Board Meeting: June 26, 2023 @ 4:00 PM
PERSONS PRESENT: Gary Winchester, Lisa Woodruff, Harry Johnston, Barry Mansell, Becky Dabbs, Tom Heard, David Kubala, Dwayne Fowler, Darrell Caudill, Ron Price, Corey Ghorley, Beth Jones, Clint Blackwell, Mike Venters, Jamie Veley, Garry Hensley, Jennifer Arp, Mark Cochran, Joey Buice, Eric Wright, Melissa Darvish, Greg Long, Bryan Watkins, Jeff Hooper, Alison Payne, Keith Allen, Shayne Fowler, Ryan Sarks, Sharon Clark, and Carleton Sherrer.
Members Eric Wilmarth and Nancy Martin were not present at the meeting.
Gary Winchester, Chair, called the meeting to order.
1. AN INVOCATION WAS GIVEN BY TOM HEARD, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
2. COREY GHORLEY REQUESTED APPROVAL OF A PROPOSAL BY GEO-HYDRO ENGINEERS FOR MATERIALS TESTING SERVICES ON THE UV DISINFECTION PROJECT AT ROSE CREEK WWTP IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,107.50. Mr. Ghorley noted that this scope of work is listed as Item #5 under Construction Expansion/Upgrade on the Authority’s current CIP list.
MOTION BY BARRY MANSELL AND SECOND BY LISA WOODRUFF TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL BY GEO-HYDRO ENGINEERS FOR MATERIALS TESTING SERVICES ON THE UV DISINFECTION PROJECT AT ROSE CREEK WWTP IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,107.50. All members present voted for the motion.
3. Member Becky Dabbs recused herself from the meeting because of personal interest and relationships of those involved.
DWAYNE FOWLER REFERENCED A PROPOSED RELINIQUISHMENT OF OLD VANDIVER ROAD SERVICE AREA. Mr. Fowler referenced email correspondence between himself and Dave Hatabian of the City of Canton. In this email correspondence, Mr. Fowler extended appreciation to Mr. Hatabian for taking time to meet with Mr. Adams and himself to discuss the water situation at Old Vandiver Road. Mr. Fowler noted that the Authority has been approached by homeowners within this area to be served water service. Mr. Fowler noted that, as discussed, this becomes very difficult for either the City of Canton or the Authority to serve based upon the location of existing infrastructure. The Authority has current policy that would allow for this area to be served water; however, steps would need to be taken to make this possible. First, the Authority would need to know if the City would consider a relinquishment of the parcels shown on the attached map and allow for a master meter to be located within the new subdivision currently under construction. Should the first step be approved by the City, then the Authority would allow the homeowners to petition the Authority for the construction of the 3” water main to be installed and service connections could then be made.
Mr. Fowler noted that Mr. Hatabian responded that he and Billy Peppers would like to know if CCWSA would contract with the City to install lines as proposed. Mr. Hatabian noted that this would maintain the current service delivery area and the City would be responsible for the maintenance of the lines as well as reading the meters.
MOTION BY BARRY MANSELL AND SECOND BY HARRY JOHNSTON TO APPROVE CCWSA RELINQUISHMENT OF THE OLD VANDIVER ROAD PROPERTY NOTED ON THE ATTACHED MAP TO THE CITY OF CANTON’S SERVICE AREA. CCWSA WILL PROVIDE NOTIFICATION OF THIS RELINQUISHMENT TO THE CITY OF CANTON. All members present voted for the motion.
MOTION BY LISA WOODRUFF AND SECOND BY HARRY JOHNSTON TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF CANTON FOR THE INSTALLATION OF APPROXIMATELY 2600 FEET OF 3” PVC WATER MAIN AT A RATE OF $6.00 PER FOOT. THE CITY OF CANTON WILL BE REQUESTED TO PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THIS LINE UP-FRONT. All members present voted for the motion.
Member Becky Dabbs re-entered the meeting.
4. JAMIE VELEY REPORTED CONCERNING A PROPOSED SEPTIC DISPOSAL RATE ADJUSTMENT. Mr. Veley noted the following:
• The Cartersville septage receiving station is one of the biggest competitors to the Rose Creek septage receiving.
• On January 1, 2023, Cartersville increased their price to dump septage to $0.20/gallon.
• Since then, four septic receiving companies applied and received a permit to dump at Rose Creek.
• As expected, additional septic hauler permits bring an increase in the number of visits from the haulers.
• On average, it takes 30 minutes to sample, measure, unload, and clean-up each septic hauler dump. This takes time away from the operators’ regular duties in the plant.
• The average number of loads dumped per day is four loads, with some days having as many as six loads dumped in a day.
• With more septic haulers receiving permits since January 2023, the gallons of septage received at Rose Creek increased significantly.
• The septage receiving tank at Rose Creek is often being filled up in a day. If that continues, a second tank may have to be installed in the future.
• The septage received at Rose Creek is screened and pumped directly to the belt filter press, which is sent to ERTH Products as press cake. With the increase in septage gallons received, the cost for treatment has increased as well.
• On a monthly average, the solids removed from the septage received accounts for ten full trailers at Rose Creek. The polymer and power consumption has also increased. The breakdown of cost per month is noted below:
Ten trailers total: $25,764
Polymer: $2,124.60
Power: $278.10
Trailer Cost + Polymer Cost + Power Cost
$25,764.00 + $2,124.60 + $278.10 = $28,166.90 per month
Projecting the amount of septage received in the future is 140,000 gallons per month
$28,166.90/140,000 gal = $0.20 per gallon
• Raising the cost of dumping septage to $0.20/gallon would help offset the increased use of polymer, power, and trailer capacity
• Proposed Effective Date: 9/1/23
MOTION BY BECKY DABBS AND SECOND BY BARRY MANSELL TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AUTHORITY’S CURRENT RATE PACKAGE THAT WAS EFFECTIVE 4/1/23 IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE SEPTIC HAULER RATE SCHEDULE FROM $0.15 PER GALLON TO $0.20 PER GALLON FOR SEPTAGE RECEIVED, EFFECTIVE 9/1/23. All members present voted for the motion.
5. MOTION BY HARRY JOHNSTON AND SECOND BY BARRY MANSELL TO APPROVE THE 5/18/23 BOARD MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. All members present voted for the motion.
6. MOTION BY BARRY MANSELL AND SECOND BY HARRY JOHNSTON TO APPROVE THE 6/8/23 CALLED MEETING MINUTES, THE 6/15/23 CALLED MEETING MINUTES, AND THE 6/22/23 CALLED MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. All members present voted for the motion.
7. BETH JONES PRESENTED THE FINANCE REPORT. Mrs. Jones reported that total operating revenues are approximately $628,223.00 below budget projections for the period ending 4/30/23. Mrs. Jones reported that total operating expenses are approximately $1,567,447.00 below budget projections for the same period. Mrs. Jones reported year-to-date net income of $7,132,742.00 for the period ending 4/30/23.
8. CLINT BLACKWELL PRESENTED THE WATER TREATMENT OPERATIONS REPORT. Mr. Blackwell reported an average daily treatment of 21.220 MGD for the month of May 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 59.13” for the past twelve months.
9. MIKE VENTERS PRESENTED THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT OPERATIONS REPORT. Mr. Venters reported an average daily treatment of 2.6 MGD at the Rose Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility, as well as a total reuse monthly flow of 2.5 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 0.280 MGD at the Riverbend Wastewater Treatment Facility.
10. JENNIFER ARP PRESENTED THE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT. Mrs. Arp noted that no spills or overflows occurred during this reporting period.
11. DWAYNE FOWLER PRESENTED THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT. Mr. Fowler noted that the Hames Road roadway improvements project is complete, and the Union Hill Road and Lower Union Hill Road roundabout project is nearing completion.
12. TOM HEARD PRESENTED THE GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT. Mr. Heard noted that he would be meeting with the Grand Jury on 7/10/23 regarding the upcoming Board appointments.
13. GARY WINCHESTER EXTENDED APPRECIATION TO THE AUTHORITY’S BOARD MEMBERS AND MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE DURING MR. WINCHESTER’S TERMS ON THE CCWSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
14. GARY WINCHESTER ANNOUNCED THAT DWAYNE FOWLER HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS THE AUTHORITY’S ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER.
15. MOTION BY LISA WOODRUFF AND SECOND BY BARRY MANSELL TO ADJOURN. All members present voted for the motion.
