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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-08-1998 Meeting I I I ENGINEERING SERVICES COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - June 8, 1998 2:30 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Larry Sconyers, Mayor; Powell, Chairman; Handy, Vice-Chairman; Bridges and Todd, members; Jim Wall, Attorney; Randy Oliver, Administrator; Tom Wiedmeier, Utilities Dept. Asst. Director; Jack Murphy, Interim Public Works Director; Drew Goins, Asst. Director of P. W. - Engineering Division; Rob Sherman, License & Inspections Director; Ron Crowden, Risk Management; Brenda Byrd-Pelaez, EEO Officer; Lena Bonner, Clerk of Commission and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission. Also Present: Hons. Mays and Shepard, Commissioners. The Committee first considered a proposal from James G. Swift & Associates to provide engineering services for water system improvements in the Belair Hills area at a cost of $33,000. At this time a delegation of residents appeared before the Committee regarding the above matter. Ms. Gaines: I'm Belair Hills Estates. could be completed. Glynnis Gaines of 1708 Flagler Road in We wondered if you have any idea when this Ms. Walker: Would this include paving? Mr. Oliver: No, this doesn't include paving. That would have to come in the next sales tax. Ms. Gaines: Perhaps you could do some crush and run on a street such as Carolyn Street. Mr. Oliver: Yes, possibly that could be done on a portion of the street but not on the whole street because of the drainage problems in the middle. Mr. Chairman: I think we had agreed to work on that part. Mr. Oliver: I agree with that. Ms. Gaines: I would appreciate it if you could make that a priority. Mr. Oliver: If you will give me the location of that lot, I will send it to Public Works and see if it is technically workable. Mr. Todd: I move it be approved. Mr. Handy: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. At this time a delegation from Newberry Baptist Church appeared before the Committee regarding the property located at 2212 Grand Boulevard. I Rev. Cleve Garrison: I'm Rev. Cleve Garrison of 3035 Libby Drive. Were you able to find a solution for us? Mr. Chairman: No, we haven't yet. Mr. Bridges: What exactly is the problem here? Mr. Todd: This church is located in a floodway. Oates Creek was developed as a cemented, open area which helps channel the water and mitigates flooding. They want to expand their facility but are unable to obtain a permit to do so because of the location. Mr. Oliver: On this property they have the options of building upward or build on stilts and mitigate the runoff. Mr. Todd: Perhaps they need to talk to the Corps about what they actually need to do. Mr. Bridges: I make a motion that we accept this as information and ask the church to contact the Corps of Engineers. Mr. Todd: I'll second the motion. I Mr. Murphy: The Corps recently finished a new model of this area and I would recommend that you let me get David Crosby from the Corps of Engineers up here at the site with the model and ask him what can be done. Mr. Chairman: Perhaps we could send Mr. Acree by there to look at the building to see if it could accommodate another story. Mr. Bridges: I'll accept those amendments. After further discussion, the motion was put and adopted unanimously. A request from Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity for free sewer taps for their home building projects, was read. Mr. Wall: with them that this as a part Could I suggest that we enter into a contract in exchange for providing housing that we provide of the contract? Mr. Todd: I'll so move to accept that. I Mr. Oliver: Where would the funds come from? Would it be from CDBG? I I I Mr. Todd: I'll also accept that recommendation. Mr. Handy: Second. Mr. Wiedmeier: I think that should also be for water taps. Mr. Todd: I'll accept that for water and sewer taps. Mr. Oliver: We may also need to eventually develop a policy regarding this since others may also make similar requests. Mr. Chairman: But if there is one already in place, then that should handle it. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve a cost-sharing agreement between Augusta, Georgia and Augusta Mall, Inc., was read. Mr. Handy: I so move. Mr. Chairman: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve contracts with Avondale Mills and King Mills for the use of water from the Augusta Canal, was read. Mr. Wall: At this point we don't have all the information. We have been receiving income from the sale of water to the mills. With the deregulation of electricity the mills have been approached by the power companies and we can expect a significant decrease in revenues. We have been in discussions with the mills and I don't know what the price structure will be at this point, but we have told the mills we would try to give them an answer by the June 16 meeting. We would like to carry this forward to the full Commission with no recommendation at this point. Mr. Todd: I will so move that we pass it to the full Commission. Mr. Chairman: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to execute NOI by the Mayor of Augusta to seek authorization from Georgia EPD to discharge storm water under State General NPDES Permit No. GAROOOOOO, was read. Mr. Todd: I so move. Mr. Handy: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to award construction contract to Blair Construction Company for the Forest Park Subdivision Improvements, Phase I & II in the amount of $727,644.50 and authorize the execution of contracts, was read. I Mr. Handy: I so move. Mr. Todd: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to purchase two auxiliary generators for the Raw Water Pumping Station from Cummins South, Inc. for $22,844.00, was read. Mr. Todd: I so move. Mr. Handy: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. The Committee next considered the requirement for drug testing on public projects. Mr. Todd: I'd like to move that we ask Mr. Oliver, Mr. Acree and Ms. Sams and the Attorney to look at the feasibility of I coming up with a substance test requirement for contractors and sub-contractors doing public works projects. Mr. Crowden: Our current policy puts a requirement that mirrors exactly what the state does on its contractors and that is that they must comply with the provisions of the Drug Free Workplace Act which is a certificate that says the contractor endorses a drug free workplace through education and policy statements. It does not mandate testing. Motion dies for lack of a second. Mr. Handy: Could we look in the area and see what others are doing concerning that? Mr. Chairman: Sure. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of commission NWM I