|
Public
Menu - 2006 Minutes
- 2007 Minutes
Commission Minutes
GREENWOOD
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
MINUTES OF THE
August 22, 2007
Regular Meeting
The regular meeting of the
Greenwood Metropolitan District Commission was held
Wednesday, August 22, 2007, at 3:00 p.m., in the Board Room
of CPW/Greenwood Metropolitan District Administrative
Building, 121 West Court Avenue.
In attendance:
Commissioner Bob Haynie,
Chairman
Richard Coleman Roy Hemphill
Commissioner Gene Hancock,
Secretary George Martin Paige Holley
Commissioner Michael G.
Monaghan
Gayle Grogan Danny Ware
Commissioner Henry Watts
Commissioner Tim Burke
I.
Chairman Haynie called the meeting to order and Mr.
Martin gave the invocation.
II.
Chairman Haynie gave the statement of compliance with
the notification provision of the Freedom of Information
Act.
III.
Commissioner Monaghan made a motion that the minutes
from the July 25, 2007 Regular Meeting be approved as mailed
and Commissioner Hancock seconded. The motion was
unanimously approved.
IV.
Wilson Creek Update
Mr. Ware shared with the
Board that the clarifier’s tie-in is scheduled for next
Wednesday, August 29, 2007. The new clarifiers have been
tested. The operators have received training on the new
clarifiers and the scum pumps. And they have started
testing on the RAS/WAS this morning. The operators are
receiving training now. There are more electrical testing
scheduled for the remainder of this week and next week. If
everything continues as scheduled, the new clarifiers will
be ready for tie-in next Wednesday. Having the clarifiers
tied in will bring the contract to substantial completion.
The contractor will have sixty (60) days to complete the
grading, final punch list items, backfilling and to demolish
the existing clarifiers. Mr. Ware presented information
concerning change order #15. Piping had to be added from
the air release valve from each pump over to drain into the
floor drains of the pump stations. Commissioner Hancock
inquired on how the air release valves were missed. Mr.
Ware responded the pump specifications called for the air
release valves. The contractor did not provide the air
release valves, and there was not verbiage in the
specifications that said “also provided the piping or
draining one inch stainless steel piping from the air
release valve over to the floor drain.” Mr. Ware noted
there was not a detail included in the drawings showing the
drain lines. Commissioner Monaghan commented that Metro
along with Davis and Floyd need to be very careful with
that. He said CPW has had problems with the same
contractor. Mr. Ware noted there are some items the
contractor brings up that he does not bring to the Board for
approval. There are items the contractor has requested to
be a change order but Davis and Floyd does not feel like it
is a legitimate request. Manager Coleman noted in the
course of a contract some changes get worked out in field.
Mr. Ware said regarding this project he does not feel like
the contractor is being unreasonable on the change orders to
date. Mr. Ware stated they should receive comments on Phase
1B from CDM by Monday. Davis and Floyd will meet with the
review team once they have received the comments to evaluate
CDM’s comments. Davis and Floyd is trying to get the CORP
Permit finalized. The Army Corp of Engineers appears to
have approved the permit. The only condition is they want a
twenty five foot buffer around the remaining wetlands on the
site. Davis and Floyd has looked at the locations and feel
like the areas will not be affected by any future plant
expansion. Commissioner Monaghan inquired about the
negotiations on buying the extra land. Mr. Martin responded
Metro is working on it. Metro is having the property
surveyed. Manager Coleman noted the plans for the new
trunkline will be above the wetland area (including the
buffer area). Commissioner Hancock asked if Metro could get
any more lines in if needed. Mr. Ware responded the
intention is for the buffer area to become part of the
wetlands and are not to be disturbed. Metro will still be
able to add lines if needed.
Commissioner Hancock made a
motion to approve change order #15 for $2,652; Commissioner
Watts seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.
V.
Financial Report
Manager Coleman noted the
revenues are starting out low for this fiscal year. Metro
looked at last years figure to compare. The sewer bills
that are directly billed by Metro had about $79,000 paid in
August that were due in July. Mrs. Grogan said Metro is
behind about $90,000. Commissioner Hancock commented CPW is
pumping around 15 million gallons of water a day. Manger
Coleman said Metro is going by sewer collections. He
reminded the Board that Metro has a cap amount on
residential use. Chairman Haynie said there is some
correlation between what is billed and what is collected.
Manager Coleman said they are going to look at the August
figures and see where things stand. Chairman Haynie noted
Metro was negative for fiscal year 2007. Commissioner Watts
asked if most of that came in the summer months. Manager
Coleman responded it started going down around January and
Metro never did fully come back up. Metro has received more
information since the last meeting and the low billings are
attributed to industrial flow. Manager Coleman reminded the
Board that Fuji had a duel system running for about two or
three years. They are no longer running the dual system.
Commissioner Watts inquired if this will have any affect on
the Long Range Financial Plans. Manager Coleman said last
year Metro was about 2.6% below on sewer income. Metro may
need to take into account the 2.6% deficit. Because the
growth has been projected at a 1.7% rate for residential
account, commercial and industrial growth has been projected
as zero. Industrial growth might need to be negative
instead of zero. Chairman Haynie asked if Metro was close
to the 1.7% growth projected for residential accounts.
Manager Coleman responded the residential growth is steady.
Metro needs to keep a watch on the sewer income account.
Commissioner Monaghan referred to page 18 of the packets; he
asked if Metro had enough money left in the revenue bond to
cover all of Phase 1 (Wilson Creek) or does Metro need to
issue another bond. Manager Coleman responded there is not
enough money left to cover all of Phase 1 if you are
including Phase 1A and Phase 1B. There is enough money left
to cover Phase 1A. Manager Coleman will verify this amount
left to see if it will cover all of Phase 1A. Commissioner
Monaghan asked when does Metro need to issue another bond.
Manager Coleman responded a bond will need to be issued
before the construction of Phase 1B begins which should be
around the end of the year. Chairman Haynie said Metro was
talking about starting in October. Manager Coleman said
Metro will receive bids in October. The money will need to
be issued before construction starts. The meeting tomorrow
will discuss the bond issue for Phase 1B. It will take
Metro about two months to get everything ready to be
presented to the bond agency. Commissioner Monaghan said he
is concerned about the Federal Reserves cutting interest
rates. Manager Coleman commented that is usually good news
for issuing bonds. Commissioner Monaghan said Metro will
need to coordinate with their financial advisors about the
bond issue. Manager Coleman said the discussion tomorrow is
on how much money Metro is going to issue and it is
dependent on how much will be used out of reserves.
Chairman Haynie asked for Manger Coleman to provide the
Board with a timeline regarding issuing a bond.
Commissioner Monaghan referenced page 20 note A. He would
like an explanation of “since it was so far over budget”
(the streetscape project is the project so far over budget
that Ms. LaForge referred to in her memo.) Mr. Martin said
Metro spent less money on the Oregon Project because Metro
did not have to patch the streets. Commissioner Monaghan
said so Metro came in under budget. Mr. Martin responded
yes, Metro was under budget. Chairman Haynie said he
thought it was talking about the entire project being over
budget. Mr. Martin responded the entire project was under
budget. Commissioner Monaghan has a question regarding page
33 “Data Processing for I/I”. He asked why was that account
over budget. Mr. Martin responded it was from a GIS/GPS
Payment to BP Barber. Commissioner Monaghan asked if BP
Barber is finished. Mr. Martin responded the work is
finished, but Metro has not received all of the invoices.
The only items added to the contract are new systems that
are being installed. Manager Coleman said the contract
total has not changed, but Metro guessed on what months the
payments would be made. Commissioner Monaghan referenced
page 44 “Equipment/Machine Maintenance and Repair – Wilson
Creek”. He wanted to know if the overage in that account
was from the clarifiers. Mr. Martin responded he thought it
was from the purchase of two pumps. Manager Coleman said it
was not clarifier expenses. Mr. Martin said the two pumps
cost about $9,000 each. Commissioner Monaghan asked that
notations on any overages be included in the financial
reports. Commissioner Monaghan referenced page 45
“Utilities – Wilson Creek. Mrs. Grogan responded the June
and July utilities billed were both paid in July. Mrs.
Grogan noted the June and July communications payments were
both paid in July. Commissioner Burke asked if that is the
case for page 10 “Utilities”. Mrs. Grogan said that total
accounted for all departments. Commissioner Monaghan said
he had a question for Mr. Parker tomorrow, he would like to
understand the rate of draw down and what that would do on
the bond rating and what would that cost Metro.
Commissioner Monaghan said he understands scenario 1 now.
He does not want to draw down the reserves that will or may
cost Metro more money regarding bond ratings. Manager
Coleman said he has asked Mr. Parker about this and Mr.
Parker’s response was there is not a definite rule. In
general, they look at the total financial picture. In the
past, the bond rating agencies wanted to know if Metro is
sticking with the projected financial plan. The rating
agency wants to know if Metro understands where they
currently are and where they plan to go.
VI.
Service Reports
Commissioner Watts inquired
on the status of Bailey Circle. Mr. Hemphill responded the
contractor has asked for arbitration pursuits of the
contract. The burden to pursue that is on the contractor.
Metro is still holding the money.
VII.
Action Items
a.
Greenwood County GIS Request
Metro’s portion of the
orthophotography fly-over is $16,700. This is a
non-budgeted amount. Commissioner Hancock said the County
needs to have a fly-over every five years. He noted Metro
has contracted with the County for the County to do the
fly-over and Metro along with CPW and the City will share
the cost.
Commissioner Monaghan made a
motion to pay Metro’s portion of the fly-over $16,700;
Commissioner Hancock seconded, and the motion was
unanimously approved.
VIII.
Miscellaneous Administration Matters
a.
Long Range Financial Plan
Chairman Haynie reminded the
Board of the meeting Thursday, August 23rd at
11:15 am at Technical Services Facility (TSF). Manager
Coleman handed out information to the Board regarding a
Scenario 3. Scenario 3 is maintaining $8 million in the
reserves. The last page of the handout is the interest
income and interest expense. The interest income and
interest expense is analyzed on Scenario 2, but would be
relatively the same for any of the scenarios.
b.
Commissioner Monaghan said the meeting is at 1:00 pm
on Thursday, August 23rd to discuss the Design
Manual. Mr. Martin said lunch will be provided.
c.
Report from the Partnership
Commissioner Monaghan said
the new director has started. Commissioner Monaghan stated
he is still signing checks.
d.
Commissioner Monaghan inquired if Metro has heard
anything about the Timms’ property regarding sewer. Mr.
Martin responded no. Commissioner Monaghan said the
property has not been annexed into the City. Mr. Martin
said Mr. Timms has not contacted Metro.
e.
Commissioner Monaghan asked if Metro had heard
anymore about Eagles Harbor. Manager Coleman said no. He
reported after the meeting in Columbia that Eagles Harbor
expected to have a meeting in two to three weeks.
f.
Commissioner Monaghan asked if Metro had heard
anything about the expansion of TSF. Mr. Martin said no,
but he will check with Mr. Moore.
g.
Commissioner Monaghan inquired on updating the
Capital Long Range Construction Plan. Mr. Martin responded
that is done. He will deliver that information to the
Board.
h.
Commissioner Monaghan inquired about obtaining more
grants for the Lake Greenwood Area. Mr. Martin said Metro
is applying for more grant money. Oregon Avenue is finished
regarding Metro’s part. Metro is waiting for that grant to
be closed out. Metro is trying to obtain grants for
Cambridge Avenue. Metro cannot obtain another grant until
the Oregon Avenue grant is closed.
i.
Commissioner Monaghan asked if Metro was searching
for a different crop to grow at the Wilson Creek Farm. Mr.
Martin responded no. He thinks Metro is doing the right
thing by planting hay since it has the highest nitrogen
removal level. Metro needs a crop that will remove the most
nitrogen.
j.
Commissioner Hancock inquired on how Mr. Timms can
build without having a permit on utilities. Mr. Martin
responded Mr. Timms has a permit for septic tank.
Commissioner Burke asked how that was possible.
Commissioner Hancock asked if the permit was for all of the
buildings. Mr. Martin responded just the first building.
Chairman Haynie inquired on the agreement Metro offered.
Mr. Martin said the agreement was Metro would install a
grinder pump and Mr. Timms could pump across the road into
the County Bank line. Commissioner Monaghan said he thought
if sewer was available DHEC would not allow septic tanks to
be installed. Mr. Martin said if gravity sewer is available
Mr. Timms would not be allowed to have a septic tank. There
is no gravity sewer available for the property in question.
Manager Coleman said you cannot go across another property
to get to a gravity line. Commissioner Monaghan said the
line has to be a gravity line. Mr. Martin responded unless
it is in an approved low-pressure system.
IX.
Commissioner Hancock made a motion to go into
Executive Session to receive legal advice; Commissioner
Watts seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.
X.
The meeting returned to open session. No action was
taken during executive session.
XI.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
|
