DECEMBER 12, 2005
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,
December 12, 2005, at 1:30 p.m., the following Commissioners being present:
Kathelen Amos, Chairperson
Leon Siegel, Treasurer via Telephone
James Yancey
Harry Vernon
Absent: Mayor Robert Poydasheff
Receipt of the Minutes of the November 14, 2005, meeting was
acknowledged by the Board approved as written.
Management recognized Sherwood Lockhart, Sr., 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. Lockhart has served 15 years
with the Water Works. The following resolution was presented as follows:
A Resolution
Whereas, Sherwood Lockhart, Sr. has been an employee of the Columbus
Board of Water Commissioners since August, 1990, is retiring; and,
Whereas, Sherwood Lockhart, Sr. has served in the capacity of
Coordinator in the System Services Department with the Columbus Water Works;
and,
Whereas, Sherwood Lockhart, Sr. has performed in an outstanding and
productive manner throughout his fifteen 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 Sherwood Lockhart, Sr.
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 December, 2005, and that the
Secretary of this Board be directed to furnish copies of this resolution to the
said Sherwood Lockhart. Sr. and to the Clerk of Council of Columbus, Georgia.
_________________________________ ______________________________
PRESIDENT, COLUMBUS WATER WORKS CHAIR, BOARD OF WATER
COMMISSIONERS
_________________________________ ______________________________
SECRETARY, BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS SENIOR V/P, OPERATIONS DIVISION
Following the reading and presentation of the above resolution to Mr.
Lockhart, motion was made and seconded to adopt the resolution. Motion
carried.
The Financial Report for the month of November including Ft. Benning,
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 gave an update on the City Council?s acknowledgement of the
public hearing held on November 29, 2005. The public hearing was conducted
regarding the proposed changes in the water and wastewater rate fees. At the
hearing Mr. Turner and Mr. George Raftelis made a presentation entitled ?CWW
Public Hearing Fiscal Year 2006 Rate Update? to Council and the public.
At the public hearing there was one citizen to appear before Council.
Mr. Jim Rhodes had a question regarding the Water Works? operating and capital
reserves. After his question was answered, Mr. Rhodes indicated that he did
not agree with the rate increase. Since there were no other request to speak,
the public hearing was closed.
In addition to the rate change, the Water Works? proposed a fee
increase for handling septic and grease waste. In 2004 the Georgia State
Legislature required the implementation of a manifest system for commercial
waste haulers and servicing utilities. Currently, the Water Works has a
comprehensive manifest system in place, but no fees. The manifest system has
specific requirements for the hauler to include disclosure of location,
quantity and type of waste being conveyed to the utility. Management stated
that there was an annual fee of $250 paid by the hauler for the first truck,
plus $100 for each additional truck.
Management used a Power Point slide to show the Water Works? experience
from the year 2000 to year-to-date. The Water Works receives hauled septic,
grease and miscellaneous industrial waste from eight counties, plus
Columbus-Muscogee and Ft. Benning at our Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Currently, the Water Works does not have any agreements with any other county
or organization, but in the 2004 contract with Ft. Benning the Water Works did
agree to receive their septic waste.
At this time, Mr. Turner advised the Board that the Water Works has not
been charging for septic tank and grease waste which is hauled to our treatment
plant. He stated that it was not fair to our other customers to not have a
charge for the receipt of grease and septic tank waste. Essentially what is
being charged is the same fee as if this waste were put in the pipeline and
sent to the plant, which is not any different from our existing industrial
customers. Mr. Turner referred to a slide to show how this charge is
calculated based on the higher strength waste that comes in the septic tank and
grease vehicles. He advised that we have taken the current industrial waste
fee and calculated the increase strength waste then added the volume charge for
a 1,000 gallon tanker. See the Tables below for the basis for the charge:
Table 2
Septic Waste
(1,000 gallons)
Pollutant Type Average
Strength
Mg/L 1
Strength
Limit mg/L
Surcharge
Mg/L
Pounds
$/Pounds2
Extended
costs
BOD
6,480
300
6,180
51.54
$0.100
$ 5.15
TSS
12,862
300
12,562
104.77
$0.100
$10.48
Oil & Grease
5,600
300
5,300
44.20
$0.100
$ 4.42
Total Surcharges $ 20.05
Volume Charge for 1,000
gallons
$ 4.02
Septic Waste Total Charge per 1,000 gallons $ 24.07
Table 3
Grease (FOG) Waste
(1,000 gallons)
Pollutant Type Average
Strength
Mg/L 3
Strength
Limit mg/L
Surcharge
Mg/L
Pounds
$/Pounds2
Extended
costs
BOD
9,200
300
8,900
74.23
$0.100
$7.42
TSS
7,800
300
7,500
62.55
$0.100
$6.26
Oil & Grease
25,000
300
24,700
206.00
$0.100
$20.60
Total Surcharges $ 34.28
Volume Charge for 1,000
gallons
$ 4.02
Grease waste total charges per 1,000 gallons $38.30
Legend
BOD: Biochemical Oxygen Demand
TSS: Total Suspended Solids
1 ? Based on EPA Handbook
2 ? CWW current surcharge rates
3 ? Based on CWW analysis
Based on the above, the Columbus Water Works plans to implement the
following charges per 1,000 gallons for septic, grease (FOG) and related waste
on January 1, 2006.
Septic Grease (FOG)
Inside Muscogee $25 $40
Outside Muscogee 50 80
Following a lengthy discussion on the septic and grease fees, Mr.
Turner also presented the following Resolution to the Board for their approval
on the new water and sewer rate increase for bills rendered on or after January
3, 2006.
A RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, a thorough study and evaluation was made of the water and
sewer system facilities in 2001-02 resulting in the adoption by the Board of a
five and ten year Capital Improvement Plan in July 2002, and
WHEREAS, in 2001-02, with the assistance of a consultant, Raftelis
Financial, Inc., a comprehensive financial assessment of the Columbus Water
Works was performed which led the Columbus Board of Water Commissioners by
Resolution dated November 11, 2002 to adopt a five year water and sewer rate
plan, and
WHEREAS, the Board did direct, as part of that process, that an annual
review of Columbus Water Works? financial condition be conducted and any
necessary adjustment to the proposed rates be identified, and
WHEREAS, at its regularly scheduled meeting on November 14, 2005 the
Board did receive the Columbus Water Works annual Financial Audit performed by
Fountain, Arrington, Bass, Mercer and Lee and examine said financial review
performed by Raftelis Financial and directed the staff and financial consultant
to conduct a public hearing at City Council on November 29, 2005, and
WHEREAS, the Board has reviewed Columbus Water Works? Annual Audit, the
FY2006 Rate Update Report and a record of the aforementioned public hearing;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the recommendations contained in the
financial review entitled FY 2006 RATE UPDATE dated November 14, 2005 be hereby
adopted, as well as the fees for Septic and Grease Waste and become effective
for all water use initially included in bills rendered on or after January 3,
2006, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Columbus Board of Water Commissioners
will continue the practice of making an annual review of the planned rate
program and make any necessary adjustment.
SO RESOLVED THIS 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2005.
_______________________________
Chair
_______________________________
Treasurer
_______________________________
Member
_______________________________
Member
_______________________________
Member
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Secretary
Following discussion, motion was made and seconded to adopt the above
Resolution regarding the 2006 water and sewer rate increase along with the
septic and grease waste fees. Motion carried.
Next, Management presented the following holiday schedule for the
Columbus Water Works:
Christmas Holiday (Observed) ? December 26th ? Closed
New Year?s Holiday (Observed) ? January 2nd ? Closed
The Board approved the holiday schedule.
Management advised the Board that during the past year the Water Works
has experienced several sanitary sewer overflows within the collection
system. On September 20, 2005, the Water Works received a consent order from
the Environmental Protection Division regarding five overflows which occurred
between February 23, 2005 and September 19, 2005. The consent order contained
three conditions for the Water Works response.
1. Provide SOPs (standard operating procedure) that minimize contractor caused
SSOs.
2. Provide a plan to reduce I/I in Bull Creek basin.
3. Pay the Georgia EPD $56,000 for February 23rd, March 31st, June 14th and
September 19th overflows as listed below:
Date Location Cause Gallons % of Total
Assessment Portion
Feb 23 1442 Belfast Ave Debris 7,342 0.2354 $ 131.82
Mar 31 Austell Drive Rain 2.2 million 70.5277 $ 39,495.51
June 14 Upstream SCWRF Const error 900,000 28.8522 $16,157.23
July 27 Cargo Drive Hurricane 1.2 million - No Charge
Sept 19 Business Park Dr Rocks 12,000 0.3847 $ 215.43
Management informed the Board that the staff is working with CH2M Hill
on a Bull Creek Basin CIP project, addressing the collection system via smoke
testing and evaluation in order to develop cost effective methods to reduce
inflow/infiltration which reduces the sewer capacity during wet weather.
Following discussion, Management asked the Board for approval to pay the
$56,000 payment to the EPD from the contingency line item in the budget.
Motion was made and seconded authorizing Management to make payment to EPD.
Motion carried.
Management advised the Board that Mr. Turner submitted an annual report
to Garrison Commander, Colonel Riera, recognizing some of the high points of
the Water Works? first year of contract services with Ft. Benning. He also
advised that it was critical to move forward with the recently initiated BRAC
studies to address the water supply and the wastewater capacity issue.
The Water Works is proposing to provide a secondary water main
interconnection to the Sand Hill area resolving supply and low water pressure
issues. This connection will be provided in the current contract at no added
cost to Ft. Benning. The Board acknowledged Management?s report.
Management informed the Board that on November 17, 2005, the Water
Works staff responded to the Unified Government of Cusseta-Chattahoochee
County?s (UGCC) counter proposal regarding sewer service. At this time, the
Water Works is awaiting UGCC?s reply; however, a newspaper article suggests
that they have decided to build their own system.
Next, Management gave an update on the progress being made on the six
strategic plans. Listed below are the six major strategies of what they mean
and what return is expected from the investment of the effort needed to
implement the strategy.
Strategy One: Enhance Customer Satisfaction
What it means: Return on effort:
? Customer needs are being met. Customers will have confidence in CWW,
? Interactions are a pleasant experience will support the organization and will
for the customer. support the financial plan to generate
? Doing business with CWW is easy for required revenue.
the customer.
? CWW understands and acts on
customer expectations.
? Customers understand all facets of
operations and services of CWW.
Strategy Two: Strengthen Regional Economic Potential
What it means: Return on effort:
? CWW will be the organization that is The region will benefit economically by
looked at to provide information, utilizing the leadership and infrastructure
leadership, and service on water that can be shared in partnership with
issues. CWW.
? The region will benefit from the
infrastructure and capacity of the
CWW system to remove unnecessary
duplication of facilities.
? CWW will provide a positive influence
on the development of legislation
and regulations.
Strategy Three: Leverage Information Technology
What it means: Return on effort:
? Computerized systems and The efficiency and effectiveness of
technology will be made available operational and employee activities will
throughout the organization in an be increased.
efficient and effective way.
? Technology costs will be maintained
at the lowest level that will still support
the business processes.
? Information Technology will be secure
and reliable.
Strategy Four: Optimize Infrastructure Performance
What it means: Return on effort:
? Customer requirements and Existing and future customers will be
environmental compliance provided reliable service at the lowest
requirements will be met. feasible cost.
? Life-cycle costs of infrastructure
and operations will be as low as
feasibly possible.
? The capability to serve existing
customers and to accommodate
future growth will be maintained.
Strategy Five: Develop Sustainable Workforce
What it means: Return on effort:
? The personal and professional A knowledgeable workforce will be
development of employees will be maintained and future leadership will
supported. developed.
? The organization will retain the
cumulative knowledge of employees.
? Employee compensation, benefits,
and safety will be maintained at an
optimum level.
Strategy Six: Maintain Financial Stability
What it means: Return on effort:
? Operate on a balanced budget. A financially stable organization.
? Maintain sound financial planning
and management practices.
The Board acknowledged Management?s report.
In its final order of business, 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
Management?s Report.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned.
____________________________________
Emory E. Blount, Secretary
Attachments
No attachments for this document.