Board Meeting: December 18, 2023 @ 4:00 PM
PERSONS PRESENT: Eric Wilmarth, Barry Mansell, Lisa Woodruff, Nancy Martin, Becky Dabbs, John Workman, Tom Heard, Dwayne Fowler, David Kubala, Darrell Caudill, Wesley Banks, Beth Jones, Corey Ghorley, Jennifer Arp, Clint Blackwell, Mike Venters, Bryan Watkins, Greg Long, Melanie Stephens, Melissa Darvish, Beth Wright, Garry Hensley, Keith Allen, Mark Cochran, Jeff Hooper, Shayne Fowler, Chandler Hamby, Dustin Barrett, Jody Henson, Sharon Clark, Ryan Sarks, Eric Wright, and Clay Pilgrim.
Member Harry Johnston was not present at the meeting.
Eric Wilmarth, Chair, called the meeting to order.
1. AN INVOCATION WAS GIVEN BY ERIC WILMARTH, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
2. CLAY PILGRIM OF RUSHTON, LLC PRESENTED THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT (ACFR) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023. Mr. Pilgrim reported that the audit was a clean audit according to governmental accounting standards. Mr. Pilgrim also noted that the Authority had successfully met its bond coverage requirements for the fiscal year ending 8/31/23.
MOTION BY BARRY MANSELL AND SECOND BY NANCY MARTIN TO APPROVE AND ACCEPT THE FY 2023 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT (ACFR) AS PRESENTED. All members present voted for the motion.
3. DWAYNE FOWLER PRESENTED A REQUEST FROM JEREMY PARKER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE CITY OF WOODSTOCK. In this request, Mr. Parker noted that the City of Woodstock desires to reserve an additional 140,000 gallons per day of water capacity for wholesale purchase by the City of Woodstock to be initially designated for use at the meter locations designated on the attached spreadsheet. The City understands that the cost of this capacity reservation is $5.00 per gallon of water, resulting in a total cost to the City of Woodstock of $700,000.00.
MOTION BY NANCY MARTIN AND SECOND BY BECKY DABBS TO APPROVE THE CITY OF WOODSTOCK’S REQUEST TO RESERVE AN ADDITIONAL 140,000 GALLONS PER DAY OF POTABLE WATER CAPACITY FOR WHOLESALE PURCHASE BY THE CITY OF WOODSTOCK AT A COST OF $5.00 PER GALLON, UPON PAYMENT BY THE CITY OF WOODSTOCK TO CCWSA WITHIN 90 DAYS IN THE AMOUNT OF $700,000.00. PER THE CITY OF WOODSTOCK’S REQUEST, THE LOCATION OF THE CONNECTION FOR THE CAPACITY WILL BE ALLOCATED TO THE METERS ON THE ATTACHED SPREADSHEET (ATTACHED). All members present voted for the motion.
4. MOTION BY BECKY DABBS AND SECOND BY BARRY MANSELL TO APPROVE THE 11/27/23 BOARD MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. All members present voted for the motion.
5. THERE WAS NO FINANCE REPORT PRESENTED THIS MONTH DUE TO THE PRESENTMENT OF THE FY 2023 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT (ACFR) EARLIER IN THE MEETING.
6. CLINT BLACKWELL PRESENTED THE WATER TREATMENT OPERATIONS REPORT. Mr. Blackwell reported an average daily treatment of 19.119 MGD for the month of November 2023 at the Etowah River Water Treatment Facility. Mr. Blackwell reported that the Hollis Q. Lathem Reservoir is currently at full pool at 1189.1 ft. Mr. Blackwell reported a cumulative rainfall total of 52.05” for the past twelve months.
7. MIKE VENTERS PRESENTED THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT OPERATIONS REPORT. Mr. Venters reported an average daily treatment of 2.5 MGD at the Rose Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility, as well as a total reuse monthly flow of 1.6 MG. Mr. Venters reported an average daily treatment of 5.1 MGD at the Fitzgerald Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility, and an average daily treatment of 0.262 MGD at the Riverbend Wastewater Treatment Facility.
8. JENNIFER ARP PRESENTED THE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT. Mrs. Arp noted that no spills or overflows occurred during this reporting period.
9. GARRY HENSLEY PRESENTED THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT. Mr. Hensley noted that Authority crews are continuing work on Hickory Road and Upper Bethany Road.
10. TOM HEARD PRESENTED THE GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT. MR. HEARD NOTED THAT THE AUTHORITY IS IN RECEIPT OF CORRESPONDENCE FROM PHILLIP DEAN, DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES AT PICKENS COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY. In this correspondence, Mr. Dean noted that, at the 11/16/23 Pickens County Board of Commissioners meeting, the Board unanimously approved the wholesale rate revision to the Pickens County Water & Sewer Authority rate structure. The rate increase is changing to a base rate of $51.00 from 0 to 1000 gallons, and $2.64 per 1000 gallons after the base fee.
In this correspondence, Mr. Dean further noted that the due date is also changing to the first of each month beginning 2/1/24. A late penalty of 20% will apply for any payment received after the due date.
Mr. Heard noted that CCWSA has now received notice that Pickens County is not moving forward with this proposed rate increase at this time. Pickens County is now planning to reciprocate the Authority’s current wholesale rate.
11. MOTION BY NANCY MARTIN AND SECOND BY JOHN WORKMAN TO APPROVE THE 2024 CCWSA BOARD MEETING CALENDAR AS PRESENTED. All members present voted for the motion.
12. MOTION BY BARRY MANSELL AND SECOND BY NANCY MARTIN TO APPOINT DWAYNE FOWLER AS GENERAL MANAGER OF CHEROKEE COUNTY WATER & SEWERAGE AUTHORITY. All members present voted for the motion.
13. DUE TO HIS UPCOMING RETIREMENT, TOM HEARD EXTENDED APPRECIATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THEIR GUIDANCE DURING MR. HEARD’S TENURE AS GENERAL MANAGER OF CCWSA.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXTENDED APPRECIATION TO TOM HEARD FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, STEWARDSHIP, AND TEAM BUILDING SKILLS AS GENERAL MANAGER OF CCWSA.
ERIC WILMARTH PRESENTED A PLAQUE TO TOM HEARD IN RECOGNITION OF HIS 28 YEARS OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AS THE GENERAL MANGER OF CHEROKEE COUNTY WATER & SEWERAGE AUTHORITY.
14. MOTION BY BARRY MANSELL AND SECOND BY NANCY MARTIN TO ADJOURN. All members present voted for the motion.
