For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Commission Meeting held on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room.

Commission Meeting Minutes 2-18-21 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, February 18, 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

Todd Kline, Director of Engineering

Jay Sellers, Director of Administration

Frances Wilson, Senior Accountant

Janice Meridith, Exec. Commission Administrator

MEDIA PRESENT:               

None Present

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

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

Chairman Turnipseed requested a moment of silence to honor JWSC staff member Mr. Robert Tatum. 

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

            Jacob Matthew Mason, Water Distribution System Operator Certification

Commissioner Harvey congratulated Jacob Matthew Mason for his efforts toward obtaining his certification and for being a part of the JWSC staff.  Commissioner Harvey also advised that Mr. Mason’s best is always expected from him as a part of the organization.  Commissioner Harvey then read the statement on the certificate as presented to Mr. Mason.  Water Distribution Superintendent Derrick Simmons was present to express his appreciation and congratulations to Mr. Mason.  

COMMITTEE UPDATES

Facilities Committee – Chairman Turnipseed

Chairman Turnipseed reported that the Facilities Committee had two meetings on the previous day.  At 10:00 a.m. a special called meeting was held where a Master Plan update was presented by Four Waters Engineering.  Each Commissioner was provided with a copy of the Master Plan update Draft.  A final presentation of this update is expected to be provided to the full Commission at the March meeting.  The regular Facilities Committee meeting was held at 1:00 p.m.  The Chairman stated that contracts were awarded for the final portions of the SPLOST 2016 North Mainland Project.  This will complete all of SPLOST 2016 for the JWSC.  A change order for the PS4021 Upgrade Project which extends the time for project completion due to COVID and long lead-times on the pumps.  The Joint Funding Agreement for the USGS Geological Survey was approved by the Committee to be forwarded to the full Commission.  The pumps purchase for PS2003 was recommended to be forwarded as well.  The WPCF Plant Flows Report and the Capital Projects Report were presented to the Committee during the Discussion.

Finance Committee – Commissioner Duncan

Committee Chairman Duncan reported that the Finance Committee meeting was held on the previous day at 3:00 p.m.  The Committee also approved several projects to be forwarded to the full Commission for review and approval.  Chairman Duncan provided that the Committee discussed the current spending versus budget in general.  The highlights noted were that revenue is slightly under plan, and the spending is under plan as well.  He commented that the revenue as compared to spending lines up quite well at this time.  There is a number of projects that have yet to make the spending level that JWSC will experience when those major projects reach their full level of construction engagement in the next few months.  Committee Chairman Duncan commented that a summary of the deposit refunds was discussed, and he highlighted the major details. 

APPROVAL

1. Minutes from the January 21, 2021 Regular Commission Meeting

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Stephens to approve the minutes from the January 21, 2021 Regular Commission Meeting.  Motion carried 7-0-0. 

2. Minutes from the January 12, 2021 Unity Breakfast

Commissioner Harvey made a motion seconded by Commissioner Duncan to move to approve the minutes from the January 12, 2021 Unity Breakfast.  Motion carried 7-0-0. 

3. SPLOST 2016 North Mainland Pump Stations Contract Award – A. Burroughs

Chairman Turnipseed requested a motion to approve the SPLOST 2016 North Mainland Pump Stations Contract Award.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to move that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission enter into a contract for the SPLOST North Mainland Phase III Pump Station Improvements Project to Southern Civil, LLC in the amount of $2,612,040.00.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

When asked why only two companies bid on this project out of the twenty-five firms that attended the pre-bid meeting Mr. Burroughs advised that the twenty-five attendees were not all contractors.  Some were vendors, odor-control representatives, etc. and those would not have bid.

Chairman Turnipseed requested the Commissioners review the SPLOST 2016 North Mainland map as provided.  He briefly noted certain points of interest and advised that this is a complete picture of the entire project.

4. SPLOST 2016 North Mainland Force Main Contract Award – A. Burroughs

The Chairman requested a motion for the SPLOST 2016 North Mainland Force Main Contract Award.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal to move that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission award a contract for the SPLOST 2016 North Mainland Phase III Force Main Project to TB Landmark Construction, Inc., in the amount of $4,663,123.00.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

Mr. Burroughs provided that TB Landmark was the contractor that performed the Pump Station 2032 Force Main Project down Frederica Road, as well as the Pump Station 4028 Force Main Reroute along Townsend St. and 5^th St.  Chairman Turnipseed asked Mr. Burroughs to explain the water main that is included.  Mr. Burroughs explained that for a different project, Project No. 704, along Canal and Glynco Loop, there is a 12” water main that is right along the back gate of FLETC.  This project will tie in from FLETC all the way down to Canal Crossing.  JWSC is going to self-install from the back gate of FLETC down to Canal Road, but while they are installing the force main, this contractor will be installing the section of water main along Canal Road to tie in at Canal Crossing.  This will loop that part of the system and give it much better redundancy for flow.  When asked about the Seaboard quote being so much higher than TB Landmark, Mr. Burroughs explained that this project includes a large amount of directional drilling due to wetland areas.  Seaboard will have to sub-contract that portion out, but TB Landmark does their own drilling.

5. PS 4021 Upgrade Project Change Order No. 1 – A. Burroughs

Chairman Turnipseed commented that this request is for a change order that only increases the time for the project completion by extending it by ninety-eight (98) days.  He added that the manufacturer of the pumps has experience huge delays due to unplanned shutdowns at their factory in Hungary due to the COVID pandemic.

Commissioner Stephens made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to move that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve the above described Change Order #1 for time extension.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

6. U.S. Geological Survey Joint Funding Agreement – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs provided that JWSC has been working in conjunction with U.S. Geological Surveys to study the groundwater in the Upper Floridian aquifer for the migration of chlorides from saltwater intrusion.  This study has been performed annually since 2014.  Mr. Burroughs advised that so far, JWSC has seen one well impacted and it has been shut down.  Monitoring will be continued to ensure that this does not cause JWSC problems with any of the wells.  The 2020 cost to JWSC was $60,000.00 annually.  This year additional monitoring equipment was required for the Ridgewood well.  The 2021 cost to JWSC is $65,700.00.

Commissioner Stephens made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal to move that the full Commission enter into a Joint Funding Agreement with USGS in the amount of $65,700 for the continuation of groundwater monitoring in the Upper Floridian aquifer.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

7. PS 2003 Pumps Purchase – A. Burroughs

Chairman Turnipseed advised that this purchase is for two new pumps for Pump Station 2003 located on Stewart Avenue in Oglethorpe Park subdivision.  This is one of the main pump station on St. Simons Island.  One of the pumps is 23 years old even though the estimated useful life is only 15-20 years.  Staff obtained five quotes for new pumps.  The Wilo and KSB pumps were quoted with a leadtime of 12-16 weeks.  The Grundfos pumps are readily available in stock.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to move that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve the purchase of two new pumps for Pump Station 2003 from GoForth Williamson, Inc. in the amount of $75,570.00.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

DISCUSSION

1. Wellness/Self-Funded Health Insurance Update – C. Tindall

Mrs. Tindall presented an update on the wellness and self-funded health insurance plan to the Commissioners.  In the past five month period JWSC has saved $212,000.00.  There are a couple of large claims coming up.  One person has made it over the stop-loss amount.  Mrs. Tindall advised that the Wellness Program is on hold due to COVID issues and the health system is involved in the pandemic.  Mrs. Tindall advised that United Healthcare has created a COVID-19 Resource Locator which tells you where the vaccine is available.  After responding to the Commissioners’ questions and further discussion, Mrs. Tindal completed her update on the health plan and Wellness program.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE

Mr. Burroughs advised that 526 of the new meters have been installed.  With the 250 meters installed during the pilot phase, to date 776 total have been installed.  For the March meetings, we will have the Master Plan Update presentation, the draft version of the FY2022 Budget, and property and liability insurance renewal.  The SPLOST Oversight Committee meets next Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.   Early voting for the next SPLOST begins on Monday.  Mr. Burroughs also noted that the State of the Community luncheon as provided by the Chamber of Commerce will be held on next Friday at 11;30 a.m., and a table has been reserved for JWSC representatives and Commissioners.

CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE

Chairman Turnipseed commended the staff on getting the projects out in a timely manner, and keeping everything within budget.  As per Commissioner Stephens’ comment, we will begin looking at improving our advertising, etc. in order to receive a wider range of bids on JWSC projects.  Everything is moving in the right direction.  Chairman Turnipseed also thanked all of the Commissioners for their participation.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

There was no Executive Session.

There being no additional business to bring before the Commission, Chairman Turnipseed adjourned the meeting at 2:37 p.m.