For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Commission Meeting held on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room.

Commission Meeting Minutes 2-20-20 with Attachments

To read the minutes, please open or download the pdf from the link above, or you may see more below.

Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water and Sewer Commission

1703 Gloucester Street, Brunswick, GA 31520

Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 2:00 PM 

COMMISSION MINUTES

 PRESENT:                             

G. Ben Turnipseed, Chairman

Bob Duncan, Vice-Chairman

Donald Elliott, Commissioner

Steve Copeland, Commissioner

Tripp Stephens, Commissioner

Wayne Neal, Commissioner

Cornell L. Harvey, Commissioner                            

ALSO PRESENT:                 

Andrew Burroughs, Executive Director

Jacob Kitchens, Legal Counsel HBS

Todd Kline, Director of Engineering

Pam Crosby, Director of Procurement

 John Donaghy, Director of Finance

Jay Sellers, Director of Administration

Janice Meridith, Exec. Commission Administrator

MEDIA PRESENT:               

Pamela Permar-Shierling, The Islander

Taylor Cooper, The Brunswick News                                      

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

Commissioner Copeland provided the invocation and Commissioner Stephens 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. 

COMMITTEE UPDATES

Facilities Committee Meeting Update – Chairman Turnipseed

Chairman Turnipseed highlighted the items presented, discussed and approved at the Facilities Committee meeting on the previous day.  A presentation was given by PUMPS on the mainland smoke testing project, which revealed that the system was in better shape than expected, and the resulting reports and maps will be used in CCTVing the areas/lines of concern for further investigation.  The Unsolicited proposal from West Point for PS2038 was deferred until a later date, and the 2020 Capital Projects Plan was approved to move forward to the full commission.  Discussions included asset score card, Academy Creek rehab alternatives, plant flows, and the project report review.

Finance Committee Meeting Update – Commissioner Duncan

Commissioner Duncan updated the Commissioners on the Finance Committee meeting also held on the previous day.  The liability and property insurance renewal as well as the 2020 Capital Projects Plan were moved forward to the full Commission.  Discussions included the preparations for the fiscal year 2020 audit and a review of the financial statements for the month ending January 31, 2020.

APPROVAL

1. Minutes from the February 5, 2020 Commissioners’ Retreat Workshop

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Duncan to approve the minutes from the February 5, 2020 Commissioners’ Retreat Workshop.  Motion carried 5-0-2.  (Commissioner Copeland abstained due to being absent from the retreat.  Commissioner Harvey was not present for the vote.)

2. Minutes from the February 5, 2020 Executive Session

Commissioner Elliott made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal to approve the minutes from the February 5, 2020 Executive Session.  Motion carried 5-0-2.  (Commissioner Copeland abstained due to being absent from the retreat.  Commissioner Harvey was not present for the vote.)

3. Minutes from the February 6, 2020 Regular Commission Meeting

Commissioner Elliott made a motion seconded by Commissioner Duncan to approve the minutes from the February 6, 2020 Regular Commission Meeting.  Motion carried 5-0-2.  (Commissioner Copeland abstained due to being absent from the meeting.  Commissioner Harvey was not present for the vote.)

4. Minutes from the February 6, 2020 Executive Session

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Duncan to approve the minutes from the February 6, 2020 Executive Session.  Motion carried 5-0-2.  (Commissioner Copeland abstained due to being absent from the meeting.  Commissioner Harvey was not present for the vote.)

5. Liability and Property Insurance – Fred McGinty, McGinty Gordon Associates

Mr. McGinty provided revised spreadsheets with the corrected liability package premium calculations for the Commissioners to review.  The data from the current provider Guard and proposed provider Traveler’s was noted as it was compared.  The Finance Committee had requested Mr. McGinty to check on the premium differences for alternate deductibles with Traveler’s on the automobile comprehensive and collision, however he reported that the small amount saved on the premium was not worth taking the higher alternate deductibles.

Commissioner Stephens made a motion seconded by Commissioner Duncan to move that the Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water & Sewer Commission approve insurance renewal rates for each coverage category and insurer as listed in the attached memo provided by staff. Motion carried 6-0-1.  (Commissioner Harvey was not present for the vote.) 

6. 2020 Capital Projects Plan – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs provided that on the previous day in both the Facilities and Finance Committees the 2020 Capital Projects Plan was discussed.  The plan covers a year’s worth of capital projects, and takes into account the system needs and resource availability.  The Facilities Committee had requested a prioritization of projects for which Mr. Burroughs advised for engineering and also construction projects.

Commissioner Elliott made a motion seconded by Commissioner Duncan to move that the Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water & Sewer Commission approve the 2020 Capital Projects Plan as presented.  Motion carried 6-0-1.  (Commissioner Harvey was not present for the vote.)

7. Unsolicited Proposal Application to Upgrade PS2038 – West Point Plantation, LLC –
8. Burroughs

Chairman Turnipseed provided that the Facilities Committee had requested to defer this item until the next meeting after staff has met with the developer.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Stephens to move that the Brunswick Glynn County Joint Water & Sewer Commission defer the Unsolicited Proposal Application to Upgrade PS2038 until staff has met with West Point, LLC Developer, and this item will then be brought back before the next Facilities Committee Meeting.  Motion carried 6-0-1.  (Commissioner Harvey was not present for the vote.) 

DISCUSSION – There were no items for discussion. 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE

Mr. Burroughs updated the Commission that the CIPP portion of the North Mainland SPLOST Project – Phase II along Whitlock and B&W Grade Road has been completed and the manhole portion is in process.  The pre-bid for Phase III of the same SPLOST Project will be held Friday with the pump station portion pre-bid held in the morning and the force main portion being held in the afternoon.  Budget reviews will begin on Friday and continue on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  During the next week JWSC will be hosting the Georgia Water and Wastewater Institute’s Maintenance Technology Training for a number of JWSC staff.

Commissioner Harvey arrived to the meeting at 2:20 p.m.

Mr. Burroughs then announced that the City will have the GEFA Loan documents for JWSC on the agenda for their meeting on the following Wednesday, which will be the last step in completing the documents for the GEFA Loan.  The Ordinance revisions requested by JWSC are expected to be on the County’s agenda for their meeting on March 19^th.   The Commissioners asked about the start of the sewer rehab in Sea Palms, road cuts on Arnold Road on SSI, and the bid for Pump Station 4003, for which Mr. Burroughs provided responses to their questions. 

CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE

Chairman Turnipseed made a special presentation during his update portion of the meeting, and asked Mr. Burroughs to join him for the presentation.  Commissioner Steve Copeland’s last official date for his term on JWSC’s Commission will be March 5, 2020.  Chairman Turnipseed presented Commissioner Copeland with a plaque in appreciation for his dedicated leadership and guidance as a member of the Commission.  The Chairman then commented on his personal appreciation for all of the guidance Commissioner Copeland gave him as a new Commissioner, in addition to the assistance Commissioner Copeland provided while serving as the Vice-Chairman of JWSC.

EXECUTIVE SESSION – There was no Executive Session.

There being no additional business to bring before the Commission, Chairman Turnipseed adjourned the meeting at 2:27 p.m.