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Commission Minutes
GREENWOOD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
MINUTES OF THE
February 28, 2007
Regular Meeting
The regular meeting of the
Greenwood Metropolitan District Commission was held
Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 3:00 p.m., in the Board Room
of CPW - Greenwood Metropolitan District Administrative
Office, 121 West Court Avenue.
In attendance:
Gene Hancock George
Martin Richard Gentry
Bob Haynie Roy
Hemphill Darrel Lanfond
Michael G. Monaghan
Paige Holley Wade Harter
Byron Smith Marsha
Meyer Kimberly Roberts
Henry Watts Steve
Reeves Dan McNamara
Richard Coleman Carlos Cometto
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Chairman Haynie called the meeting to order and George
Martin gave the invocation.
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Chairman Haynie gave the statement of compliance with
the notification provision of the Freedom of Information
Act.
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Bids
for a Large Format Printer
Bidder
Amount
Duncan
Parnell $14,999.00
Kearns Business
Solutions $11,389.00
Lanier
$15,385.36
Metro Blueprint & Supply
Corp. $18,995.00
TPM
$16,496.00
Staff will review the bids
to assure compliance with the specifications. If the bid is
in compliance, the bid will be awarded to the apparent low
bidder, Kearns Business Solutions, at the next Board
Meeting.
IV.
Request from Wade Harter of Greenwood Mills to
address the Board
a.
Mr. Harter stated he came here to address the Board
on the new Basic Facility Charge. He had spoken earlier to
Richard Coleman and Brian Waldrep regarding this issue. Mr.
Harter stated that he did not receive a letter informing him
of the new rates. Both the Mathews and Harris plants have a
6 inch meter. Therefore the Basic Facility Charge went from
$8.45 to $400 per month at these plants. Mr. Harter stated
with the current rates the bill has increased $391.55 before
any billable flow is charged. Historically, Harris and
Mathews Mills have used more water than what they are
presently using. Mr. Harter stated that both mills have
sewer meters that measure their flow. The sewer meters
shows what is discharged into the sewer system; the water
meters shows what comes into the plant. Mr. Harter stated
that this is a 38% increase at the Mathews Plant and a 32%
increase at the Harris Plant. He asked if there could be
special consideration giving by not increasing the Basic
Facility Charge. Chairman Haynie stated that Metro made a
structural change to the rate system and the objective was
to make sure the rate system was revenue neutral. Manager
Coleman stated that the new rates would affect customers
with relatively larger meters and a relatively smaller water
usage. This was discussed during the consideration of the
new rates. Chairman Haynie stated that if Greenwood Mills
did not need that amount of water they may want to install a
smaller water meter. He stated that the rate system has to
be uniform. Commissioner Monaghan explained that a retiree
in the mill village should not have to pay the same Basic
Facility Charge as an industry. He also stated that a
retiree in the mill village was paying $8 and an apartment
complex was paying $8. Commissioner Monaghan stated that
Metro is doing the same thing as CPW; there is a basic
charge based on the meter size. Chairman Haynie stated that
Metro cannot make exceptions to the rate system because you
lose the neutrality of the system that the rates system
intended. Commissioner Monaghan stated that the Basic
Facility Charge is a part of deferring Metro’s overhead
cost. The volumetric charge is different from the Basic
Facility Charge. Mr. Harter asked if the charges should be
based on the sewer meter instead of the water meter.
Commissioner Hancock stated that the sewer meter does not
give a true cost. Mr. Harter asked if they could pay based
on the discharge and not based on the meter size. Manager
Coleman responded that is the volumetric charge. Chairman
Haynie thanked Mr. Harter for his comments and Metro would
work with him but they could not revise the rate system.
V.
Wilson Creek Update
a.
Manager Coleman referenced an email that was sent
regarding a proposed change order. The change order is to
install an extra 160 feet of 42” ductile iron pipe at the
cost of $58,306. Manager Coleman stated the pipe is being
extended as a part of phase 1A; it was estimated that if we
waited until phase 1B it may cost as much as $100,000. Mr.
Richard Gentry reminded the Board that last year Metro
applied for a congressional appropriations grant for the
plant upgrade and Metro has reapplied this year. A copy of
the grant application was provided to the Board.
Commissioner Hancock made a
motion to approve the change order #8 for the Wilson Creek
Plant upgrade in the amount of $58,306; Commissioner Watts
seconded. The motion was unanimously approved.
VI. Commissioner
Hancock made a motion that the minutes from the February 7,
2007 Regular Meeting be approved as mailed and Commissioner
Watts seconded. The motion was unanimously approved.
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Financial Report
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Chairman Haynie asked for questions from the Board
on the Financial Report. Commissioner Monaghan
stated that he would submit his questions to Gayle
in writing. Commissioner Watts inquired about the
status of the Lakeshores Project Phase 1 & 2. Mr.
Martin responded that Phase 1 and 2 are complete.
Commissioner Monaghan asked if more work that needs
to be completed on the Lakeshores Project. Mr.
Martin responded that the pump station on Phase 3 is
in the final stages of being completed. Manager
Coleman stated that the information provided on the
financial statements reflect when the payments are
actually made which lags behind the completion of
the work. Commissioner Monaghan inquired about the
proposed condo being built in the Cochran Bridge
area of the lake. Mr. Martin responded that three
condos have already been built.
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Service Reports
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West Alexander
Manager Coleman provided an
update to the Board regarding the toxicity issue at West
Alexander. Silver is most likely causing the problem. A
toxicity identification evaluation was performed. In this
process you take the sample that was toxic and perform tests
to either eliminate or include different groups of metals.
The detection limit for silver is ten parts per billion.
The water fleas that we tested could be toxicity at one
tenth part per billion; which is 100 times less than the
detection limit. Manager Coleman explained how labs detect
silver at a lower than detection limit. He stated that
Metro is doing more sampling and testing. The simplest way
to resolve the problem is to find it and eliminate it from
the source (i.e. someone who is discharging it). A
bi-product of sulfur dioxide is that it would remove some
silver. Since the switch over to ultraviolet lights, we no
longer use sulfur dioxide at West Alexander. Chairman
Haynie asked if the sulfur dioxide removes the silver or
masks it. Manager Coleman said it removes it. Commissioner
Watts stated that since West Alexander has started using
ultraviolet lights, the toxicity test shows a detection of
silver. Commissioner Monaghan stated that he understood
that this was killing the water fleas. Manager Coleman
responded that we are measuring the discharge and its
toxicity to what is in the stream. Mr. Martin said that it
did kill some water fleas. Manager Coleman reminded the
Board that sulfur dioxide is not the answer because a
problem with sulfur dioxide was the reason we had a toxicity
problem at Wilson Creek a few months ago. Commissioner
Hancock asked if DHEC could fine us even though we cannot
find the problem. Manager Coleman responded that DHEC can
fine Metro. Commissioner Monaghan inquired as to where the
silver is coming from. Manager Coleman responded that the
hospital and other photo labs have a self contain unit so
there is no discharge. Mr. Martin stated that Metro is
sampling the lines.
IX.
Discussion of Sewer Service Line Issues
a.
Mr. Reeves stated the reason he was present at the
meeting was to ask the Board for consideration of either a
change in our policy or a variance on a policy. CPW is
about to engage in a major water line upgrade (The East
Cambridge Project). Mr. Reeves stated that the streets are
very tight and there is not a lot of working space. He
believes CPW will encounter a lot of clay or orangeburg
service line pipes. CPW held a pre-bid conference last week
and the main question the contractors have is what are they
to do about the sewer service when the line is cut. At the
meeting Metro informed the contractors that the service
lines were privately own and they could not be located.
Since the pre-bid meeting another meeting has been held with
Metro and a consensus from the meeting was that Metro does
own the taps under the public right-of-way. CPW was also
informed by Metro that ductile iron pipe is to be used in
the repair. CPW is asking Metro to give a variance to allow
PVC pipe instead of ductile iron to be used for repairs.
CPW was also told that all service repairs would have to be
made by the same methodology or same specifications as a
main line repair as stated in the design manual. Mr. Reeves
stated that one page from the manual states there has to be
eight inches of stone below, beside and above the pipe.
CPW’s request is to be able to use PVC pipe for repairs,
fernco couplings, put in concrete blocking around the
couplings, and to stabilize with stone as needed. CPW will
need to send an addendum to the contractors tomorrow so they
can bid next week. They need to know the specifics required
before they can bid. Mr. Reeves stated that he has checked
with other sewer entities and Metro seems to have a unique
method of repair. Commissioner Hancock stated that next
year CPW will have a grant for Mathews and it will be just
as congested. Chairman Haynie stated that he assumed staff
had already discussed the issue. Commissioner Watts and
Commissioner Monaghan both stated that they would like to
hear from Richard and George on the issue. Manger Coleman
responded that the issue of location is there is no way to
trace it. He also stated that Metro knows where the taps
are made and assumes they go out at a ninety degree angle.
Metro has agreed to mark the taps as accurately as can be.
If Metro marks it within the width of the pipe plus two and
a half feet on each side and if the contractor breaks it,
the contractor will have to repair it at their cost. If the
contractor breaks a line that is not marked, it is Metro’s
responsibility to repair it. Metro has not received grant
money to pay for this. Commissioner Monaghan stated that
only part of the project will be paid by grant money the
rest will be paid by CPW. Manager Coleman stated that Mr.
Reeves said that if there is any money left over, Metro can
apply for it. Mr. Martin stated that when you are on the
cutting edge with specifications, not everyone is where you
are. Commissioner Monaghan stated that he understands from
Mr. Cometto that some of these pipes are so fragile that
working around them might cause them to break. Mr. Martin
thinks that Metro should allow a variance in this case.
Metro asks that the couplings are put on virgin soil and
supported. Mr. Martin commented that at the end of the day
Metro can pay the money now to have the lines installed
correctly or Metro can spend $150 million to repair what was
not done right before. Commissioner Monaghan stated you
have to look at the cost benefit. Mr. Martin asked how long
do you want the sewer system to last and he thinks it should
last a hundred years. Commissioner Monaghan asked if fifty
or sixty years is acceptable. Mr. Martin asked what is
acceptable to the rate payers. Commissioner Monaghan
reiterated that that is the question. Chairman Haynie asked
if Metro needs to grant a waiver or change the design
manual. Mr. Martin stated that we are looking at the design
manual and not just the service line issue. Mr. Cometto
stated that there is no detail for a service line repair and
the answer we received from Metro was to fix it like it was
a repair for an existing line. Mr. Martin also stated that
the City and the County have a different set of regulations
than Metro. The City and County use the international
plumbing codes which are very generic. Metro has their own
system that they have spent years putting together. Mr.
Martin stated that it is not fair to the citizens of
Greenwood, the contractors and the users to have two sets of
rules; there should be only one set. Commissioner Hancock
stated that State law dictated that the Cities and Counties
adopt the international codes. Mr. Martin remarked that it
did not say you cannot adopt anything else; that is the
minimum. Commissioner Hancock stated that the international
codes are not the minimum now, if you were to follow the
international codes all utilities would go broke.
Commissioner Monaghan stated that everyone needs to be
careful, logical and political. Mr. Martin expressed the
need to have a common agreement between all parties
involved. Commissioner Watts inquired if Metro is working
on that. Commissioner Monaghan added that everyone needs to
be aware of what is doable and what is not doable and what
the system can stand. Chairman Haynie asked for a
recommendation from staff regarding CPW’s request. Manager
Coleman responded that Metro should allow a variance on
this. Commissioner Hancock stated that some of this is
above staff level. He also stated that the County and City
are doing inspections. Mr. Martin commented that this is a
different issue. Manager Coleman reported that a meeting
with the City and County has been scheduled. Mr. Martin
informed the Board that Metro and the City and County are to
meet Monday, March 5, 2007 at 10 o’clock. He also stated
that they are working toward resolving the issues.
Commissioner Monaghan stressed that a cost benefit analysis
is needed on anything you do. Mr. Martin asked if it should
be a total cost analysis not if is cheaper to put the line
in now and in 5 years Metro has to fix the line again.
Commissioner Monaghan stated that five years is not
reasonable nor is 100 years; maybe sixty years. Mr. Martin
responded that that is where the balance needs to be.
Manager Coleman expressed that it is cheaper to put it in by
the contractor one way, but if Metro has to go back and fix
the line in 5, 10, or 15 years and it could have lasted
longer for 5% or 10% more upfront cost. Commissioner
Monaghan stated that all he is saying is Metro needs to keep
their eyes on it and keep reviewing it to make sure Metro is
doing the best. Mr. Martin stated that the Board approved
the design manual. Mr. Reeves commented that CPW is about
to install a big sewer project and they are paying about 60%
more. Manager Coleman responded that Metro reviewed the
design manual with local contractors and could only identify
10% to 20% more cost. Mr. Reeves stated that the same sewer
lines can be installed in other areas (Lexington and
Columbia) for less than half of the cost that it is in
Greenwood. Mr. Martin responded that Lexington has not
provided Metro with their specifications. Manger Coleman
stated that he believes it goes back to when Metro started
inspecting the sewer. The contractors were not properly
installing the sewer according to the written regulations
and that is why it was done cheaper. Metro did not make
that many changes. Mr. Martin stated that the TV camera
shows if the lines are installed properly. Chairman Haynie
inquired as to what action the Board wanted to take on this
matter. Commissioner Monaghan stated that the Board should
agree to what variance that Mr. Martin recommends. Mr.
Martin stated that a detail drawing should be provided on
the variance. Commissioner Hancock recommended having a
consultant review the design manual. Mr. Martin responded
that Metro could get a VE team to review the manual.
Commissioner Monaghan agreed with Commissioner Hancock.
Commissioner Watts made a
motion to allow a variance to CPW regarding the service line
issue (to use PVC pipe for repairs, fernco couplings, put in
concrete blocking around the couplings, and to stabilize
with stone as needed; the couplings are to be put on virgin
soil) for CPW’s East Cambridge Project; Commissioner Hancock
seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.
b.
Commissioner Monaghan remarked that this will be a
constant battle. Mr. Martin stated Metro is trying to
resolve this issue. Metro approached the County and City
regarding this issue; they did not approach Metro.
Commissioner Hancock stated that he thinks the Board has
backslid concerning the service line issue in public
right-of-way. He stated that as a public entity we are
responsible for public right-of-way. Mr. Martin responded
that this was not true. He also stated that Metro is
responsible to locate it if it is in the public
right-of-way. Commissioner Monaghan reminded the Board that
Metro is responsible only if the sewer line is under
pavement. Mr. Martin stated that on November 20, 2003, the
Board voted to fix everything in the public right-of-way.
He also stated that on August 26, 2004, the Board voted to
repair sewer service lines under paved areas owned by the
State, County or City including sidewalks and roadways.
Commissioner Hancock asked if each individual tenant would
be responsible for what is coming into Metro’s line. Mr.
Martin explained that Metro’s responsibility as a public
entity is to locate our lines. Metro has to mark the lines
in a way that is acceptable. Commissioner Monaghan stated
that CPW was told that Metro could not locate the lines.
Mr. Martin responded that was wrong. Commissioner Watts
inquired as to where Metro’s lines start. Mr. Martin
responded that from the tap out to the house is considered a
service line. He reminded the Board that they had agreed to
repair the line if it had structural damage under paved
areas. Commissioner Monaghan added that Metro did not say
owned by the State or the City. Mr. Martin explained that
the area had to be publicly owned. Commissioner Watts asked
for a definition of the term structural damage. Mr. Martin
responded that it means crushed pipe. Commissioner Monaghan
asked how root problems are handled. Mr. Martin responded
that Metro will not repair them; they can be repaired
without digging up the road. Commissioner Watts inquired as
to who is responsible for fixing root problems. Mr. Martin
stated the plumber can fix the problem if there are roots in
the service lines.
X.
Commissioner Monaghan asked why Metro was not a
member of the Palmetto Utility Protection Service (PUPS).
Mr. Martin responded that he did not know. Metro locates
lines, but we are not apart of the PUPS system. Mr. Reeves
stated that Metro receives a call from the individual
contractor not from PUPS. Commissioner Monaghan asked what
are the advantages and/or disadvantages to being a member of
PUPS. Mr. Martin stated that the disadvantage is you get
every call for every utility. Mr. Reeves stated that PUPS
goes through a one call system. He also stated that CPW
does not receive a call from a contractor to locate line;
they get a call from PUPS. Mr. Martin stated that Metro
receives calls from the contractor. Chairman Haynie
directed the staff to look into PUPS and to see if this is
something that Metro may want to consider.
XI.
Value of the GMD Portion of the Administration
Building
a.
Chairman Haynie stated that he understood Metro had a
meeting today with staff regarding the building.
XII.
Request to form a Softball Team
a.
All Commissioners were in agreement for Metro to have
a softball team. Chairman Haynie directed staff to include
the softball team in the budget ($380 payable to the County
plus tee shirts) for fiscal year 2007 – 2008.
XIII.
Commissioner Hancock made a motion to go into
Executive Session to discuss a contractual matter;
Commissioner Smith seconded, and the motion was unanimously
approved.
XIV.
The meeting returned to open session. No action was
taken during executive session.
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With
no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
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