion of the antidegradation analysis for the proposed North Mainland Water Pollution Control Facility. Motion carried 3-0-0.

  1. USGS Joint Funding Agreement – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs stated that for the past several years, the JWSC has entered into a Joint Funding Agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for groundwater monitoring of the Upper Floridan aquifer to monitor the migration of chlorides throughout the aquifer. This is key in long-term planning for drinking water wells as growth continues in Glynn County and the saltwater plume location relative to the Brunswick Villa well actively used by the JWSC.  The impacts of saltwater intrusion have caused JWSC to close the Perry Park well as a drinking water source. Funding for continued groundwater monitoring allows for further understanding of the saltwater plume’s movement throughout the Upper Floridan aquifer. This is vital to project long-term changes to groundwater quality throughout our production wells. Costs for maintenance and operation of the groundwater wells have increased in recent years, with another increase this year.  In recent years, there has been a change in funding available for this study as the Joint Funding Agreement allows for a match of USGS funds with JWSC funds, and any other funds received by USGS. Funding for this agreement is budgeted in the Office of the Director’s Technical Services budget as approved by the Commission.

Commissioner Sabbe made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook that the Finance Committee recommend the full Commission enter into a Joint Funding Agreement with USGS in the amount of $80,000 for the continuation of groundwater monitoring in the Upper Floridian aquifer. Motion carried 3-0-0.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Commissioner Sabbe made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook to move to Executive Session to discuss Personnel.  Motion carried 3-0-0.

Return to Regular Session

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Sabbe to return to Regular Session.  Motion carried 3-0-0.

DISCUSSION cont.

  1. Financial Statement Month End January 31, 2024 – F. Wilson

Mrs. Wilson presented the financial statement for the month ending January 31, 2024. She reviewed the Balance Sheet noting the Current Assets and Current Liabilities and briefed the Committee on the Combined Revenue Statement.  The various Operating Revenues accounts were noted, and details on the Summary of Revenues and Summary of Expenses were highlighted.  Mrs. Wilson briefly reviewed line items on the Cash Balances and the Project Report.

 Committee Chairman Watson asked if there was any further business to discuss.

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

There being no further business, Committee Chairman Watson adjourned the meeting at 4:20 p.m.