Columbus, Georgia

Agenda Item#__________



Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting



November 20, 2001



Agenda Report#_______



TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: Ft. Benning Water & Wastewater

Solicitation



INITIATED BY: Columbus Water Works

___________________________________________________________

Recommendation: Approval is requested for the Board of Water Commissioners of

Columbus, Georgia to submit a bid to the U.S. Army Engineer District, Fort

Worth, Texas the Privatization of Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection

Systems and the Provision of Water and Wastewater Services for a period of

fifty (50) years to Fort Benning , Georgia and if successful in its submission,

to enter into an agreement or contract.



Background: The Department of Army has requested that interested parties

submit responses to their Solicitation No. DACA63-01-R-0025 dated September

2001 for Privatization of Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection

Systems. The Council may recall that it had in 1997 approved by Resolution

No. 336-97, Columbus Water Works? participation in the solicitation process.

That solicitation applied only to water. This current solicitation includes

not only the water supply and water distribution systems but also the

wastewater collection and wastewater treatment systems.



Analysis: Columbus Water Works continues to believe it to be in the long-range

best interests of both Columbus and Ft. Benning for Columbus Water Works to own

and operate the water and wastewater systems at Ft. Benning. This

solicitation covers a period of fifty years and will convey to the successful

bidder ownership of the systems at no purchase cost. A thorough review of the

facilities by our staff and consultants leads us to believe that we can operate

these facilities in a most efficient manner.



Attached is a resolution passed by the Columbus Board of Water Commissioners at

its meeting on November 12, 2001. We anticipate appearing before City Council

on November 20th to request your support for this effort.



Legal Considerations: If we are successful, we anticipate a negotiation

process culminating in a contract between Ft. Benning and Columbus Water

Works. It should be expected that this process could take several months to

conclude.









A RESOLUTION





No. _____





A Resolution authorizing the Board of Water Commissioners of Columbus, Georgia

to submit a bid to the United States Army Engineer District, Fort Worth, Texas

for the Privatization of Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Systems,

Fort Benning, Georgia and if successful in its submission, to enter into an

agreement or contract thereof.



WHEREAS, the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Columbus,

Georgia (?Columbus Water Works?), created by an pursuant to Acts of the General

Assembly of Georgia (Ga. Laws 1902 pg. 370 et seq., as amended) to supervise

and control the building, construction, operation and management of the water

works system and all water and sewerage; and



WHEREAS, Columbus Water Works was created pursuant to Acts of the

General Assembly of Georgia (Ga. Laws 1902. p.370 et seq., as amended; Ga. Laws

1929, p.978, and Ga. Laws 1956, p. 2525 et seq.) to supervise and control the

building, construction, operation and management of the water works system and

all water and sewerage facilities of the City of Columbus, both within and

without its corporate limits in the County of Muscogee, said Board being

charged with exclusive jurisdiction, control and management of all water and

sewerage facilities, with powers, including but not limited to, the power to

establish and charge reasonable rates, to combine and operate the water and

sewerage systems as one revenue producing undertaking, and to charge separately

or collectively for such services. Pursuant to Section 4-600 of the Charter of

Columbus, Georgia (Ga. Laws Extraordinary Session 1971, p. 2133, et seq.) such

Board continues without interruption aforesaid the operations and functions; and



WHEREAS, Columbus Water Works, has upon study and review, deemed it

both consistent with and advantageous for the continued effective and sound

operation and growth of the Columbus Water works to submit a bid to the U. S.

Army Engineer District, Fort Worth, Texas for the Privatization of the Water

Distribution and Wastewater Collection Systems, Fort Benning, Georgia which

could involve the assumption of ownership of the Water and Wastewater Systems

and Provision of Water and Wastewater Services for a fifty (50) year period in

accordance with Solicitation of Bids; and



WHEREAS, sealed bids from all interested and qualified offices in

response to said solicitation are due by November 27, 2001; and



WHEREAS, this Council believes that to continue to best achieve the

purposes and objectives of the Columbus Water works as hereinabove set forth

and to provide the services set forth hereinabove to the citizens of this

community and area, it is advisable and appropriate for the Columbus Water

Works to submit a bid and if such successful to contract with U. S. Army or the

actual offering party as set forth above; and



NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES AS

FOLLOWS:



The Columbus Water Works is authorized by and on behalf of Columbus,

Georgia to submit a competitive sealed bid, the specifics of which shall be

decided and determined by the Columbus Water Works, to the U. S. Army Engineer

District, Fort Worth, Texas for the Privatization of Water Distribution and

Wastewater Collection Systems and the Provision of Water and Wastewater

Services for a period of fifty (50) years to Fort. Benning, Georgia.



Upon the opening of the sealed bid, the Columbus Water Works, shall, if

consistent with the bid process and as quickly as it can without placing itself

at a competitive disadvantage, disclose the terms and conditions of its bid to

this community.



The Columbus Water Works, if the successful low bidder, is authorized

to enter into negotiations with the offeror and executive a contract, the exact

terms and conditions of which it will negotiate for the provision of the

aforesaid services. Once completed, the terms and conditions of the Contract

will be publicly disclosed to the community.



INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,

held on the _______ day of ___________________, 2001, and adopted at said

meeting by affirmative vote of ______ members of said Council.



Councilor Allen voting ____________.

Councilor Henderson voting ____________.

Councilor McDaniel voting ____________.

Councilor Poydasheff voting ____________.

Councilor Rodgers voting ____________.

Councilor Smith voting ____________.

Councilor Woodson voting ____________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting ____________.

Councilor Hunter voting ____________.

Councilor Suber voting ____________.



____________________ ________________

TINY B. WASHINGTON BOBBY G. PETERS

CLERK MAYOR