For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Commission Meeting held on Thursday, January 21, 2021 in the Commission Meeting Room.

Commission Meeting Minutes 1-21-21 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, January 21, 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:               

Taylor Cooper, The Brunswick News

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

Commissioner Neal provided the invocation and Commissioner Strickland 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. 

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

            Zachary Tristan Yawn, Lab Analyst Certification

Commissioner Harvey congratulated Zachary Tristan Yawn for being a part of the JWSC staff, and also advised that his best was always expected from him as a part of the organization.  Commissioner Harvey then read the statement on the certificate as presented to Mr. Yawn.  Water Production Superintendent Donnie Bankston remarked that Mr. Yawn has been with JWSC for about 1.5 years, and after attending the Georgia Rural Water Association Conference prepared and took the certification test.  Superintendent Bankston joined Commissioner Harvey in congratulating Mr. Yawn on his accomplishment.  

Commissioner Stephens made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to move to add the minutes from the January 20, 2021 Special Called Workshop & Commissioners’ Retreat as approval item #5 on the agenda.  Motion carried 7-0-0. 

APPROVAL

1. Minutes from the January 7, 2021 Regular Commission Meeting

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

2. Minutes from the January 7, 2021 Executive Session

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

3. Leak Adjustment – Waffle House – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs advised that the Waffle House on Ventura Drive requested a leak adjustment due to a water leak under the slab in the hot water heater room.  Since having repaired the leak Waffle House’s usage has decreased to normal levels.  The leak adjustment forms and supporting documentation were reviewed and staff determined that a leak adjustment in the amount of $3,015.96 should be granted.

Commissioner Neal made a motion seconded by Commissioner Duncan to move that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve the leak adjustment in the amount of $3,015.96 to the account of Waffle House as presented.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

Commissioner Harvey requested Mr. Burroughs provide a listing of previous leak adjustments that have been granted in the past.  Commissioner Stephens asked if the leak adjustments are prorated and Mr. Burroughs responded that they are.

4. FY2020-2021 Rate Resolution Amendment – Timing of Capital Fees Payment

Mr. Burroughs provided a brief explanation of the three major steps involved in the residential development process.  These three steps are:  preliminary plat, construction plans, and final plat.  Builders must apply for a residential building permit from either the City of Brunswick or Glynn County before construction.  Beginning in Fiscal Year 2016-2017, the JWSC requires payment of capital improvement fees to be paid concurrent with construction plan approval for all lots that will be final platted.  This requirement was due to deficient sewer capacity which lead to JWSC denying access to the sewer system at time of individual residential building permit application.  Through JWSC staff’s hard work, tremendous progress has been made on capacity-related issues in the water and sewer system, greatly reducing capacity concerns for new connections.  Due to this progress and under normal circumstances, capacity and access can be currently granted to individual residential homes at the time of building permit application.  Staff recommends amending Section VI.(e) of the Fiscal year 2020-2021 Rate Resolution to require the payment of capital fees prior to the issuance of a building permit rather than at construction plan approval.

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to move that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission amend Section VI.(e) of the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Rate Resolution as presented.  Motion carried 5-0-2.  (Commissioner Duncan and Commissioner Neal abstained to avoid conflict of interest.)

5. Minutes from the January 20, 2021 Special Called Workshop / Commissioners’ Retreat

Commissioner Stephens made a motion seconded by Commissioner Neal to move to approve the minutes from that January 20, 2021 Special Called Workshop / Commissioners’ Retreat.  Motion carried 7-0-0.

DISCUSSION

1. Financial Statement Month End December 31, 2020 – F. Wilson

Mrs. Wilson presented the financial statement for the month ending December 31, 2020.   She reviewed the Balance Sheet and highlighted various accounts such as Cash and Cash Equivalents, and the Bond Sinking Fund, as well as points on liabilities.  Mrs. Wilson noted line items on the Combined Revenue Statement, Project Report, and Reserves.

2. Capital Project Report – T. Kline / A. Burroughs

Mr. Kline presented the Capital Project Report to the Commissioners.  The package prepared for the attendees was comprised of Facility Construction Project Photos, the Capital Project Status Report, the Capital Project Schedule Gantt Chart, and the Earned Value Analysis Report.  Mr. Kline displayed the project photos on the monitors for all to view, and gave a thorough explanation of the project status for each photo provided.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE

Mr. Burroughs thanked the Commissioners for the workshop held on the previous day, and for the year 2021 goals that were set.  The L Street opening ceremony is tomorrow morning, Friday, January 22^nd.

The force main on Highway 17 is closed off and no longer active; GDOT can move forward.

CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE

Chairman Turnipseed thanked the Commissioners for attending the workshop on the previous afternoon. The committee members for 2021 were presented as follows:

Communications Committee – Commissioner Cook-Chairman, Commissioner Stephens, Commissioner Duncan.

Facilities Committee – Chairman Turnipseed-Chairman, Commissioner Duncan, Commissioner Cook.

Human Resources Committee – Commissioner Stephens-Chairman, Commissioner Harvey, Commissioner Strickland.

Emergency Preparedness Committee – Commissioner Cook-Chairman, Commissioner Strickland, Commissioner Stephens.

Economic Development Committee – Commissioner Duncan-Chairman, Commissioner Neal, Commissioner Harvey.

Finance Committee – Commissioner Duncan-Chairman, Commissioner Cook, Commissioner Stephens.

Legislative Committee – Commissioner Harvey-Chairman, Commissioner Neal, Commissioner Duncan.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

There was no Executive Session.

There being no additional business to bring before the Commission, Chairman Turnipseed adjourned the meeting at 3:05 p.m.