Commission Meeting Minutes – Thursday, January 18, 2024
For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Commission Meeting held on Thursday, January 18, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room.
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, January 18, 2024 at 2:00 PM
COMMISSION MINUTES
PRESENT:
G. Ben Turnipseed, Chairman
Charles Cook, Commissioner
Wayne Neal, Commissioner
Lance Sabbe, Commissioner
Chad Strickland, Commissioner
Clayton Watson, Commissioner
Dave Ford, Commissioner
ALSO PRESENT:
Andrew Burroughs, Executive Director
Charles A. Dorminy, HBS Legal Counsel
LaDonnah Roberts, Deputy Executive Director
David Owens, Director of Finance
Todd Kline, Director of Engineering
Frances Wilson, Accounting Manager
Janice Meridith, Executive Commission Administrator
MEDIA PRESENT:
Pam Shierling, The Islander
Chairman Turnipseed called the meeting to order at 2:00 PM.
Commissioner Watson provided the invocation and Commissioner Strickland 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.
COMMISSIONERS’ SWEARING-IN CEREMONY – The Honorable Judge Debra Godwin Duncan
G. Ben Turnipseed, Sr., Commissioner 2024-2027 (Grand Jury Appointed 3rd Term)
David Ford, Commissioner 2024-2025 (Grand Jury Appointed-Remainder of Term)
Lance Sabbe, Commissioner 2024-2025 (City of Brunswick Appointed)
RECEPTION
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook to reappoint Chairman Turnipseed as Chairman for 2024. Motion carried 7-0-0.
Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Strickland to appoint Commissioner Watson as Vice-Chairman for 2024. Motion carried 7-0-0.
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Chairman Turnipseed announced the following appointments for the 2024 Committees:
Facilities Committee –
Committee Chairman: Chairman Turnipseed
Members: Commissioner Cook, Commissioner Ford, Andrew Burroughs
Finance Committee –
Committee Chairman: Commissioner Watson
Members: Commissioner Cook, Commissioner Sabbe, Andrew Burroughs
Communications Committee –
Committee Chairman: Commissioner Cook
Members: Commissioner Watson, Commissioner Sabbe, Andrew Burroughs
Economic Development Committee –
Committee Chairman: Commissioner Sabbe
Members: Commissioner Neal, Commissioner Watson, Andrew Burroughs
Human Resources Committee –
Committee Chairman: Commissioner Cook
Members: Commissioner Watson, Commissioner Sabbe, Andrew Burroughs
Legislative Committee –
Committee Chairman: Commissioner Neal
Members: Commissioner Watson, Commissioner Sabbe, Charlie Dorminy, Andrew Burroughs
Emergency Preparedness Committee –
Committee Chairman: Commissioner Strickland
Members: Commissioner Ford, Commissioner Sabbe, Andrew Burroughs
Chairman Turnipseed stated that the Facilities and Finance Committees will meet regularly once per month. The other committees will meet on an as-needed basis.
APPROVAL
- Minutes from the December 21, 2023 Regular Commission Meeting
Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Watson to approve the minutes from the December 21, 2023 Regular Commission Meeting. Motion carried 7-0-0.
- Dunbar Creek Influent Control Modification – A. Burroughs
Mr. Burroughs informed the Commissioners that JWSC’s Dunbar Creek Water Pollution Control Facility has two wet wells that contain four influent pumps and one jockey pump to pump the influent from the collection system into the plant treatment processes. On December 17, 2023, during a high flow event caused from excessive rainfall, one of the influent pumps failed and caused a backup in the collection system. This led to a sanitary sewer overflow in the Glynn Haven neighborhood exceeding 100,000 gallons. The current influent pumping station is not monitored on the plant’s SCADA system. As a result, no alarms notified staff of any issues with the influent pumps until the overflow status had already begun. Staff requested a quote from the Utility’s SCADA integrator Electric Machine Control (EMC) to make the necessary modifications to include the influent pumping station on SCADA. EMC has successfully provided SCADA integration support for the Academy Creek rehab project, the Dunbar Creek rehab project, and the overall lift station SCADA upgrade project. By implementing a program like Academy Creek’s at Dunbar Creek costs can be reduced for improvements and standardize for the operations staff. EMC has provided a not-to-exceed quote of $40,000 to provide engineering support, materials, installation, and start-up services for the improvements.
Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Watson that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission enter into a contract with a not-to-exceed budget of $40,000 with Electric Machine Control for improvements and control modifications for the Dunbar Creek WPCF. Motion carried 7-0-0.
- GMEBS Pension Plan IRS Addendum – D. Owens
Mr. Owens provided that JWSC previously adopted the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System (GMEBS) Defined Benefit Retirement Plan, which is comprised of the Basic Plan Document, Adoption Agreement, and General Addendum. The Plan is considered a “qualified plan” under the Internal Revenue Code, which is important to ensure the tax-exempt status of the trust fund. To protect the Plan’s tax-qualified status, GMEBS filed draft restated Plan documents, updated to include recent amendments and comply with changes in federal tax law, with the IRS on June 29, 2022. On August 31, 2023, the IRS issued a favorable opinion letter for the restated Plan documents. The IRS opinion letter provides assurance to employers providing retirement benefits for their employees through the GMEBS Plan that GMEBS is maintaining a qualified pension benefit program that allows employees to accrue benefits tax-free until retirement benefits are distributed to them.
Commissioner Sabbe made a motion seconded by Commissioner Watson that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve that the Commission Chairman be authorized to execute the necessary forms to enable this filing and maintain the status of our Defined Benefit Retirement Plan as a Qualified Plan. Motion carried 7-0-0.
DISCUSSION
- Financial Statements December 31, 2023 – F. Wilson
Mrs. Wilson presented the financial statement for the month ending December 31, 2023. She reviewed the Balance Sheet noting the Current Assets and Current Liabilities and briefed the Commissioners 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, as well as providing an update on Investments. The financial statements are normally presented in the Finance Committee meeting however it was desired to give a brief update for the full Commission.
- Capital Project Report – T. Kline / A. Burroughs
Mr. Kline and Mr. Burroughs presented an abbreviated update on the December Monthly Project Report for Capital Projects. The report includes projects in the engineering phase and those in construction. The Commissioners were provided with a packet containing: the Capital Project Photographs and the Capital Project Report Spreadsheet. This report normally includes the Capital Project Gantt Chart of project timelines and the Earned Value Analysis Report and is usually presented to the Facilities Committee at their monthly meetings. Mr. Kline and Mr. Burroughs briefly presented the update by highlighting details for each project along with excellent project photographs.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE
COMMISSIONERS’ DISCUSSION
CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE
Chairman Turnipseed commented that the group had a good retreat and planning meeting the day before. All commissioners were reminded that they are welcome to attend any and all committee meetings. The Chairman also welcomed Commissioners Sabbe and Ford to the JWSC.
EXECUTIVE SESSION- Personnel
Commissioner Strickland made a motion seconded by Commissioner Watson to enter Executive Session to discuss Personnel. Motion carried 7-0-0.
Return to Regular Session.
Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Watson to return to Regular Session. Motion carried 7-0-0.
APPROVAL cont.
- Amendment to Executive Director’s Retirement Plan – C. Dorminy
Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Watson to defer item number four, the Executive Director’s Retirement Plan, until the next meeting. 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 Strickland made a motion seconded by Commissioner Sabbe to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0-0.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 3:56 p.m.