Todd W. Kline

The Town Hall meeting focused on accomplishments, ongoing construction projects, and future plans. Key operational accomplishments included cleaning 67.1 miles of gravity sewer and televising 46.7 miles of sewer lines over the past year, removing 47.8 tons of debris from sewer lines. Wastewater treatment involved processing 3.38 billion gallons, with 2,65 tons of solids removed. Water operations involved pumping 3.14 billion gallons of clean water and installing 78 new meters, alongside completing a system-wide meter replacement program within the last three years. Major capital investments totaled $15.44 million in the past year. Key projects included the Wesley Oak Circle water improvements (replacing old pipes with HDPE) and the North Mainland Water Loops project to improve flow redundancy and pressure. Sewer projects nearing completion include rehabilitation at the Dunbar Creek WPCP, installation of new RAS pumps and a UV disinfection system at Academy Creek WPCP, and rehabilitation of four pump stations. Future water projects include upgrades at Canal Road WPF, the Exit 29 WPF, and construction of new Elevated Storage Tanks (ESTs) at Exit 29 and Exit 42. Sewer system integrity improvements involve upsizing the water main on Palm Drive across Fred Rico Road. Furthermore, the commission is installing eight permanent and five portable generators, funded by FEMA, to ensure continuous operation during storm events.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a motion to excuse Commissioner Stevens due to hospital commitments. Special presentations included proclamations dedicating August 11th as Safe Digging Day for both the City of Brunswick Fire Department and the Lincoln Fire Department, emphasizing safe utility line location practices. Employee recognition was given to four AMI IT Tech Field Service Technicians for successfully obtaining IT certifications, including Cruz Lopez, Bobby Scott, Luke Gonzales, and Courtney Jean Smith. Committee updates detailed approvals by the Facilities Committee for a contract with the Georgia Department of Transportation for manhole and valve raising on State Road 303 resurfacing, and a change order with a 30-day extension for the North Mainland Pump Station Phase Three project due to pump delivery delays. The commission also addressed surplus disposal of four vehicles and one large plotter. The Finance Committee endorsed items related to the State Road 303 contract and financial statements showing revenue within 1% of budget for the fiscal year ending June 30th, and a construction project list valued at $66.7 million.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and the pledge of allegiance, followed by the swearing-in of the newest commissioner, Mike Bills, by Probate Judge Kelly Laneir. Key agenda items included the election of officers, resulting in the selection of Ben Turnupseed as Chairman and Clayton Watson as Vice Chairman. Following a reception honoring the new commissioner, the agenda was amended to include the executive director's annual SER. Employee recognition was given to Wally Edwards Jr. for obtaining his CompTIA Security+ certification and to Trip Nathan Reeves for achieving his water operator class 3 license. The session concluded with the appointment of commissioners to various committees, including Public Communications, Public Information, and Customer Relations; Economic Development; Emergency Preparedness; and Facilities.

The Finance Committee meeting focused primarily on finance and budget matters, including the minutes from the February 12th meeting and procedures for reserves. A significant portion of the discussion involved integrating the Reserve policy into the existing Financial Policies document (adopted September 19, 2007), leading to the tabling of the specific Reserves Procedure item. Staff presented a financial model projecting cash outlays for projects and the resulting impact on various reserves (Repair and Replacement, Capital Improvement, Expansion). The committee also discussed expectations for the Financial Policies, including integrating financial modeling to assess the impact on rate structures and net position. Key discussion points for the Fiscal Year 2020 budget included maintaining flat rates, emphasizing maintenance, and converting the Capital Reserve to an Equipment Reserve ($2.5 million) to stabilize equipment/vehicle replacement costs over 15 years. Revenue projections were adjusted downwards due to lost CVS real income and reduced tower rental income, balanced partially by a two-position headcount reduction with a focus on hiring for asset management and technical training.

The finance committee meeting involved the appointment of a temporary third member due to the absence of Commissioner Stevens. Key agenda items included the approval of the September 15th meeting minutes and a detailed presentation on the 2021 fiscal year audit by Mauldin Jenkins, which resulted in a clean opinion with no findings or auditor proposed adjustments. The committee also discussed the fiscal year-end 2021 transfer of net operating revenues, totaling $1.7 million, into reserves. This transfer will allocate funds to the group insurance reserve ($100,000), the pension program to address unfunded liability ($300,000), and the repair and replacement reserves ($1.1 million). Discussions also covered debt service coverage ratios and future Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) reporting standards.