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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-29-1996 Meeting I I I ENGINEERING SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - January 29, 1996 4:30 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry E. Sconyers, Mayor; Powell, Chairman; Todd, Vice-Chairman; Handy and J. Brigham, members; Max Hicks, General Supt. of Waterworks Operations; George McElveen, Director of Water and Sewerage Department; Drew Goins, Asst. Com. of P.W. & Director of Engineering; Tom Wiedmeier, Director of Water Pollution Control; Millard Gooding, Public Works Director; Jack Murphy and Mike Greene of the Public Works Department; Jim Leiper, Environmental Engineer; A. B. McKie, Jr., Controller; Cheryl Nelson, project Accountant, Finance Department; Alma Stephenson, Manager, Consolidated Revenue/Waterworks Department; Linda Beazley, Interim Suburban Services Administrator; Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission-Council and Martha King of the Clerk's Office. Also Present: Wayne partridge of the Augusta Chronicle, Gale Mino of WBBQ Radio, other members of the news media and Hon. Ulmer Bridges, Commissioner. The Committee first considered a review of the Water and Sewerage Rate Structure. Mr. Todd: I move that we table the water and sewerage rate structure until someone can get here from Waterworks and if we don't have someone here by the end of the meeting, that we change the increase as far as south Richmond customers go, but that we consider this as the last item on the agenda. Mr. Handy: Second. Motion adopted with Mr. Brigham voting "No". Communication from Mr. Jim Leiper recommending that the current policy restricting waste from outside Augusta-Richmond county be changed to allowing waste to be received at the Landfill from outside the borders of Augusta-Richmond County, was read. Mr. Leiper: Currently the policy at the Landfill is not to accept waste from outside the Richmond county area. With the construction of a solid waste transfer station by Waste Management earlier this year, we have seen a substantial loss in revenue at the Landfill. Another concern is that the Landfill is permitted as a Regional Landfill to provide relief for neighboring counties for their solid waste disposal problems. We have ample capacity for in excess of 100 years using property currently owned by the Landfill. Additional revenue would also assist in paying off money which has been borrowed in the past; therefore, I recommend that we allow the Landfill to accept waste from outside Richmond County area. Mr. Todd: I move that we accept the recommendation and declare the Richmond County Landfill officially a Regional Landfill. Mr. Handy: Second. I Mr. Brigham: Do we need contracts with others who bring waste into the Landfill? Mr. Todd: We would probably want to have contracts to regulate what comes into the Landfill. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Public Works Director requesting approval of the deed of dedication, maintenance agreement and road resolutions for Walton's Landing Subdivision, Phase II, was read. Mr. Murphy: This has been inspected and we recommend acceptance of the deed of dedication and maintenance agreement. Mr. Handy: I so move. Mr. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. I Communication from the Public Works Director requesting approval of the deed of dedication, maintenance agreement and road resolution for Pepperidge Subdivision, Section Il-B, was read. Mr. Murphy: This has been inspected and we recommend approval. Mr. Handy: I so move. Mr. Todd: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. Communication from the Public Works Director requesting approval of the deed of dedication, maintenance agreement and road resolutions for Bobby Jones Business Park, was read. Mr. Murphy: This has also been inspected and we recommend approval. Mr. Handy: I so move. Motion adopted unanimously. I Mr. Todd: Second. I I I , "'-' communication from the Public Works Director stating according to an updated report from the Traffic Engineering Division, a proposed signal at the intersection of Walton Way and Camellia Road is not warranted. Both the accident rate (3 in 1995) and the traffic volumes have decreased significantly therefore, it is proposed that the scope of this project be revised so as not to include a signal at this intersection. Also, attached is Capital Project Budget Amendment Number One to recapture the estimated funding of $45,100 for this intersection into Special One Percent Sales Tax, Phase II. Approval to revise the scope of this project and of the Capital Project Budget Amendment to recapture the funds are therefore recommended, was read. Mr. Murphy: This intersection does not meet the warrants for signalization, therefore, we would ask that this intersection be deleted from receiving a signal and we recapture the $45,100 and put it in Phase II. Mr. Handy: I so move. Mr. Todd: I second to get it on the floor. Mr. Brigham: Would a signal not help the traffic flow at peak times? Mr. Murphy: We would like to monitor this intersection. There haven't been many accidents here. Motion adopted with Mr. Brigham voting "No". Communication from the Asst. Com. of P.W. & Director of Engineering requesting authorization to place the proposed intersection improvements on Laney-Walker Blvd., Central Avenue and Wrightsboro Road Corridors on the County Contract Projects Construction Priority List. These projects will include turning radius, pedestrian access and signalization improvements at each of the following locations: Laney Walker Blvd. and cross streets - 12th St., 11th St., 9th St. and Twiggs St.: Total cost $265,000. Central Avenue and cross streets - Troupe St., Hickman Rd., Heard Ave. and Baker St.: Total cost $212,000. Wrightsboro Road and cross streets - Jordan Rd., Heard Ave., Troupe St., Winter St. and Johns Rd.: Total cost $260,000. If approved by the Committee, we will add the proposed improvements to the existing County projects Construction priority List for consideration by the State, was read. Mr. Goins: We requested to place these improvements on the county project list and this item was postponed pending further study by the Committee. Mr. Todd: I think if we can do these without doing the priority list, then there's not a problem if there are enough funds in the Urban one penny Phase II to do it. I think the problem was putting this on the priority list when only two or three projects will be accepted. I Mr. Goins: It's my understanding that this list is constantly updated and we're just requesting that these items be considered for that list, not necessarily to remove any items or reprioritize these over any other projects. We just wanted to get permission to add these to the list as the time and funds become available. Mr. Todd: I move that we add them to the list but that we prioritize the list at a later date. Mr. Handy: Second. Motion adopted. Communication from the Asst. Director of Public Works regarding the tentative budget for Fiscal Year 1996 - Public Works Department/Sanitation Division, was read. Mr. Goins: Mr. Hartley requested some operating funds that had been deleted from his budget. I believe there was a recommendation for first quarter monies to be added back to his budget for him to operate on an interim basis. I'm not aware of I any decision being made by the sub-committee. Mr. Chairman: The sub-committee was looking at the contracts with the basic sub-contractors for services. They have not brought a recommendation back at this time. Mr. Goins: We met with North Augusta on their contract and will bring back some information at a later date. Mr. Todd: I move that we receive this as information. Mr. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee received an oral update regarding the drainage project on Wheeless Road. Mr. Murphy: We had a project on Wheeless Road drainage and you asked that we update you on this. We have one more parcel to acquire and we're in the process of obtaining a plat and once that plat is delivered, we're ready to come back and ask that you certify the right-of-way and then it will be transmitted to Georgia DOT. We'll get the State contract back and it will go back on the agenda for your approval and then we can let the I project for bids. Mr. Handy: I so move. I I I n J Mr. Todd: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered an oral update of the drainage project in Albion Acres. Mr. Murphy: We understand that you would like to look at the possibility of doing improvements to Glendale Subdivision which is identified as a viable, approved project in the Phase III budget for 1996 combining it also with Cook Road which is on the other end of the development. Cook Road is identified in 1998 as a Phase III project and in between there is Albion Acres. What was not done and completed by the Urban Services people, we would lump those improvements in Albion Acres that need to be done and clean up the whole area. We're looking at possibly doing that and finding the money for it. Mr. Todd: I so move that we accept it as information. Mr. Handy: Second. Mr. Chairman: I looked at this last week with Mr. Gooding and Mr. Greene and I think if there is any way we could consider doing this project along with the other two projects, we may come out better because they are next door to each other and we could possibly save a lot of money by letting that bid go as one project and if you would accept that as an amendment to your motion. Mr. Todd: certainly, if it would be beneficial to do it. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered an oral update regarding the drainage at Sand Ridge. Mr. Murphy: This is a development that is basically all sand and many people have tried to fix the problems out there. We asked Jim Swift and Associates to look at it and recommend some solutions and we will have to look at his recommendation for a project which would cost about $200,000. We are in the process of looking for that money now and when we do, we will come back to you and recommend a project. Mr. Todd: I move that we accept it as information and let you identify the funds and bring it back to us. Mr. Handy: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered an oral report regarding the drainage at Lake Ontario. Mr. Murphy: During the September 23 flood there was an old borrow pit that had a berm up and it broke and the water and sand I impacted a trailer. The state erosion people told the property owners that they had to put this back but they had to put a core in it this time. We envision that the problem with that particular pit would be solved. Mr. Todd: I'll move that we accept it as information and ask Mr. Murphy look into it to see if what the State has done is satisfactory to the County. Mr. Brigham: I'll second that. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered a review of the Water and Sewerage Rate Study. Mr. McKie: As you know the rate study was brought up before and we were somewhat concerned about the loss of system revenue of some $1.3 million dollars. A new rate structure that will provide roughly the same revenue has been proposed and it will equalize rates throughout the city and County. The out-of-City people on the City system will drop, City customers on the city system will go up and in south Augusta there is a mix of those who go up and down. The base rate of 3,000 gallons flat has been I adopted. The south Augusta rate, $14.70, is the base from which we start. In addition, the total water and sewer rates are now correctly proportioned between water and sewer customers. In the past water customers in south Augusta were in the preponderance and subsidized all of the sewer operations. They've now been distributed fairly so that all water-only customers in south Augusta will go down substantially. Water and sewer customers have no change up to 3,000 gallons. At 4,000 gallon level they drop 45 cents, at 5,000 they drop 20 cents, at 6,000 they go up five cents and this is on an average monthly bill, not per gallon. At 7, plus 30, at 8, plus 55, at 9, plus 80, at 10,000, minus 40 cents, at 11,000, zero. The reason we've got some going up and down is that in the past the rates were structured to provide a calculated amount of revenue without regard to cost. So certain classes of customers' rates were not equal across the board. The new rate structure does provide a linear rate structure so that everybody pays the same amount per thousand gallons of water. For every 1,000 gallons of water you use, it's 85 cents. For every thousand gallons, then the sewer charge is 95 cents. That was not the case in the past. After 12,000 the rates do go up to reach a maximum for a customer who uses 25,000 gallons a month in their home. That bill would go up as much as $3.35. At 30,000 it drops down to $3.10. There are not that many customers who use 25,000 and 30,000 in their homes. There are about 9,000 who are impacted by the changes from 7,000 to I 9,000; however, that has to be water and sewer together. Water- only customers in those same areas will drop substantially. Some will drop as much as $4.05 and some go up a nickel. Because of I I I the irregular rate structure and trying to make this thing revenue-neutral, there is no way we can get everybody to go down unless we just drop the rates down below everybody and that's what generated the $1.3 million dollar loss. We impact probably the fewest number of customers this way. Some of those 9,000 people who are affected are water-only customers so their bills will go down. Mr. Handy: Could you give the water-only customers a discount if they decide to hook up to the sewer at a later date? Mr. McKie: Something could be adopted along those lines. At this time Mr. George Cunningham made a presentation to the Committee regarding the above matter and asking that any action be postponed at this time. Mr. Todd: information and consideration. I'd like to make a motion that we accept this as pass it on to the full Commission for Mr. Handy: I'll second it but I'd like to ask if we could form some kind of citizens advisory group for input before we make a decision. Mr. Chairman: Do you accept that amendment, Mr. Todd? Mr. Todd: I don't have a problem with that. Motion adopted with Mr. Brigham voting "No". ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Nancy W. Morawski Deputy Clerk of Commission-Council NWM