Finance Committee Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, April 16, 2025
For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Finance Meeting held on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
Finance Minutes 04-16-2025 with Attachments
To read the minutes, please open or download the pdf from the link above, or you may see more below.
FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Commissioner Clayton Watson, Committee Chairman
Commissioner Chuck Cook
Commissioner Bill Edgy
Executive Director Andrew Burroughs
ALSO PRESENT:
Ben Turnipseed, Commission Chairman
Charles A. Dorminy, HBS Legal Counsel
LaDonnah Roberts, Deputy Executive Director
David Owens, Director of Finance
Pam Crosby, Director of Procurement
Frances Wilson, Accounting Manager
Christa Free, Procurement Coordinator
Trevor Peters, Thomas & Hutton
Jeff Wiggins, Hoyer Investment Company
MEDIA PRESENT: None
Committee Chairman Watson called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Commissioner Watson opened the Public Comment Period. There being no citizens that wished to address the Committee, Commissioner Watson closed the Public Comment Period.
APPROVAL
- Minutes from March 19, 2025, Finance Committee Meeting
Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Edgy to approve the minutes from the March 19, 2025, Finance Committee Meeting. Motion carried 3-0.
- Agreement with HIC Altama, LLC – A. Burroughs / C. Dorminy
Mr. Burroughs explained that this is an agreement to purchase 20 acres of property adjacent to Exit 42. Hoyer HIC Altama owns the property on the northwest quadrant at Exit 42, and BGJWSC is acquiring 20 acres in the northeast corner of that northwest quadrant.
HIC Altama is also making a lot of onsite improvements. JWSC approached them about whether they would be interested in selling property. As part of that discussion, JWSC also requested that they install larger diameter gravity sewer in the direction of the new wastewater treatment plant so that work would not have to be done twice. Currently they are in the process of installing that gravity sewer in a temporary pump station to pump it back out to the Highway 99 right-of-way, which is where they would have flowed their sewer had the new plant not been under consideration there. The force main from that temporary pump station is being routed all the way to Shell Road to tie into the force main for Pump Station 4118. This agreement is for the property and for the increase in infrastructure costs for the request JWSC made above and beyond what would be required for their own site development. In addition, there are future provisions for HIC Altama to do additional work in the event they need additional capacity before JWSC can get the treatment plant online, which is downstream or upstream work at Pump Station 4119, located at Golden Isles Parkway and Highway 99, in order to facilitate additional growth.
HIC Altama will receive capital fee credit for onsite use for the value of property and infrastructure. For that, they intend to build approximately 2,000 residential homes, then commercial and multifamily development near Highway 99. That value is estimated at approximately $5 million. If the value of the credits exceeds what they need onsite, they will then be able to recoup the remainder of their investment in a 70/30 split for connection fees that utilize the assets they installed. The term of the agreement is the later of 15 years from the execution of this Agreement or five years following the completion of the wastewater plant.
Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Edgy that the Finance Committee recommend that the full Commission approve entering into an agreement with HIC Altama, LLC for 20 acres of property and additional infrastructure improvements for enhanced water and wastewater services along and near Highway 99 and Exit 42. Motion carried 3-0.
- FY2026 Organizational Budget – A. Burroughs
The proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget was presented by Mr. Burroughs via a PowerPoint package. He explained that the budget was formulated with three goals in mind. First, he stressed that JWSC wants to maintain affordability for our customers despite rising costs. Second, JWSC is constantly trying to reinvest in our system, so project funding is being increased so that JWSC can rehab assets. Additionally, JWSC takes steps, such as updating some of our technologies, as we continuously strive to improve our operational efficiencies.
Highlights of the presentation include the following: 1. JWSC is not requesting a rate adjustment to customer usage fees for next year, 2. Repair and Replacement Reserve funding is being increased, which is the funding source for the majority of JWSC’s capital projects, and 3. Several general ledger accounts are being combined or eliminated as a result of recent reorganization of the Wastewater Division coupled with a planned reorganization of the Water Division. The proposed budget is $39,835,000, which is a 2.32% increase over last year’s budget.
Mr. Burroughs provided an explanation of both the revenues and expenses, operational and capital, as well as the percentages of each that are attributed to each department. He provided a comparison of JWSC proposed customer usage rates to the rates of neighboring and similar utilities to demonstrate the affordability of JWSC’s services. A line-item budget was provided to the Commissioners and is available online.
Commissioner Edgy made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook that the Finance Committee recommend that the full Commission take the following actions: (1) approve submission of the Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 JWSC Budget to the City of Brunswick and to Glynn County for their review and comment, and (2) approve the Fiscal Year 2026 JWSC Budget in the amount of $39,835,000 subject to revisions resulting from comments received from the City of Brunswick and/or Glynn County. Motion carried 3-0.
- Appointment of Auditor – D. Owens
Mr. Owens explained that in Fiscal Year 2024, the JWSC issued a Request for Proposal for Auditing Services. The firm Mauldin & Jenkins was selected for the initial year ending June 30, 2024, with two optional renewal years. The fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, will be the final option year. Cost for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, would be $25,400.
Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Edgy that the Finance Committee recommend that the full Commission approve the engagement of the accounting firm of Mauldin & Jenkins to perform the financial audit of the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 at a cost of twenty-five thousand four hundred ($25,400.00) dollars. Motion carried 3-0.
- Contract Award – FEMA Fixed Generator Installations – A. Burroughs
Mr. Burroughs stated that this project was originally funded with a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant that was awarded in 2020. Funding was awarded for the purchase of eight fixed generators as well as installation of those generators. JWSC made the decision to purchase the generators immediately due to extended lead times for those generators, as long as 84 weeks. The cost for those generators was $1,251,973.59.
The item currently being presented for the Board’s consideration is a contract to install those generators. The low bid received was from Popco, Inc. in the amount of $4,905,080. The sum of the purchased generators and the proposed installation contract will exceed the funding provided by the FEMA grant. JWSC will pursue a budget adjustment with FEMA for that overage. However, if that overage cannot be funded with additional FEMA funds, JWSC could fund that overage with uncommitted funds in the Repair and Replacement Reserve.
Commissioner Edgy made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook that the Finance Committee recommend awarding a contract to Popco, Inc. for the installation of eight (8) fixed generators in the amount of $4,905,080.00. Motion carried 3-0.
- GEFA Loan Modification – L. Roberts
Mrs. Roberts reminded the Board that JWSC had been granted a loan in 2019 by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority. That loan was through GEFA’s State Revolving Fund under their Clean Water programs. The original loan amount was, and has remained, $15 million at a rate of 2.38% for 30 years. The project covered by that loan involved various work at the Academy Creek Water Pollution Control Facility as well as in parts of the JWSC gravity sewer system. Due to labor and materials delays, during and following COVID, on the Academy Creek WPCF work, the gravity sewer system work had a delayed start. As a result, it has become necessary to request a time extension from GEFA in the form of a Loan Modification. This modification is for a time extension to April 1, 2026, only, and no other provisions of the loan will change.
Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Edgy that the Finance Committee recommend that the full Commission approve the modification for time extension for GEFA Loan CW2019008 in the form of the attached Resolution. Motion carried 3-0.
- Cityworks ELA Renewal – A. Burroughs
Cityworks is the software program that is utilized by JWSC for asset management and work order management. Mr. Burroughs explained that the software is a cloud-based program that is utilized under an Enterprise License Agreement or ELA. The ELA must be renewed each year. This year, there is a 5% price increase over the previous year. This brings the total cost to $51,046.63. The cost for this software is divided among the various JWSC divisions that utilize the software, based on the number of user licenses allocated to each division.
Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Edgy that the Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission approve the renewal of the Fiscal Year 2026 Cityworks Enterprise License Agreement with Azteca Systems, LLC in the amount of $51,046.63. Motion carried 3-0.
- Neptune 360 Renewal – L. Roberts
This renewal is also an annual software contract for cloud-based software. Mrs. Roberts explained that this software is utilized in conjunction with the new Neptune smart meters that were installed in the recent systemwide meter change-out project. This Software as a Service (SaaS) package is essential to the JWSC’s daily meter reading, billing and customer service functions. It utilizes the AWS platform, which provides needed security and redundancy. The annual billing is processed through Neptune’s distributor Delta Municipal Supply who was the general contractor for the meter change-out project. The annual cost is based on the number of active meter endpoints.
Commissioner Edgy made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook that the Finance Committee recommend that the full Commission authorize payment of the annual subscription for the Neptune 360 software to Delta Municipal Supply, Inc. in the amount of $67,685.24. Motion carried 3-0.
DISCUSSION
- Financial Statements Month End March 31, 2025 – F. Wilson
Mrs. Wilson presented the financial statements for the month ending March 31, 2025. She reviewed the Balance Sheet noting the Current Assets and Current Liabilities and briefed the Committee 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.
- MyUsage Customer Water Usage Portal – Commissioner Cook
Commissioner Cook and Mrs. Roberts provided a brief presentation on the free water usage portal that is available to JWSC customers, MyUsage. Commissioner Cook gave an overview of the software and its functionality, including the ability for customers to set notifications via text or email.
Mrs. Roberts showed samples of the data that is available to customers through the portal, as well as sample text and email notifications. She provided the web address of www.bgjwsc.org/myusage as the page customers should visit to enroll or find additional information.
Commissioner Watson asked if there was any further business to discuss. Hearing none, Commissioner Watson entertained a motion to adjourn, then adjourned the meeting at 4:18 p.m.