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Commission Minutes
GREENWOOD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
MINUTES OF THE
May 13, 2009
Regular meeting
The regular meeting of the
Greenwood Metropolitan District Commission was held
Wednesday, May 13, 2008 at 3:00 p.m., in the Training Room
of Greenwood Metropolitan District’s Technical Service
Facility, 110 Metro Drive, Greenwood, SC 29646.
In attendance:
Commissioner Bob Haynie,
Chairman Richard Coleman
Paige Holley
Commissioner Byron Smith,
Vice Chairman George Martin
Marsha Meyer
Commissioner Gene Hancock,
Secretary Marion Boone Jamie
Peeler
Commissioner Michael G.
Monaghan Daniel Clark
Joe Swofford
Commissioner Henry Watts
Wayne Daniel
Jerry Timmons
Commissioner Tim Burke
Ken Davis
Brian Waldrep
Gayle Grogan Danny Ware
Roy Hemphill Tony Williamson
Chairman Haynie called the
meeting to order and gave the statement of compliance with
the notification provision of the Freedom of Information
Act.
I.
Mr. Martin gave the invocation.
II.
Minutes
Commissioner Monaghan made a
motion to approve the April 8, 2009 minutes as amended;
Commissioner Hancock seconded, and the motion was
unanimously approved.
III.
Service Reports
a.
Collections Systems
Commissioner Monaghan asked
for more information on the kind of repairs in low pressure
system during March, 2009. Mr. Daniel said he would email
that information to Commissioner Monaghan, but it was more
than one repair. Commissioner Monaghan inquired if Mr.
Daniel is working on a preventative maintenance program.
Mr. Daniel responded he has a draft preventative maintenance
plan for Mr. Martin to review.
b.
I/I Abatement
Commissioner Watts asked if
the report was for the month of April instead of March as
written. Mr. Martin said the report is for April.
Commissioner Watts asked if Metro has already received an
LMI grant for Seaboard Ave. Mr. Boone replied not for
Seaboard Ave Phase II. Commissioner Watts asked if Seaboard
Avenue Phase II is the project that Metro is waiting to have
the pre-bid meeting. Mr. Martin replied no, that is in
phase I. The Seaboard Avenue Phase I pre-bid meeting is
scheduled for June 3rd at 10:00 am. Commissioner
Monaghan asked that an email be sent to all Commissioners to
remind them of the meeting.
IV.
Action Items
a.
Change Order for Wilson Creek
Mr. Danny Ware of Davis and
Floyd (D&F) handed out an updated change order sheet. He
explained Change Order # 18 – Modifications to the
Administrative Building to the Commissioners. These
modifications include leveling the floor in the back part of
the building, HVAC changes and replacing some plumbing.
Commissioner Monaghan inquired if the new flooring would
have complications with heavy weight on top of it. Mr. Ware
said if heavy equipment was going to be on that floor then
the weight would be a factor, but walking traffic would not
be an issue. Staff has concerns with a title floor. The
main concern is the roughness with the chairs. Commissioner
Monaghan wanted to know what staff would be doing in that
particular part of the building. Manager Coleman said that
is where the operators will work. Mr. Ware said this area
of the building has a conference room, operator workroom,
operator workstations, bathroom, storage, records room and
the new kitchen facility. Commissioner Monaghan asked if
all those rooms are located in this area. Mr. Ware replied
yes. He said the entire area needs to have a level surface
with the same type of flooring. Commissioner Monaghan asked
if the ramp area would be level. Mr. Ware said the
contractor poured a new floor over the old truck access.
Commissioner Monaghan wanted to know why staff would be
moving chairs that much. Mr. Peeler said the chairs would
be moving from computer workstation to computer
workstation. He said based on the experience from the
Biosolids area and in the restroom at West Alexander it is
almost impossible to keep the tile clean. Commissioner
Watts asked if Mr. Ware is talking about removing the entire
slab and filling it with sand and then pour the concrete on
top of the sand. Mr. Ware said that is correct.
Commissioner Watts asked if the drains in the existing floor
would be removed. Mr. Ware responded yes they would be
removed. He said the part over the ramp would not have to
be reworked; it is just from there over to the lab facility.
Mr. Ware said Proposal
Summary (PS) #23 is a proposal to replace an existing
exhaust fan. Once the ceiling was removed, the contractor
looked at the bracing on the rafters and ceiling joist; the
new duct system had nowhere else to go except where the
existing exhaust fan is located. The options are to remove
the existing exhaust fan and replace it with two smaller fan
units in order to have room for the ductwork. Mr. Ware said
PS #20 is for plumbing renovations. He said after the
ceiling was torn out and everything was exposed, the
mechanical engineer and contractor determined the existing
copper piping was showing a good bit of age and they
recommend replacing the pipes with new copper pipes.
Commissioner Hancock inquired about the salvage value of the
pipes. Mr. Ware said at the next meeting he will update the
change order amount to reflect the salvage value for the
copper pipes. He said if this change order is approved the
revised percentage of the original contract value is .34%.
Mr. Ware said BNR #1 is scheduled to start-up next Tuesday
and Wednesday. Commissioner Monaghan asked that Mr. Ware
email the Commissioners when the start-up time for BNR #1 is
known. Mr. Ware said the Wilson Creek and Coronaca Creek
trunklines are tied in and being pumped by the new influent
pump station.
Commissioner Monaghan made a
motion to approve Change Order #18 – Modifications to the
Administrative Building; Commissioner Watts seconded, and
the motion was unanimously approved.
b.
Replacement Truck for Inspector
Mr. Martin said the
information for the replacement truck is included in the
Management Letter. Manager Coleman said the vehicle was
totaled and Metro has received a check for the value of the
vehicle. Mr. Boone updated the Commissioners on the
condition of the employee that was injured in the car
accident. All Commissioners were in agreement for staff to
obtain bids for replacing this vehicle.
V.
Old/Other Business
a.
Eagles Harbor
Commissioner Monaghan asked
if staff has any new information on Eagles Harbor. Manager
Coleman said Metro has not heard anything new.
b.
Septic Tank Receiving Station
Commissioner Monaghan wanted
to know when the septic tank receiving station will be open
again. Mr. Ware said they can require the contractor to put
in a temporary access road. Commissioner Monaghan said the
station has been closed down for so long he does not know if
Metro will receive any business. Commissioner Monaghan said
he receives complaints that the station is not available.
Mr. Martin said from July, 2005 to February, 2007 only two
customers/pumpers have used the station. The station was
placed into service in June, 2004. Mr. Ware said if the
station was to open back up D&F would have to stay on the
contractor to keep that area clean. The Commissioners were
in agreement to keep the station closed until the
construction is completed.
c.
Natural Gas
Commissioner Monaghan
inquired if natural gas would be installed in the new
administrative building at Wilson Creek. Mr. Ware said
there are no plans to install natural gas. Commissioner
Monaghan wanted to know how the building would be heated.
Mr. Ware responded with a heat pump system. Commissioner
Hancock said there is gas in all of the other buildings out
there. Mr. Peeler said the Biosolids building is the only
building that has natural gas. The sulfur dioxide building
has a propane tank. The plan is to install electric heat to
the building since sulfur dioxide is not in the building
anymore. The lab area does use a gas Bunsen Burner.
Commissioner Monaghan wanted to know if it would be cheaper
to heat the Biosolids building with natural gas than
electric. Mr. Peeler said it would be, but the technology
employed at the time of purchase to produce class A
biosolids used electric heat. Mr. Ware noted all the
buildings around the plant site are heat producers and with
the climate here, Metro needs air conditioning more than
heat.
d.
Alternative Crop on Farm
Commissioner Monaghan
inquired on the status of finding another crop to grow on
the farm. Mr. Martin said they are still looking for an
alternative crop, but so far there is no crop that removes
the nitrogen from the ground like the present crop does has
not been found.
e.
Asset Handling
Commissioner Monaghan wanted
to know the status of the Asset Handling Procedures. Mrs.
Grogan said staff is still working on it.
f.
Incentives
Commissioner Monaghan said
he had had a series of emails with Manager Coleman and Mr.
Hemphill regarding economic development incentives. He
understands that Metro cannot lower rates and waive
charges. Commissioner Monaghan wanted to know if “company
A” comes into the community and builds a plant that would
have great beneficial impact on Metro; is it legal for Metro
to build a service line or give them a monetary grant. Mr.
Hemphill said he would need to research it. He said that
would be like an “in kind incentive” as opposed to a sewer
charge reduction incentive. Commissioner Monaghan wanted to
know if that would be like giving money to the Partnership.
Mr. Hemphill said he thinks it could be justified, if ever
challenged, as opposed to an incentive as a part of a
package to a particular customer which might jeopardize the
integrity of the rate classes. He does think Metro can
explore “in kind” incentives as opposed to making changes to
the rate structure. Commissioner Monaghan said it is common
practice for CPW, County and the City to give incentives.
Commissioner Monaghan gave an example of what CPW can do for
incentives and asked if Metro could do something similar to
that. Commissioner Burke responded he did not think so
because the enabling legislation is not set up that way.
Mr. Hemphill asked if he meant with regards to the special
purpose district. Commissioner Monaghan asked for Mr.
Hemphill to research this and report back to the Commission
his findings. Commissioner Burke said there might be a way
to skirt the issue. He said the enabling legislation says
that the purpose of the District is for service of sewer.
Commissioner Monaghan said the more Metro expands their base
the better they can defer the overhead costs. Commissioner
Burke said he is not disagreeing, but Metro needs to stay
within the context of the legislation. Commissioner
Monaghan said in the future if Metro receives a proposal it
should be discussed by the Commission in the light that
maybe Metro can give a grant or “in kind” incentives.
Commissioner Hancock said all of the entities in Greenwood
County try to help each other out. Chairman Haynie said it
all goes back to how Metro was originally set up as a
special purpose district. Manager Coleman reminded the
Commission that the Capacity Fee is only a small percentage
(20% to 25%) of the true total cost. Chairman Haynie said
Metro could have an agreement to provide “gray water” to the
customers as long as the rate payers are not subsiding the
cost. Mr. Hemphill said he thought providing “gray water”
was a viable option for Metro.
VI.
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
a.
Report for Partnership
Mr. Mark Warner said there
are three projects that are currently activity. All of
those projects are expansions of existing operations. A
site selection committee was in Greenwood last week. Toward
the end of the month there will be a meeting regarding City
Pond and the site readiness assessment with Duke Energy.
Commissioner Burke asked if there is any possibility of
salvaging Grede Foundry. Mr. Warner said he has met with
them a couple of times and it does not appear that Grede
will change their mind. He said there are several potential
buyers looking at the location. Commissioner Burke wanted
to know what affect the closing would have on the West
Alexander Plant. Manager Coleman said the flow represents
four tenths of one percent of the industrial flow. Mr.
Williamson said Grede is currently developing a plan for the
shut down and he will receive a copy of the plan. Mr.
Williamson will also perform a final walkthrough inspection
of the facility once the shutdown is complete.
VII.
Commissioner Hancock made a motion to go into
Executive Session to discuss a contractual matter;
Commissioner Watts seconded,
and the motion was unanimously approved.
VIII.
The meeting returned to open session.
IX.
Resolution for Seaboard Ave LMI Grant Project
Commissioner Watts made a
motion to approve the resolution for the purpose of
construction for the Seaboard Ave Sewer Placement Project to
serve the LMI project area and set just compensation for
right-of-way acquisition; Commissioner Burke seconded, and
the motion was unanimously approved.
X.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
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