Jean Marshall

The meeting included public comments regarding the acquisition of Seawright Springs and a request for a water service solution involving a deed restriction. The Board held a closed session to discuss legal matters related to the spring acquisition. Additionally, the Executive Director highlighted supply chain issues impacting the availability of fluoride for the water system, with the Board directing the Legal Committee to investigate the legality of eliminating fluoride treatment. The Board also reviewed the progress report and authorized staff to advertise the proposed rate schedule and schedule a public hearing for the FY-27 proposed budget.

The board discussed legislative updates concerning collective bargaining and FOIA requirements, reviewed personnel reports including proposed salary increases and staffing changes, and examined the proposed FY-27 draft budget, which features a variable rate increase for water and sewer usage. Additionally, the board authorized additional funding for the Hickory Hill Booster Station Project and discussed the potential acquisition of real property through a foreclosure sale in a closed session.

The board received an update on various bills from the 2026 Virginia General Assembly, including legislation related to PFAS monitoring in wastewater and sewage sludge, collective bargaining, paid family medical leave, apprenticeship requirements for large projects, and prevailing wage regulations. The board also authorized the donation of obsolete rotating biological contactors from the Middle River Treatment Plant to the Town of Buena Vista. Additionally, there was a discussion regarding potential vulnerabilities in local sewer systems in light of recent sewage discharges elsewhere in the region.

The Board discussed the potential purchase of property from the Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church for utility operations, ultimately approving an offer of $8,000. A resolution was adopted to commemorate the entity's 60th anniversary and recognize the staff's efforts during the celebratory events. The executive director provided updates on current economic indicators, supply chain issues affecting chemicals used for water treatment, and legislative developments from the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session, specifically addressing concerns regarding PFAS regulations and other labor-related bills. Furthermore, the Board authorized a $252,388.81 project to upgrade and migrate enterprise software, including billing, finance, and asset management systems, to a cloud-hosted platform.

The key discussion points included the adoption of the agenda and a review of economic indicators, specifically the December Consumer Price Index and November Producer Price Index increases. Staff reported on the ongoing delay in filling the vacant Water Truck Operator position and reviewed the December Progress Report. The Executive Committee reported on a meeting concerning future potential water supply sources for Augusta County, requesting staff to study resources and necessary piping infrastructure. Furthermore, the Board adopted a resolution incorporating the Virginia Public Procurement Act provision §2.2-4311.3 into Augusta Water's purchasing policies, effective January 15, 2026, and approved subsequent revisions to OPPM Policy No. 11.1 reflecting this change. The Augusta Water Excellence Awards recognized an employee for her instrumental role in developing the new organizational websites. Finally, the Board received an update on three official bills being proposed during the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session.