April 16, 2024 Regular Board Meeting

Call to Order - Chairman Marett called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Board members present were Eddie Roberts, Jr., J.B. White, Eddie Ford, Ken Rivers and Bill Jones. Also present were David Johnston with Water Works Metrology and Tim Ingram with Ingram & Associates. Staff members present were Alyssa Hopson, general manager and Amber Eason, clerk to the board.

Approval of Minutes from March 19, 2024 Meeting- Mr. Roberts made a motion to dispense with the reading of, and to adopt the minutes from the March 16, 2024 meeting, with the necessary corrections being made. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.

Water Meter Replacement Presentation- Mr. Johnston informed the Board that the Authority's Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system is failing. The AMR system replaced manually read meters in 2012 with new meters and radios. Mr. Johnston suggesting upgrading to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). An AMI system eliminates the need for a meter reader by transmitting meter data from fixed antenna systems to the central office. The board advised Mr. Johnston to prepare a proposal for an AMI system to be presented at a later date. No action was taken. Mr Johnston exited the meeting at 6:12 pm.

Burford Water Plant Modifications - Mr. Ingram reported based upon analysis and future growth in Butts County, Ingram and Associates recommends expanding the Burford Water Treatment Plant in phases. The first phase will increase the capacity by 2MGD with an estimated cost of $25,000,000. Tim Ingram, Water Production Superintendent Herbert Head, and General Manager Alyssa Hopson will tour Sinclair Water Authority and Piedmont Water Plant on April 17, 2024 to view their treatment process.

Mr. Ingram also informed the Board, that Bill Powell with Georgia Rural Water is preparing a water and sewer rate analysis for the Authority. The purpose of a rate analysis determines whether operating revenues are sufficient to meet expenses. The standard rate for water and sewer is $14.00 up to 2,000 gallons. No action was taken. Mr. Ingram exited the meeting at 6:39 pm.

Managers Report-

Credit Rating- Ms. Hopson reported Standard & Poor withdrew the Authority's credit rating on the Series 2014 Bond due to lack of current financial information. Mauldin & Jenkins and Haisten & Johnston's are the in process of preparing audit reports. No date as to when the audits will be completed.

Operations Statistics - Ms. Hopson went over the water production, water loss and customer statistics for March. The average daily finished water pumped to the Authority, Jackson, and Jenkinsburg from Burford and Stewart plant was 2.51 million gallons per day, with a maximum of 2.96 million gallons per day. The rolling twelve-month average loss of 16% with the current monthly average at 21%. The total amount of finished water pumped in March by each plant was: Burford 77 million gallons and Stewart .5 million gallons.

Water billing for March was $332,975 up 28% from the previous month, up 4% over a rolling 12-month total, and up 10% the same month for the previous year. Sewer billing for March was $74,711 up 10% from the previous month, up 18% over a rolling 12-month total, and up 14% from the previous year.

Total water accounts numbered 6,892 at the end of March with 5,670 of those being active customers. There were 4 new connections sold. There were 263 total sewer accounts at the end of March, with 204 of them being active customers.

Financial Report - Ms. Hopson reviewed the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations and Capital Recovery Fees for March 2024 and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) through March 31, 2024.

Water Operations income for March was $336,800 with expenses of $276,309. Water capital recovery fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2024 thus far was $38,610 with $0 in expenses.

Sewer Operations income for March was $75,459 with expenses of $32,544. Sewer Capital Recovery Fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2024 thus far was $40,907 with $0 in expenses.

For the 2019-24 SPLOST, $3,898,467 has been collected. A SPLOST payment of $103,837 was received on April 2, 2024. Overages in the 2019-24 SPLOST are being covered by temporary transfers from the Water Operations fund.

Total cash on hand at the end of March was $14,602,500. Copies of the March 2024 financial summaries, the consolidated fund balance sheet and the consolidated fund income statement are attached and made a part of these minutes.

Adjourn - A motion was made by Mr. Marett to adjourn the meeting at 7:22 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.

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