Columbus, Georgia

JULY 12, 2004







The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Water Commissioners of

Columbus, Georgia, was held at the office of the Columbus Water Works on

Monday, July 12, 2004, at 1:30 p.m., the following Commissioners being present:

Kathelen Spencer, Chairperson

Leon Siegel, Treasurer

James Yancey

Harry Vernon

Mayor Robert Poydasheff





Receipt of the Minutes of the May 10, 2004, meeting was acknowledged by

the Board and approved as written.

Next, Gwen Ruff, Vice President of Customer & Employee Services

introduced Mr. Jimmy Mize of the Georgia Department of Labor who was present to

present the Columbus Water Works with the ?Award of Excellence? for exceptional

workplace safety. Mr. Mize advised that the Columbus Water Works is now the

first recipient to receive this award for five consecutive years in the state

of Georgia. This award was presented on behalf of Commissioner Michael

Thurmond of the Georgia Department of Labor. The Board thanked Mr. Mize for

attending and congratulated Management and Staff for the excellent safety

program provided to the employees.

Management presented the reports from the Division of Operations,

Division of Engineering and Division of Environmental Information Services.

Following each presentation, the Board acknowledged the Division Reports for

the months of May and June.

Management advised the Board that bids were received June 3, 2004, on

the Lake Oliver & Marina Cove Lift Stations Relief. These two CIP projects

were combined due to their similarity in an effort to stimulate competitive

bidding. Management told the Board that both projects involved upgrades to

wastewater pump stations to replace equipment and piping which have reached the

end of their service life or capacity. The following bids are as follows:

Southern Champion $660,600.00

Rehab Construction Company $992,500.00



Management informed the Board that the Engineer?s (Gannett Fleming)

construction estimate was $856,555. The Engineer?s estimate for Marina Cove

was $280,291.00 and was within 1% of the bid amount of $281,600.00. However,

the CIP budget was only $100,000.00. The Engineer?s estimate for Lake Oliver

Lift Station was $576,264.00 or 55% higher than the $376,500.00 bid. The

combined budget for these two projects is $800,000.00, which includes

construction, engineering, inspection and contingency. Gannett Fleming has

reviewed and tabulated the bids and recommends awarding the contract to the low

bidder Southern Champion. Management told the Board that the updated project

budget exceeds the original funding estimates by $90,000.00. However, this

$90,000.00 is available from the SCWRF Final Clarifier project, which is

approximately $175,000.00 under budget. Following discussion, motion was made

and seconded to award the contract to the low bidder Southern Champion in the

amount of $660,600.00 pending EPD approval. Motion carried.

Management also received bids on June 10, 2004 for the Cherokee Avenue

Sewer Rehab Project. The apparent low bidder was Gordy Construction

Company. However, the bid was over the project budget therefore the Water

Works? staff and the contractor is reviewing this project for engineering

alternatives. This project will be funded via the CWSRF ?03 funds.

The Financial Report for the month of May and June, along with the

Meter Reading, Employee and Customer Services? Reports, were presented to the

Board. Following discussion, motion was made and seconded to accept the

reports. Motion carried.

Management advised the Board that on June 4, 2004, the Georgia

Environmental Protection Division issued a memo to all water providers in

Georgia stating that the Board of Natural Resources had adopted ?Rules For

Outdoor Water Use?, at there meeting on May 26, 2004. These rules will put

restrictions on the way water can be used outdoors both in non-drought and

drought conditions. The memo states that all water utilities should adopt a

plan to be in compliance with these rules no later than August 1, 2004.

Management told the Board that the Water Works has prepared a plan for the

Board?s approval. Following discussion, motion was made and seconded to adopt

the Water Works? Compliance Plan for outdoor water use. A copy is on file at

the Water Works? office. Motion carried.





Management furnished the Board with a proposed contract for Cooperative Water

Quality Monitoring for river sampling. The Water Works has performed sampling

for the GA Environmental Protection Division for the last 32 years. The Water

Works will take samples from five locations along the river and send them off

to the State to be tested. This contract covers a 12-month period beginning

July 1, 2004 and ending June 30, 2005. Management advised that when this

program first started the State gave them a boat to use in order to collect the

water samples. The Columbus Water Works has gone through three boats since that

time and now the current boat needs to be replaced. The State is unable to

replace the boat but will compensate the Water Works $10,448.00 as compared to

$8,750.00 under the previous contract. This compensation will cover all the

Water Works cost related to collecting the samples in addition to the boat

replacement. Following discussion, motion was made and seconded approving the

Cooperative Water Quality Monitoring Contract. Motion carried.

Next, Management advised the Board that the Columbus Water Works is responsible

for developing and maintaining a Sanitary Sewer Ordinance. This ordinance

controls how the sanitary sewer system may be used by industrial users. The

Water Works is required to update the Ordinance to reflect changes in state and

federal regulations from time to time. Last year the Georgia Environmental

Protection Division requested the Columbus Water Works to review and update the

Sanitary Sewer and Disposal Ordinance. The ordinance is the Water Works way

to enforce all federal, state and local rules and regulations governing the

contribution of industrial wastewaters to the sewer system of Columbus.

The Columbus Water Works has submitted the changes to the GA EPD for their

review and approval. Columbus Water Works staff has met with our industrial

users and provided them with information about the changes for their review and

comments. The Water Works? legal consultant, Jim Humes, also reviewed the

proposed changes and had no objections. With the approval of the Board the

ordinance will be submitted to the City Council of Columbus for their

adoption. Following discussion, motion was made and seconded to approve the

revised Sanitary Sewer Ordinance. Motion carried.

Last on the agenda, President Turner noted copies of letters in the Board book

thanking members of the staff for their participation and services provided to

various organizations. The Board acknowledged President Turner?s report.









___________________________________________

Emory E. Blount, Secretary