Philip S Rhodes

The board discussed and approved the FY 2027 Budget and the FY 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan. Financial updates included a quarterly report, a treasurer's report, and a review of operations and pretreatment, including industrial user permit violations and cost recovery fees. A closed session was held regarding legal matters and compliance with pretreatment standards for specific industrial entities. The board authorized a contract with English Construction Company, Inc. for the belt filter press project. Additionally, the board received updates on electrical improvements and decided to issue a new engineering RFP for a co-digestion study.

The board reviewed the monthly Treasurer's Report, highlighting income from septage and industrial solids treatment fees, and discussed various capital outlay and project expenses. The Operations and Pretreatment Report covered effluent flow data, nutrient concentration levels, and biosolids management, including updates on industrial treatment cost recovery fees and notices of violation for permit non-compliance. Additionally, the board discussed upcoming legislation regarding PFAS monitoring, provided project updates on the belt filter press installation, and noted the scheduling of future committee meetings.

The board meeting covered several operational and financial topics, including a review of the Treasurer's report regarding income, routine expenses, and capital project payments. Discussion focused on the preliminary fiscal year 2027 budget and the 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan, which includes major infrastructure upgrades and proposed employee pay adjustments. Operations and pretreatment reports provided data on effluent flow, total phosphorus and nitrogen levels, and compliance status for several facilities, including updates on corrective action plans and ongoing structural assessments of bioreactors. Additionally, the status of requests for proposals for the belt filter press and a co-digestion evaluation study was reviewed.

The regular monthly meeting included a review of the Quarterly Financial Report ending December 31, 2025, noting operating income and O&M expenses compared to budget. Treasurer's and Cash Basis Reports for December 2025 and January 2026 were reviewed, detailing income, expenditures, and cash/investment balances, including payments for capital outlay projects. The Operations Report covered treatment quality, noting a partial inhibition of nitrification due to a surfactant slug load in December 2025, but showing compliance with annual average limits for Total Phosphorus and Total Nitrogen. Pretreatment activity included the assessment of cost recovery fees and Notices of Violation (NOVs) issued to industrial users such as Kerry, Perdue, and SVO. The Authority directed staff to direct bill significant industrial users for pretreatment sampling. The Board held closed sessions to consult with legal counsel regarding SVO compliance, specific local government employees, and probable litigation concerning Perdue and Kerry Stock and Broth Company Inc. compliance. Project updates mentioned progress on the Belt Filter Press Installation RFP. The Board authorized the Executive Director to enter into a contract with Houff Corporation for Biosolids Reuse and Hauling services. A discussion on the FY 2027 Budget outlined proposed changes to locality funding, O&M budget contributions, and capital projections.

The Engineering Committee meeting focused on reviewing the draft Fiscal Year 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which estimates total project expenditures of approximately $19.2 million, funded by locality funding and Planning & Repair Account transfers. Key planned initiatives include installing a new belt filter press in the Solids Handling Building to enhance dewatering capacity and provide redundancy, cleaning and rehabilitating digesters in summer 2025, and beginning design for grouting and mechanism replacement in primary clarifiers 3 and 4 in January 2026. Other planned activities involve installing new equipment in bioreactor 8 during FY 26 and 27, overhauling pumps, and installing a mechanical screen in FY 2029. The renovation of the Operations Center and Building #5 was shifted to FY 30. In other business, staff reported that both the Kerry and Organic Plants were in significant noncompliance during calendar year 2024, and the staff will meet with both facilities to negotiate consent orders.