For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Commission Meeting held on Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room.

Commission_Minutes_04-17-2025_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

Commission Meeting Room

Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 2:00 pm

COMMISSION MINUTES

 

PRESENT:                             

G. Ben Turnipseed, Chairman

Clayton Watson, Vice-Chairman

Charles Cook, Commissioner

Wayne Neal, Commissioner

Lance Sabbe, Commissioner

Dave Ford, Commissioner

Bill Edgy, Commissioner

 

ALSO PRESENT:                  

Andrew Burroughs, Executive Director

 

Charles A. Dorminy, HBS Legal Counsel

LaDonnah Roberts, Deputy Executive Director

Todd Kline, Director of Engineering

Frances Wilson, Accounting Manager

Pam Crosby, Director of Procurement

Christa Free, Procurement Coordinator

Kirk Young, Director of Wastewater

Trevor Peters, Thomas & Hutton

Chuck Munn, HIC Land

Jeff Wiggins, Hoyer Investment Company

 

MEDIA PRESENT:                Matthew Permar, The Islander  

                                               

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

Chairman Turnipseed provided the Invocation, and Commissioner Edgy 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.

 

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

Caleb Lovell – Water Laboratory Analyst License

Allen Enlow – Wastewater Collections System Operator

 

COMMITTEE UPDATES

Facilities Committee – Chairman Turnipseed provided an update on the Facilities Committee Meeting held on April 16, 2025.

Finance Committee – Commissioner Watson provided an update on the Finance Committee Meeting held on April 16, 2025.

APPROVAL

1. Minutes from March 20, 2025, Commission Meeting

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal to approve the minutes from the March 20, 2025, Regular Commission Meeting.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

 

2. Minutes from March 20, 2025, Executive Session

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal to approve the minutes from the March 20, 2025, Executive Session.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

 

3. Agreement with HIC Altama, LLC – A. Burroughs/C. Dorminy

Mr. Burroughs reminded the Commissioners that this item was also presented to both the Facilities and Finance Committees at yesterday’s meetings. He explained that this is an agreement to purchase 20 acres of property adjacent to Exit 42. Hoyer HIC Altama owns the property on the northwest quadrant at Exit 42, and BGJWSC is acquiring 20 acres in the northeast corner of that northwest quadrant.

HIC Altama is also making a lot of onsite improvements. JWSC approached them about whether they would be interested in selling property. As part of that discussion, JWSC also requested that they install larger diameter gravity sewer in the direction of the new wastewater treatment plant so that work would not have to be done twice. Currently they are in the process of installing that gravity sewer in a temporary pump station to pump it back out to the Highway 99 right-of-way, which is where they would have flowed their sewer had the new plant not been under consideration there. The force main from that temporary pump station is being routed all the way to Shell Road to tie into the force main for Pump Station 4118. This agreement is for the property and for the increase in infrastructure costs for the request JWSC made above and beyond what would be required for their own site development. In addition, there are future provisions for HIC Altama to do additional work in the event they need additional capacity before JWSC can get the treatment plant online, which is downstream or upstream work at Pump Station 4119, located at Golden Isles Parkway and Highway 99, in order to facilitate additional growth.

HIC Altama will receive capital fee credit for onsite use for the value of property and infrastructure. For that, they intend to build approximately 2,000 residential homes, then commercial and multifamily development near Highway 99. That value is estimated at approximately $5 million. If the value of the credits exceeds what they need onsite, they will then be able to recoup the remainder of their investment in a 70/30 split for connection fees that utilize the assets they installed. The term of the agreement is the later of 15 years from the execution of this Agreement or five years following the completion of the wastewater plant.

Commissioner Ford made a motion seconded by Commissioner Edgy that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission enter into an agreement with HIC Altama, LLC for 20 acres of property and additional infrastructure improvements for enhanced water and wastewater services along and near Highway 99 and Exit 42.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

 

4. FY2026 Organizational Budget – A. Burroughs

The proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget was presented by Mr. Burroughs via a PowerPoint package. He explained that the budget was formulated with three goals in mind. First, he stressed that JWSC wants to maintain affordability for our customers despite rising costs. Second, JWSC is constantly trying to reinvest in our system, so project funding is being increased so that JWSC can rehab assets. Additionally, JWSC takes steps, such as updating some of our technologies, as we continuously strive to improve our operational efficiencies.

Highlights of the presentation include the following: 1. JWSC is not requesting a rate adjustment to customer usage fees for next year, 2. Repair and Replacement Reserve funding is being increased, which is the funding source for the majority of JWSC’s capital projects, and 3. Several general ledger accounts are being combined or eliminated as a result of recent reorganization of the Wastewater Division coupled with a planned reorganization of the Water Division. The proposed budget is $39,835,000, which is a 2.32% increase over last year’s budget.

Mr. Burroughs provided an explanation of both the revenues and expenses, operational and capital, as well as the percentages of each that are attributed to each department. He provided a comparison of JWSC proposed customer usage rates to the rates of neighboring and similar utilities to demonstrate the affordability of JWSC’s services. A line-item budget was provided to the Commissioners and is available online.

Commissioner Edgy made a motion seconded by Commissioner Sabbe that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission take the following actions: (1) approve submission of the Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 JWSC Budget to the City of Brunswick and to Glynn County for their review and comment, and (2) approve the Fiscal Year 2026 JWSC Budget in the amount of $39,835,000 subject to revisions resulting from comments received from the City of Brunswick and/or Glynn County. Motion carried 7-0-0.

 

5. Appointment of Auditor – F. Wilson

Mrs. Wilson explained that in Fiscal Year 2024, the JWSC issued a Request for Proposal for Auditing Services. The firm Mauldin & Jenkins was selected for the initial year ending June 30, 2024, with two optional renewal years. The fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, will be the final option year. Cost for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, would be $25,400.

Commissioner Sabbe made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve to engage the accounting firm of Mauldin & Jenkins to perform the financial audit of the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 at a cost of twenty-five thousand four hundred ($25,400.00) dollars.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

 

6. Contract Award – FEMA Fixed Generator Installations – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs stated that this project was originally funded with a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant that was awarded in 2020. Funding was awarded for the purchase of eight fixed generators as well as installation of those generators. JWSC made the decision to purchase the generators immediately due to extended lead times for those generators, as long as 84 weeks. The cost for those generators was $1,251,973.59.

The item currently being presented for the Board’s consideration is a contract to install those generators. The low bid received was from Popco, Inc. in the amount of $4,905,080. The sum of the purchased generators and the proposed installation contract will exceed the funding provided by the FEMA grant. JWSC will pursue a budget adjustment with FEMA for that overage. However, if that overage cannot be funded with additional FEMA funds, JWSC could fund that overage with uncommitted funds in the Repair and Replacement Reserve.

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Ford that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission award a contract to Popco, Inc. for the installation of eight (8) fixed generators in the amount of $4,905,080.00.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

 

 

7. GEFA Loan Modification – L. Roberts

Mrs. Roberts reminded the Board that JWSC had been granted a loan in 2019 by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority. That loan was through GEFA’s State Revolving Fund under their Clean Water programs. The original loan amount was, and has remained, $15 million at a rate of 2.38% for 30 years. The project covered by that loan involved various work at the Academy Creek Water Pollution Control Facility as well as in parts of the JWSC gravity sewer system. Due to labor and materials delays, during and following COVID, on the Academy Creek WPCF work, the gravity sewer system work had a delayed start. As a result, it has become necessary to request a time extension from GEFA in the form of a Loan Modification. This modification is for a time extension to April 1, 2026, only, and no other provisions of the loan will change.

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Edgy that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve the modification for time extension for GEFA Loan CW2019008 in the form of the attached Resolution.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

 

8. Cityworks ELA Renewal – A. Burroughs

Cityworks is the software program that is utilized by JWSC for asset management and work order management. Mr. Burroughs explained that the software is a cloud-based program that is utilized under an Enterprise License Agreement or ELA. The ELA must be renewed each year. This year, there is a 5% price increase over the previous year. This brings the total cost to $51,046.63. The cost for this software is divided among the various JWSC divisions that utilize the software, based on the number of user licenses allocated to each division.

Commissioner Watson made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve the renewal of the Fiscal Year 2026 Cityworks Enterprise License Agreement with Azteca Systems, LLC in the amount of $51,046.63. Motion carried 7-0-0.

 

9. Neptune 360 Renewal – L. Roberts

This renewal is also an annual software contract for cloud-based software. Mrs. Roberts explained that this software is utilized in conjunction with the new Neptune smart meters that were installed in the recent systemwide meter change-out project. This Software as a Service (SaaS) package is essential to the JWSC’s daily meter reading, billing and customer service functions. It utilizes the AWS platform, which provides needed security and redundancy. The annual billing is processed through Neptune’s distributor Delta Municipal Supply who was the general contractor for the meter change-out project. The annual cost is based on the number of active meter endpoints.

Commissioner Sabbe made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission authorize payment of the annual subscription for the Neptune 360 software to Delta Municipal Supply, Inc. in the amount of $67,685.24. Motion carried 7-0-0.

 

10. Dedication of Easements and Infrastructure – T. Kline

Mr. Kline began by explaining that there are three properties involved with this approval item.

The first two items involve adjacent property owners on Saint Simons Island who also applied to Glynn County for right-of-way abandonment. Behind each of their properties is an unopened, essentially impassable, alley. JWSC has a sewer main that runs back to that alley. This was noted during a project plan review by Glynn County. So, JWSC requested that Glynn County encourage the property owners to dedicate easements to JWSC so that we maintain access to that sewer.

The third item involves an easement in the Cinder Hill subdivision located in JWSC’s South Mainland service area. This easement will allow JWSC to connect a water loop through Cinder Hill and Barrington Oaks subdivisions. That water loop connection will also support JWSC’s planned water system improvements at Exit 29.

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve and accept these easements with associated documentation. Motion carried 7-0-0.

 

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE

Mr. Burroughs mentioned the upcoming Georgia Rural Water Association (GRWA) conference in early May on Jekyll Island. He also announced that two JWSC staff members were recognized at the Spring conference for the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. Jacob Mason from Water Production was awarded the Top Water Operator in District 8. Also, Jason Vo from Planning & Construction was inducted into the GWWA Golden Fire Hydrant Society.

Additionally, Mr. Burroughs thanked the Commission for their support of the FY2026 budget. He also acknowledged the budget team and let them know he appreciated their work.

 

COMMISSIONERS’ DISCUSSION – none

 

CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE

Chairman Turnipseed also mentioned the GRWA Conference that is planned for May 6-8 at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. He shared with the Board that about 60 JWSC staff members are registered for that event. He emphasized how pleased he is to see those staff members attending all of their sessions and actively participating in the conversations, and he complimented JWSC leadership on the example they set. He explained that this is a good opportunity for license holders to get their continuing education credits, but he clarified that the event should not just be about that. He closed by encouraging the Board members to reach out to JWSC senior staff to get information about attending the conference themselves.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Chairman Turnipseed requested a motion to adjourn to Executive Session for matters of property and litigation. Mr. Burroughs noted that no action would be needed afterward.

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Watson to adjourn to Executive Session.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

Commissioners returned to the Commission Chambers. Chairman Turnipseed entertained a motion to return from Executive Session.

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Sabbe to return from Executive Session.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

 

ADJOURN

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

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

 

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 2:57 p.m.