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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTWU_10.14.2021City of Georgetown, Texas Georgetown Water Utility Board Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Board Members Present: Stuart Garner, Vice Chair; Steve Fought, Michael Morrison, Scott Macmurdo Board Members Absent: Thomas Glab; Board Chair — resigned 10/12/2021 Staff Members Present: Chelsea Solomon, Director of Water Utilities; Wesley Wright, System Engineering Director; Chris Pousson, Project Manager; Nathan Parras, Assistant Finance Director; Tina Davis, Board Liaison Regular Session (This Regular Session may, at any time, be recessed to convene an Executive Session for any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code 551.) A. Public Wishing to Address the Board - no one signed up to speak at the meeting. B. Call to Order - Meeting was called to order by Garner, Vice Chair at 2:06 PM. C. Review and possible action to approve the minutes from the September, 2021 Water Board Meeting - no discussion. Motion to approve minutes by Macmurdo, Seconded by Morrison 4-0-0; Glab resigned 10/12/2021 D. Updates from Water Utility Directors — Customer statistics show growth of approximately 600 new customers. Fiscal year numbers increased. Wastewater had less new customers. Brief discussion on Customer Assistance Program that began in April 2020 to assist customers who were negatively affected by the pandemic and could not qualify for traditional assistance. Electric and Water Utility each put up $500K. To date have helped 275 customers with $100K. applications for assistance ended September 2021. Disbursements will end December 31, 2021. Remaining funds will split back to Electric and Water. Collection agency has collected approximately $75K since May from outstanding customer accounts. 3rd Quarter report shows projections for 2022. Revenue charges made up of Water, Electric and some Irrigation. Looking to hit 75% target rate on revenue expense and 85% on operating revenue. Projected conservatively on expense and revenue side. Rate increase, customer growth and charge on usage shows water usage up. Non -operating revenue will hit around the 100%. Water fund expense budget is trending at 75%. Operating cost is 70.6%. Current revenue is strong, expenses are slightly under budget. 4th quarter report will be ready November or December. In Operations, at 38 million gallons daily peak Georgetown Water utility Advisory Board Meeting October 14, 2021 production for September. Annual wastewater production is up. Metric efficiency is going back up. A pumps and motors team is now designated to be hands on with pumps and motors to increase and maintain corrective measures. The wrong day watering program was moved from Customer Care to the Water Department. 3 interns were hired for the summer. 1771 wrong day watering cases were opened this year. Transitioning water meters to AMI-a read where we drive by and get usage totals. Not much collected in wrong day watering fines but approximately 1/2 million gallons of water saved. Exceptions are made for new landscape by the customer applying for a variance that will give the customer the ability to water for 14 days without receiving a fine. Lake Georgetown was at 78% last month, currently at 69%. Cimarron Hills WWTP expansion under design, about 30% on the plans. Initial developer agreement was expected to be $3-3/12 million. The 30% estimate was $12 million. That is with 25% contingency and 10% inflation cost. Reaching out to other contractors to verify cost. May look at a lift station alternative or abandon the expansion of the plant and pump to an existing interceptor. Finalizing easement appraisals on Berry Creek Interceptor. Assessing the ability to double the size of Pecan Branch WWTP. If approved by TCEQ will bring task order to Board in early 2022 to expand Pecan Branch. Brief discussion on Multi -family development at Westinghouse and Rockride to own and manage a WWTP. City has requested a contested case hearing because there is a wastewater line 1000 ft. away they can tie into. The dispute is over land usage. Moving forward with South Lake Plant. Two pre -bid meetings held. Expect bid to open before Christmas and bring to Board and Council in January or February. Southside WTP pilot study complete. CDM reviewing report. Plant will come offline next week for tank rehab work to begin. Foundational work to begin in December. Plan to go back online next summer for peak demand and back off for rehab. E. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve Task Order No. CDM- 21-007 TO with CDM Smith Inc. for phase four of the Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Assessment Project in the amount of $198,648.00 - Chelsea Solomon, PE; Water Utilities Director - Phase one and two complete. BRA doing phase three and will share the data with COG. Phase four looks at where the fault lines are and is ground penetrating where a smaller footprint and see what's under there as it relates to the Aquifer. A pilot drilling plan will be compiled to later test the chemistry of the Aquifer. Motion to approve Staffs recommendation to approve Task Order No. CDM-21-007 TO by Macmurdo, Seconded by Morrison. 4-0-0; Glab absent (resigned) F. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve the fourth renewal for contracted wastewater laboratory services by Pollution Control Services Laboratory (Wallgren) in the estimated amount of $150,000. - Mike Welch, Treatment Manager - Contractor goes above and beyond currently and would like to renew their contract. There are other labs but will look at other options when contract runs out. Motion to approve 41h renewal by Macmurdo, Seconded Georgetown Water utility Advisory Board Meeting October 14, 2021 by Morrison. 4-0-0; Glab absent (resigned) G. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve a 6-month contract extension for provision of water and wastewater treatment chemicals by Brenntag Southwest, Inc., in as estimated amount of $246,966. - Mike Welch, Treatment Manager. - Motion to approve by Macmurdo, Seconded by Morrison. 4-0-0; Glab absent (resigned) H. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve a 6- month contract extension for provision of water and wastewater sludge transportation and disposal services by AllWaste-Walker (formerly Sheridan), in an estimated amount of $278,117. - Mike Welch, Treatment Manager - Motion to approve 6 month contract extension by Macmurdo, Seconded by Morrison. 4-0-0; Glab absent (resigned) I. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve a 6-month contract extension for grounds maintenance services by Elk Ridge Mowing in an estimated amount of $28,423.71. - Mike Welch, Treatment Manager - Motion to approve 6 month contract extension by Macmurdo, Seconded by Morrison, 4-0-0; Glab absent (resigned) Adjournment Meeting adjourned at approximately 3:25 PM. '3+W ri' 6ame,'', Chair 1534 W' zL ,, Secretary r Board Liaison Georgetown Water utility Advisory Board Meeting October 14, 2021