Columbus, Georgia

October 7, 2002







The rescheduled monthly meeting of the Board of Water Commissioners of

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

Monday, October 7, 2002, at 1:30 p.m., the following Commissioners being

present:

Kathelen Spencer, Chairperson

Leon Siegel, Treasurer

James Yancey

Harry Vernon

Mayor Bobby Peters





Receipt of the Minutes of the July 8, 2002, meeting was acknowledged by

the Board and approved as written.

Management recognized James A. Helms 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. Helms has served 17 years with the Water

Works. The following Resolution was presented as follows:

A Resolution

Whereas, James A. Helms has been an employee of the Columbus Board of

Water Commissioners since February, 1985, is retiring; and,



Whereas, James A. Helms has served in the capacity of Process Control

Specialist at the North Columbus Water Resource Facility with the Columbus

Water Works; and,



Whereas, James A. Helms has performed in an outstanding and productive

manner throughout his Seventeen 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 James A. Helms 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 ninth day of September 2002, and that the Secretary

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

James A. Helms 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 DIV.





Following the reading and presentations of the above Resolution to Mr.

Helms, motion was made and seconded to adopt the Resolution. Motion carried.

President Turner reminded the Board that the Water Works created an

Environmental Science Scholarship at Columbus State University back when we

celebrated the 150th anniversary of having a water system in Columbus. The

funds came from consultants and suppliers to establish this scholarship.

President Turner informed the Board that this year there was enough money to

sponsor two students with a $1,000 scholarship. Dean Arthur Cleveland and

others recommended Ms. Mary E. Hill and Ms. Kimberley T. Scott to receive this

year?s Environmental Science Scholarship. Dr. Cleveland, Ms. Hill and Ms.

Scott were present at the Board meeting. The Board was provided with background

information for their review and approval. Following discussion, motion was

made and seconded awarding Ms. Hill and Ms. Scott the Environmental Science

Scholarships for this year. Motion carried.

President Turner informed the Board that the Columbus Water Works

received the following awards:

? North Columbus Water Resource Facility 2002 GW&PCA Gold Award

? North Columbus Water Resource Facility 2002 GW&PCA Safety Award

? South Cols. Water Resource Facility 2002 GW&PCA Gold Award

? Consumer Confidence Report Award 2002 GW&PCA

? 2002 Southeast Watershed Leadership Award

Chairperson Spencer stated on behalf of the Board that Management and staff

were to be commended for their hard work.

Management presented the reports from the Division of Operations,

Division of Engineering and Division of Environmental and Information

Services. Following each presentation, the Board acknowledged the Division

Reports for the months of July, August and September.

Management advised the Board that bids were received on September 3,

2002, on the Muscogee Technology Park Sewer Phase I/II for the installation of

approximately 20,000 LF of gravity sewer for a major portion of the industrial

park. Also, included in this bid are funds for extending a sewer along the

Schatulga Road area, which was approved by the Board in 1994, but delayed due

to the involvement of the NFL land exchange. Now that the land has been

exchanged and all permits are in hand, this project was added in with the MTP

project to take advantage of competitive pricing.

In 1994 the Board approved $224,000 to extend the sewer along Schatulga Road

and the actual bid came in at $140,341.67, which will be funded through Sewer

Availability Fees. The MTP sewer was estimated to be a $2,000,000 project and

the low bid was $1,015,555.55 to be funded through the 1997 State Revolving

Loan funds.

The MTP Sewer Phase I/II bids are as follows:



Contractor MTP Bid Schatulga Road Total Bid

Jones General Contracting $1,015,555.55 $140,341.67 $1,155,897.22

Gordy Construction $1,084,839.71 $144,893.00 $1,229,732.71

Morgan Construction $1,704,461.00 $138,238.00 $1,842,699.00

Earth Scapes $2,275,395.00 $392,635.00 $2,668,030.00



Jones General Contracting was the overall low bidder in the amount of

$1,155,897.22. Management asked the Board for their approval to accept this

low bid. Following discussion, motion was made and seconded to accept Jones

General Contracting?s low bid of $1,155,897.22. Motion carried.

The Financial Report for the months of July, August and September, along with

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

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

reports. Motion carried.

Secretary Blount advised the Board that the Water Works has the opportunity to

refund the Series 1993 Bonds in the amount of $48,520,000. The Water Works

would receive approximately $1,608,895 at closing based on today?s market

conditions. Management recommends that the Board approve this transaction so

that it can be presented to City Council for final approval. Following

discussion, motion was made and seconded authorizing Management to proceed with

the bond refunding. Motion carried.

President Turner advised the Board that Congress passed a bill for water

systems that serve 100,000 people or more to conduct a vulnerability and

security assessment. To conduct this assessment, the Water Works was awarded

a grant in the amount of $115,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency. Also, the Water Works received a grant to look at the wastewater

plant due to areas of concern in wastewater systems. President Turner

informed the Board that with these two grants there will be no cost to the

Water Works other than staffing to pay outside consultants who will perform the

joint vulnerability assessment for both the water and wastewater system.

The Columbus Water Works is the first joint system in the country to do a joint

water and wastewater assessment under this program. This assessment is

expected to be complete by the end of this year. President Turner advised

that funds have been provided in the proposed Capital Improvement Program,

which will address any areas of vulnerability. The Board acknowledged

Management?s report.

Management advised the Board that they received two request asking that the

Water Works waive the Sewer Availability Fees. The first request was from

Mayor Peters regarding the expansion of the Columbus Trade and Convention

Center. The second request was from Columbus State University to support

construction of a Technology Incubator Program. It is Management?s

recommendation to waive these Sewer Availability Fees. Following discussion,

Mayor Peters asked that they table the decision on the Columbus Trade and

Convention Center until further documentation could be provided. Motion was

made and seconded authorizing Management to waive the Sewer Availability Fee

for Columbus State University. Motion carried.

President Turner informed the Board that Chairperson Kathelen Spencer had been

reappointed to serve another four-year term of office on the Board. This new

term of office will begin on January 1, 2003. Also, a copy of a Resolution

from City Council was provided to the Board reminding them of the attendance

requirements for committee and board meetings. The Board acknowledged

Management?s report.

Management advised the Board that the financial condition of the Columbus Water

Works has changed considerably during the past two (2) years. The closing of

industrial and commercial businesses has resulted in revenue losses totaling

$3.2 million. Also, Capital needs have contributed to the change in the Water

Works financial condition. Management reminded the Board that Raftelis

Financial Consulting was approved to be retained and work with the staff to

develop a financial plan for the Water Works. Management indicated that the

financial plan was complete and Mr. George Raftelis was ready to present this

plan that his firm and the Water Works had developed.

Following Mr. Raftelis? presentation, and a lengthy discussion, motion was made

and seconded authorizing Management to hold a Public Hearing in conjunction

with City Council?s meeting on Tuesday, October 15th. Management advised that

additional action would be taken by the Board at its next meeting. A copy of

the proposed financial plan is on file at the office of the Columbus Water

Works. Motion carried.

There being no further business the senior staff and the Board went into

Executive Session to discuss a proposal to own and operate Ft. Benning?s Water

and Wastewater System. Upon coming out of the Executive Session Mayor Peters

made a motion seconded by Treasurer Siegel authorizing Management to proceed

with their proposal to own and operate the water and sewer system of Ft.

Benning. Motion carried. The following Resolution was presented to the

Board:



A RESOLUTION





WHEREAS, Fort Benning, Georgia has, through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

Fort Worth District, issued Solicitation No. DACA63-01-R-0025 for Privatization

of Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Systems, and



WHEREAS, the Board of Water Commissioners believes it to be appropriate for

Columbus Water Works to respond to that solicitation, and



WHEREAS, sealed bids from all interested and qualified parties are due to be

submitted by October 30, 2002.



NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Board of Water Commissioners of

Columbus, Georgia does hereby affirm its support of all actions necessary to

process and submit a proposal to meet the terms of the aforesaid solicitation;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President of Columbus Water Works, or his

designee, is hereby authorized to enter into negotiations with the Army and

execute a contract, the exact terms and conditions of which it will negotiate

for provision of the services covered by the solicitation.



BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President of the Columbus Water Works is hereby

authorized to take any and all other action which may be necessary or

appropriate to fully consummate and carry out the intent of the above

referenced proposal.



THIS 7TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2002.



________________________________

Chairperson

________________________________

Treasurer

________________________________

Member

________________________________

Member

________________________________

Member



ATTEST:



________________________

Secretary







The meeting adjourned.











____________________________________

Emory E. Blount, Secretary