Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority

The board meeting agenda included a dedicated public hearing for the fiscal year 2027 comprehensive budget and fee schedule. Key discussion items involved the consideration of canceling a future meeting, sewer billing agreements, and various action items such as the adoption of the comprehensive budget and fee schedule, updates to the personnel policy manual, fund transfers between the operations and maintenance fund and capital projects fund, and the submission of sewer use regulations to state environmental services. Additionally, the executive director presented reports on compliance matters, procurement of meeting equipment, impact fees, odor complaints, and an annual evaluation. An executive session was also scheduled for legal and contractual matters.

The committee discussed updates on current operations and planning projects, including status reports on O&M and restricted fund projects. Compliance and regulatory matters were addressed, along with considerations for upcoming committee meetings. The agenda included executive session discussions regarding contractual negotiations and pending litigation, as well as an update on the Agency Reconstitution and the FY 2027 Budget.

The committee discussed updates on current projects and considered items for the June meeting. Actions included a review of financial reports, approval of FY 2026 fund transfers, and recommendations for the Board regarding the adoption of a compensation benchmarking study, proposed personnel policy manual changes, the fiscal year 2027 budget, and an update to the schedule of fees.

The meeting focused on progress reports regarding regional sewer feasibility and reconstitution, including updates on legislative developments for joint system governance, communication strategies with stakeholders, and the initiation of financial and technical evaluation processes. Discussions also addressed future meeting scheduling and provided an overview of the ongoing project timeline.

The committee discussed odor issues at the treatment plant, received an update on South Carolina Senate Bill 829 regarding joint system governance, and reviewed the progress of financial studies being conducted by Raftelis and First Tryon. Additionally, the committee evaluated communications and memos related to development roles and authority, reviewed the status of one-on-one meetings with member cities and local government representatives, and established a future meeting schedule.