Columbus, Georgia

JANUARY 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, January 12, 2004, at 1:30 p.m., the following Commissioners being

present:

Kathelen Spencer

Leon Siegel

James Yancey

Harry Vernon



Absent: Mayor Robert Poydasheff



First on the agenda, Management recognized Mr. Jesse Johnson an

employee of the Columbus Water Works. He was asked to attend the meeting so

that the Board could recognize him upon his retirement. Mr. Johnson has

served 32 years with the Water Works. The following resolution was presented

as follows:

A Resolution

Whereas, Jesse J. Johnson has been an employee of the Columbus Board of

Water Commissioners since March, 1971, is retiring; and,



Whereas, Jesse J. Johnson has served in the capacity of Valve/Hydrant

Technician in the System Services Department with the Columbus Water Works; and,



Whereas, Jesse J. Johnson has performed in an outstanding and

productive manner throughout his Thirty-two years of service;



Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that the Board of Water Commissioners of

the City of Columbus, Georgia, on behalf of all of the people of the City,

hereby publicly expresses appreciation and heartfelt thanks to Jesse J. Johnson

for his diligent and faithful service on behalf of the Columbus Water Works;

and,



Be It Further Resolved that this resolution be spread upon the official

minutes of this Board this twelfth day of January 2004, and that the Secretary

of this Board be directed to furnish copies of this resolution to the said

Jesse J. Johnson and to the Clerk of Council of Columbus, Georgia.



_________________________________ ________________________________

PRESIDENT, COLUMBUS WATER WORKS CHAIR, BOARD OF WATER

COMMISSIONERS



_________________________________ ________________________________

SECRETARY, BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS

DIVISION



Following the reading of the above resolution, the Board congratulated

Mr. Johnson on his retirement.

Next, Management introduced the family of the late Tobe Solomon, Jr.,

who retired on December 31, 2003 and passed away on January 1, 2004. His

family was present at the meeting to accept the following resolution on his

behalf.



A RESOLUTION

Whereas, Tobe Solomon, Jr. has been an employee of the Columbus Board

of Water Commissioners since May, 1965, is retiring; and,



Whereas, Tobe Solomon, Jr. has served in the capacity of Coordinator in

the System Services Department with the Columbus Water Works; and,



Whereas, Tobe Solomon, Jr. has performed in an outstanding and

productive manner throughout his Thirty-eight years of service;



Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that the Board of Water Commissioners of

the City of Columbus, Georgia, on behalf of all the people of the City, hereby

publicly expresses appreciation and heartfelt thanks to Tobe Solomon, Jr. for

his diligent and faithful service on behalf of the Columbus Water Works; and,



Be It Further Resolved that this resolution be spread upon the official

minutes of this Board this twelfth day of January 2004, and that the Secretary

of this Board be directed furnish copies of this resolution to the said Tobe

Solomon, Jr. and to the Clerk of Council of Columbus, Georgia.



_________________________________ _________________________________

PRESIDENT, COLUMBUS WATER WORKS CHAIR, BOARD OF WATER

COMMISSIONERS



_________________________________ _________________________________

SECRETARY, BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT,

OPERATIONS DIVISION

Following the reading and presentation of the above resolution, the

Board expressed their deepest sympathy for the Solomon family.

This being the first meeting of the new year, election of Officers was

in order. The following Officers were nominated:

Office 2004



Chairperson Kathelen Spencer

Treasurer Leon Siegel

President Billy Turner

Secretary Emory Blount



Following discussion, motion was made and seconded to elect the above

Officers for the calendar year 2004. Motion carried.

Receipt of the Minutes of the December 5, 2003, meeting was

acknowledged by the Board and approved as written.

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 month of December.

Management advised the Board that the Utility Security Improvements

Project, with an estimated cost of $800,000, was supposed to be funded through

the DWSRF loan; however, the Environmental Protection Division has not made

changes to their process of dealing with projects, which are focused on

security. Management told the Board that they propose to fund the Utility

Security Improvements Project with capital reserve funds since the funds are

available. The Board acknowledged Management?s Report.

Management informed the Board that on November 4, 2003, the Water Works opened

bids for the NCWRF Backwash Pumping Project. The Engineer?s, Malcolm Pirnie,

estimated the construction to be approximately $242,548 (excluding owner

provided pumps). Only one bid was received and opened. The sole bidder,

Rehab Construction Company submitted a bid in the amount of $338,919.00.

Management advised that this bid was significantly higher than the engineer?s

estimate and the project budget. After negotiations with the Engineer and

Contractor the scope of work was revised and Rehab Construction Company

submitted another bid in the amount of $263,691.00, which includes owner

providing pumps, engineering and a small contingency. This project is now

within the $375,000.00 budget. This project is being funded through the DWSRF

?03 loan. Following discussion, Management asked the Board for permission to

accept the bid from Rehab Construction Company. Motion was made and seconded

to accept the bid from Rehab Construction Company in the amount of

$263,691.00. Motion carried.

Management informed the Board that the bill insert for January will

focus on the eleven awards the Columbus Water Works won during this past

year. The awards are as follows:



AWARDS RECEIVED 2003

NORTH COLUMBUS WATER RESOURCE FACILITY



2003 GW&PCA Platinum Award

2003 Partnership for Safe Water Directors Award



SOUTH COLUMBUS WATER RESOURCE FACILITY



2003 GW&PCA Platinum Award

2003 AMSA Gold Award



FINANCE



2003 Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for

Excellence in Financial Reporting

MISCELLANEOUS AWARDS



2003 EPA Extraordinary Achievement in Watershed Protection

2003 Georgia Department of Labor Award of Excellence for Exceptional Workplace

Safety

2003 Keep Columbus Beautiful Award for Community Improvement

2003 Partners in Education Gold Achievement Award

2003 Golden Manhole Award

2003 Golden Wrench Award





The Financial Report for the month of December, 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 presented the following meeting dates for the Board in

2004. These are all on the second Monday of each month starting at 1:30 p.m.

February 9, 2004

March 8, 2004

April 12, 2004

May 10, 2004

June 7, 2004 (Changed Due to AWWA Conference)

July 12, 2004

August 9, 2004

September 13, 2004

October 11, 2004 (No Meeting ? Columbus Day)

November 8, 2004

December 13, 2004



President Turner presented the following Holiday Schedule for calendar

year 2004 for the Board?s approval:

Thursday, January 1, 2004 ? New Year?s Day

Monday, January 19, 2004 ? Dr. MLK Day

Monday, May 31, 2004 ? Memorial Day

Monday, July 5, 2004 (observed) ? Independence Day

Monday, September 6, 2004 ? Labor Day

Thursday, November 25, 2004 ? Thanksgiving Day

Friday, November 26, 2004 ? Day After Thanksgiving

Friday, December 24, 2004 (observed) ? Christmas Day

TBD ? Floating Holiday *

Personal Holiday ? Employees? Own Choice



? Floating Holiday Subject to Board Approval



The Board acknowledged Management?s Report.

President Turner gave an update to the Board on the legal status of the Water

Wars. President Turner advised that there is a potential action hearing

scheduled by the Judge in the Washington, DC district with the Judge addressing

a possible settlement between the Corps of Engineers and Southeastern Power

Customers that would give Atlanta a significant amount of additional water.

President Turner informed the Board that Mr. Humes and Mr. Hardegree of

Hatcher, Stubbs, Land, Hollis and Rothschild were present at the meeting and

advised that they are preparing a brief and plan to submit it this week to

address the concerns about the approval of additional water withdrawn without

consideration of the potential impact that it might have downstream.

There are several members of the Middle Chattahoochee Group who are prepared to

enter into an agreement with Steve Leitman who is very knowledgeable about the

river system models. President Turner advised that the Water Works is

prepared to commit to the agreement as outlined in the proposal to cooperate in

the evaluation of reservoir operations in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint

Basin for the development of a water control plan for the basin in the amount

of $5,000, which would be taken from the funds previously approved by the

Board. A copy of the agreement is on file at the Water Works? office.

Following a lengthy discussion, the Board acknowledged President Turner?s

report.

President Turner provided copies of letters thanking members of the staff for

their participation and services provided from various organizations and

individuals. The Board acknowledged President Turner?s report.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.





__________________________________________

Emory E. Blount, Secretary