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Commission Minutes
GREENWOOD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
MINUTES OF THE
August 27, 2008
Public Hearing
The public hearing of the
Greenwood Metropolitan District Commission was held
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 5:00 p.m., in the Training
Room of Greenwood Metropolitan District Technical Service
Facility, 110 Metro Drive, Greenwood, SC 29646.
In attendance:
Commissioner Bob Haynie,
Chairman Richard Coleman Charlie Herndon
Commissioner Byron Smith,
Vice Chairman George Martin Paige Holley
Commissioner Gene Hancock,
Secretary Barbara Boatwright Lesley Lane
Commissioner Michael G.
Monaghan
Marvin Boatwright Chuck McDevitt
Commissioner Henry
Watts Billy Burnette
Daryll Parker
Commissioner Tim
Burke John
Cooper Pierce Stockman
Kay Davis Jim Streevy
Gayle Grogan Chris Trainer
Ruby Groomes Allen Tucker
Kenneth Harvely Maxine Tucker
Roy Hemphill
I.
Chairman Haynie called the meeting to order.
II.
Chairman Haynie read the Statement of Compliance with
the notification provision
of the Freedom of
Information Act.
III.
Chairman Haynie read the public hearing notice to
receive comments from the public
concerning the sewer
rates. He said the proposed rate, if approved by the
Commission,
will go into effect
January 1, 2009.
IV.
Chairman Haynie opened the public hearing to receive
comments concerning
the proposed sewer rate
increase as printed in the newspaper.
V.
Mr. Parker provided a summary on how Metro determined
which rate percentage increase they selected. Mr. Parker
said Metro studied several different financial scenarios
before they decided on the proposed sewer rates. Mr. Allen
Tucker wanted to know why it cost more to treat the
wastewater than it cost to treat water. He said he pays $9
for water and $15 for sewer. Mr. Parker responded there are
different requirements from EPA and SCDHEC for water and
wastewater. Manager Coleman said Metro has to do more
treatment on the wastewater to discharge it into the streams
than CPW has to do to treat the water from Lake Greenwood.
Mr. Tucker said Metro stopped accepting septic tank sewerage
in November, 2007 and now those residents have to pay double
to have their septic tank pumps. Manager Coleman said Metro
closed the septic receiving station when the construction
for Wilson Creek Plant upgrade Phase II started; the
receiving station will be open as soon as the construction
is finished. Commissioner Hancock said the septic tank
pumpers were not using the station much to start with. Mr.
Tucker asked if it would be possible to have a manhole that
they could dump in. Commissioner Hancock said it is not
quite that simple. Mr. Tucker said Metro could charge
people for dumping their septic tank waste. Commissioner
Hancock said Metro already has a fee, but the septic tank
receiving station is closed during the plant upgrade. Mr.
Pierce Stockman said he understands Metro needing money for
the infrastructure and maintaining the infrastructure, but
he does not understand why Metro is expanding the Technical
Service Facility (TSF). Mr. Stockman suggested that Metro
change all of their vehicles to run on natural gas. Mr.
Stockman said the only thing growing in Greenwood County is
government. Mr. Herndon suggested for Metro to have a study
on the efficiency of the employees and the business.
Chairman Haynie said that Metro is trying to be as efficient
as it can be. Commissioner Hancock said it will cost more
to maintain the vehicles running on natural gas than regular
gasoline. Chairman Haynie informed the public that Metro
did use a value engineering firm for the Wilson Creek
Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. Chairman Haynie said
due to moving GMD employees from the CPW building, Metro is
expanding TSF to accommodate those employees that will be
moving from the downtown office. CPW purchased the ¼
interested which Metro owned and Metro apply that amount to
expanding the TSF office. Mr. Burnette wanted to know how
much rates have gone up over the last ten years. He also
wanted to know how Metro’s rate compares to other cities
(i.e. Greenville, Spartanburg, etc.). Manager Coleman
responded Metro’s rates are in the average cost with other
cities. Chairman Haynie said Metro will provide Mr.
Burnette with the information on the percentage of the rate
increase for the past ten years. Commissioner Hancock said
Metro applies class “B” sludge to land to grow hay and makes
class “A” sludge to give away as soil amendment. It was
asked if Metro could sell the soil amendment to help with
revenues. Chairman Haynie said Metro would eventually like
to sell the soil amendment. Manager Coleman said the
fertilizer is a real low grade organic type soil amendment.
Chairman Haynie said most people are using it for the lime
value. Mr. Groomes inquired about the capacity at both
treatment plants. Manager Coleman replied the current
permitted capacity at Wilson Creek is 12 million gallons per
day (MGD) and West Alexander permitted capacity is 2.2 MGD.
The average daily flow at Wilson Creek is 7 MGD and 1.2 MGD
at West Alexander. Manager Coleman said one benefit of
having the capacity charge is Metro does not over commit the
wastewater treatment plant capacity. He said prior to 1991
Metro did not have a capacity charge. Mr. Groomes inquired
if the rate consultant was a contract position. Mr. Parker
responded he is contracted as needed. Mr. Groomes wanted to
know how the 3 non-CPW Commissioners are appointed to the
Metro Board. Chairman Haynie said they are appointed by the
Governor of South Carolina based upon a recommendation by
the Legislation Delegation. Mr. Groomes inquired if these
were paid positions. Chairman Haynie said each Metro
Commissioner is paid $5,000 per year. Mr. Groomes asked if
that amount includes benefits. Chairman Haynie said that
amount does not include the regular employee benefits. Mr.
Groomes asked if the CPW Commissioners get paid both from
Metro and CPW. Commissioner Hancock replied yes, CPW
Commissioners get paid from both CPW and Metro. Mr. Groomes
wanted to know the annual salary for the Commissioners on
both CPW and Metro’s board. Commissioner Monaghan said
their salary is $12,000. Chairman Haynie said the CPW
Commissioners are members of the Metro Board by the enabling
state legislation. The CPW Commissioners are elected into
their position by the residents in the City of Greenwood.
Mr. Groomes wanted to know how Metro’s fiscal year runs.
Chairman Haynie said Metro’s fiscal year runs July 1st
to June 30th. Mr. Groomes wanted to know if the
Commissioners received a pay increase in July. Chairman
Haynie said the Commissioners did not receive a pay
increase. The employees may receive an increase each year,
but that is determined by the Commission. Mr. Groomes
wanted to know when was the last time the Commissioners
received a pay increase. Chairman Haynie said it has been
over 3 years since the Commissioner have received an
increase. Mr. Burnette asked what is the annual operating
budget for Metro. Manager Coleman said the budget is $13 to
$15 million. Mrs. Boatwright said she owns a business on
Maxwell Ave and from May 15, 2006 to May 14, 2007 she used
1200 cubic feet within a twelve month time frame. She said
her sewer bill started out at $21 per month now it is down
to $8.64 per month. Mrs. Boatwright said from May 14, 2007
to August 14, 2008 she has used 1900 cubic feet for water.
She said she is paying minimum water and a minimum sewer
fee. She asked if Metro was going to raise her rates too.
Chairman Haynie replied yes. Commissioner Monaghan
explained to the public the reason why he did not vote in
favor of the rate increase last year. Mrs. Boatwright said
for 800 cubic feet the sewer bill with the proposed new
rates would be $30.54. Manager Coleman said the current
base meter charge is $8.64 and that charge is not determined
by the amount of water consumed. He said the current rate
would be $8.64 plus $2.39 for every 100 cubic feet of water
consumed. Mrs. Boatwright said she thinks there should be a
minimum charge for the first 200 cubic feet. Manager
Coleman said that is what Metro had before. Commissioner
Monaghan said Metro changed that in February, 2007.
Commissioner Monaghan said before, Metro would charge for
the base fee plus 400 cubic feet of consumption whether it
was used or not. Chairman Haynie said all customers will be
charged a base meter charge and this charge covers the fixed
cost. He said Metro has tried to make the rate structure
change revenue neutral. Mr. Herndon suggested offering
incentives to encourage people to recycle their water (i.e.
car washes). Chairman Haynie said Metro’s revenue comes
straight from the rates. Metro does have a tax levy that is
used to pay for principle and interest on bonds for capital
projects. Chairman Haynie said Metro is not in a position
to offer tax incentives. Chairman Haynie reiterated that
Metro is a public agency and all records are public. Metro
will be glad to provide any person with information they
specifically request. Commissioner Monaghan noted Metro
does have a website where the minutes of the Commission
Meetings are published once they are approved. Chairman
Haynie thanked everyone in attendance for their comments.
VI.
Chairman Haynie closed the public hearing.
VII.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
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