Facilities Committee Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, February 17, 2021

For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Facilities Committee Meeting held on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room.

Facilities Committee Meeting Minutes 2-17-21 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 & Sewer Commission

1703 Gloucester Street, Brunswick, GA 31520

Commission Meeting Room

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 1:00 PM 

FACILITIES COMMITTEE MINUTES

PRESENT:                             

Ben Turnipseed, Chairman

Bob Duncan, Commissioner

Charles Cook, Commissioner

Andrew Burroughs, Executive Director                                   

ALSO PRESENT:                  

Todd Kline, Director of Engineering

LaDonnah Roberts, Deputy Executive Director

Jay Sellers, Director of Administration

Janice Meridith, Executive Commission Admin.                                                                                           

MEDIA PRESENT:      No media present.

Chairman Turnipseed called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM.

Chairman Turnipseed provided the invocation.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

There being no citizens that wished to address the Committee, Chairman Turnipseed closed the Public Comment Period.

APPROVAL

1. Minutes from Facilities Committee Meeting December 16, 2020

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook to approve the minutes from the Facilities Committee Meeting held on December 16, 2020.  Motion carried 3-0-0. 

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

Mr. Burroughs commented that he would discuss both Items #2 and #3 together as they are related and the two motions would be made separately.  Invitation for Bid No. 21-012 2016 SPLOST North Mainland Phase III Pump Station Improvements Project No. 702 was issued on November 24, 2020.  This rehabilitation of Pump Stations 4035 and 4036 includes pump house repairs, pump & piping modifications, painting of the buildings & piping, site work, electrical improvements, and SCADA improvements.  Bids were accepted for alternate items for flow meter installations and odor control system installations.  Out of the twenty-five (25) construction firms and vendors that attended the mandatory pre-bid teleconference call, bids were submitted by two (2) firms: Southern Civil, LLC and PopCo, Inc. in the amounts of $2,612,040.00 and $3,400,766.00 respectively.  JWSC staff determined that the amount of $2,612,040.00 submitted by Southern Civil, LLC is reasonable and acceptable, and is lower than the cost estimate prepared by consulting engineer Thomas & Hutton.  Mr. Burroughs stated that the anticipated project duration is three-hundred thirty (330) consecutive calendar days, with the funding source being the 2016 SPLOST proceeds.  Mr. Burroughs provided the Thomas & Hutton Recommendation of Award and the certified bid tabulation for the Committee’s review. 

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

Mr. Burroughs informed the Committee that Invitation for Bid No. 21-013 2016 SPLOST North Mainland Phase III Force Main Project No. 702 was also released on November 24, 2020.  The scope of this project includes installation of 18,065 linear feet of 12- and 18-inch force main along Harry Driggers Boulevard and Canal Road and 818 linear feet of 24-inch gravity sewer on Ogden Drive.  Two (2) firms submitted bids on January 12, 2021: TB Landmark Construction, Inc. in the base bid amount of $4,999,946.00 and Seaboard Construction Company in the base bid amount of $7,259,959.00.  Installation of 2,345 linear feet of 12-inch water main along Canal Road was included in the base bid for this project.  Mr. Burroughs specifically stated that this portion of water main will be paid for from JWSC Project No. 704 funds and will not be paid for with 2016 SPLOST funds.  Alternates that were given consideration once bids were received were increasing the amount of open cut installation, using open cut installation for the gravity section on Ogden Drive, and extending the force main along Ogden Drive in lieu of gravity sewer installation. After calculating the base bids with the open cut force main and open cut gravity, the bid from TB Landmark was $4,663,123.00 and Seaboard Construction’s bid was $6,295,842.00.  Upon consideration of the base bids, alternates, installation methods, expenses, additional needs and future benefits, JWSC staff recommended entering in to a contract with TB Landmark Construction, Inc. for construction services for SPLOST North Mainland Phase III Force Main Project No. 702 in the amount of $4,663,123.00 which includes Alternate 1 (open cut force main) and Alternate 3 (open cut gravity).  It was noted that this recommendation is in conflict with the recommendation provided in writing by consultant Thomas & Hutton and sub-consultant Four Waters Engineering.  Their recommendation was to forgo Alternate 1 and use horizontal directional drill installation methodologies.  The consultants did agree with the recommendation to include Alternate 3.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook to move that the Facilities Committee recommend awarding the contract for the SPLOST North Mainland Phase III Pump Station Improvements Project to Southern Civil, LLC. in the amount of $2,612,040.00 and forwarding to the full Commission.  Motion carried 3-0-0.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook to move that the Facilities Committee recommend awarding the contract for the SPLOST North Mainland Phase III Force Main Project to TB Landmark Construction, Inc. in the amount of $4,663,123.00.  Motion carried 3-0-0. 

4. PS 4021 Upgrade Project Change Order No. 1 – T. Kline

Mr. Kline stated that this change order request was for a time extension on the Pump Station 4021 Rehabilitation & Upgrade Project.  The contractor Southern Civil, LLC initiated this time extension request to move the final completion date from May 4, 2021 to August 10, 2021, or for 98 additional days.  The pump manufacturer, Grundfos, provided a letter to Southern Civil, LLC advising that their factory in Hungary has experienced unplanned shutdowns internally and with the supply chain for some key parts used to build the pumps.  These delays, far past the normal ten (10) week lead-time for these larger pumps, are mostly due to the disruptions caused by Covid.  Mr. Kline made it very clear that this Capital Project #904 Change Order #1 was for a 98 day time extension only with no additional costs involved.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook to move that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water & Sewer Commission Facilities Committee forward the described Change Order #1 for time extension to the full Commission, with a recommendation for approval.  Motion carried 3-0-0. 

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

Mr. Burroughs informed the Committee that for the past several years, the JWSC has entered into a joint Funding Agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for groundwater monitoring of the upper Floridian aquifer to monitor the migration of chlorides throughout the aquifer.  He added that the funding for continued groundwater monitoring allows for further understanding of the saltwater plume’s movement throughout the Upper Floridian aquifer.  This is vital to project the long-term changes to groundwater quality throughout JWSC’s production wells.

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook to move that the Facilities Committee recommend 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 3-0-0. 

6. PS 2003 Pumps Purchase – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs briefed the Committee on the issues with the two (2) pumps at PS2003.  This pump station receives most of the flow from the south end of the island and pumps it to the Dunbar Creek gravity basin.  The duplex station has seen an increase of grit due to upstream gravity basin cleaning.  Even though 40 yards of debris was removed by the cleaning crews, the grit has caused damage to the impellers, wear rings, and seals of both of PS2003’s pumps.  The first pump failed in November 2020, and the second pump failed in December.  In order to prevent the permanent bypass pump from being the sole pump at the station, a pump has been temporarily relocated from PS4118 to PS2003.  The two 23-year old KSB pumps have both seen sent back to the supplier for inspection and repair.  The repair quotes received were much higher in cost than the value of the pumps, therefore staff obtained quotes on two in-kind replacement pumps that will also provide increased flow rates.  Given the immediate availability of the Grundfos pumps compared to between 12-16 weeks for the other pumps quotes, staff recommended purchasing two Grundfos 98 hp pumps for installation at Pump Station 2003. 

Commissioner Duncan made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook to move that the Facilities Committee recommend the full Commission approve the purchase of two new pumps for Pump Station 2003 from Goforth Williamson, Inc. in the amount of $75,570.  Motion carried 3-0-0.

DISCUSSION

1. Wastewater Flow Reports – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs reviewed the Wastewater Flow Reports with the Commissioners.  This report contains data regarding the influent and effluent flows, concentration of elements and chemicals, plant capacity, etc.  All three plants, Academy Creek, Dunbar Creek, and Southport are all operating very well and are within permit limits. 

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

Mr. Kline gave an update on the Project Report for projects currently in process.  The Commissioners were provided with a packet containing: Capital Project Report Spreadsheet, Capital Project Photographs, the Capital Project Gantt Chart of project timelines, and the Earned Value Analysis Report.  Mr. Kline thoroughly presented the update by discussing each project along with photos and details.

Mrs. Roberts presented an update on the Meter Replacement Project to the Committee.  She provided visuals along with a detailed explanation of the processes.  At this time, there are no concerning issues.  The meter replacement project is expected to go very well.

There being no further Committee business, Chairman Turnipseed adjourned the meeting at 2:20 p.m.