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Home My WebLink About2021-01-13 Regular Meeting Minutes CAPE FEAR PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITY AUTHORITY BOARD MINUTES JANUARY 13, 2021 Teleconference Regular Meeting 9:00 AM VIRTUAL WILMINGTON, NC 28403 I. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Corder called the meeting to order with a quorum present. Mr. Norris moved to excuse Ms. Adams and Mr. Hackney. Mr. Zapple seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Ms. Adams joined the meeting at 9:20 AM. II. DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM Attendee Name Organization Title Status Arrived Wesley Corder Cape Fear Public Utility Chair Present Authority William Norris Cape Fear Public Utility Vice-Chair Present Authority Deans Hackney Cape Fear Public Utility Secretary Excused Authority Jennifer Adams Cape Fear Public Utility Treasurer Excused 9:20 Authority AM Jessica Cannon Cape Fear Public Utility Present Authority Hollis Briggs Cape Fear Public Utility Present Authority Larry Sneeden Cape Fear Public Utility Present Authority Jonathan Barfield Cape Fear Public Utility Present Authority Kevin O'Grady Cape Fear Public Utility Present Authority Charlie Rivenbark Cape Fear Public Utility Present Authority Rob Zapple Cape Fear Public Utility Present Authority Jim Flechtner Cape Fear Public Utility Executive Director Present Authority Linda Miles Miles Firm, PLLC CFPUA Consulting Attorney Present Frank Styers Cape Fear Public Utility Deputy Executive Director Present Authority Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Page 1 MinutesAuthority BoardJanuary 13, 2021 Carel Cape Fear Public Utility Deputy Executive Director Present Vandermeyden Authority Lindsey Hallock Cape Fear Public Utility Director of Public and Present Authority Environmental Policy Beth Eckert Cape Fear Public Utility Director of EMD Present Authority Lori McKoy Cape Fear Public Utility Human Resources Director Present Authority John McLean Cape Fear Public Utility Chief Financial Officer Present Authority Vaughn Hagerty Cape Fear Public Utility Public Information Officer Present Authority Cammie Bellamy Cape Fear Public Utility Assistant PIO Present Authority Cord Ellison Cape Fear Public Utility Chief Information Officer Present Authority Sara Eskew Cape Fear Public Utility Present Authority Makeba Robinson Cape Fear Public Utility Present Authority Donna S. Pope Cape Fear Public Utility Clerk/Executive Secretary to the Present Authority Board III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Mr. Norris moved to adopt the day's Agenda. Mr. Briggs seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Authority Board - Regular Meeting - Dec 9, 2020 9:00 AM RESULT: ACCEPTED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: William Norris, Vice-Chair SECONDER: Rob Zapple AYES: Corder, Norris, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple EXCUSED: Hackney, Adams V. PUBLIC COMMENTS - 4 MINUTE LIMIT PER SPEAKER There were no public speakers, and the Clerk had received no comments via email. VI. SPEAKER UPDATE FROM THE DECEMBER 9, 2020 BOARD MEETING Mr. Flechtner reported that there were five speakers at the December meeting and that the Board addressed their concerns during that meeting. VII. CONSENT AGENDA Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Page 2 MinutesAuthority BoardJanuary 13, 2021 1.$537,600 Construction Contract Award to T.A. Woods Company for EMD HVAC Upgrades Project RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: Rob Zapple SECONDER: William Norris, Vice-Chair AYES: Corder, Norris, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple EXCUSED: Hackney, Adams 2. Authorization for the Executive Director to Execute a $106,700 Contract with WK Dickson for Engineering Services Associated with Rehabilitation and Replacement of Water Mains and Gravity Sanitary Sewer in Downtown Wilmington Area Project RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: Rob Zapple SECONDER: William Norris, Vice-Chair AYES: Corder, Norris, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple EXCUSED: Hackney, Adams 3. Authorization for the Executive Director to execute an $81,500 contract amendment with Carollo Engineers for Operational Planning and Improvements to Pump Station 34 and Pump Station 35 RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: Rob Zapple SECONDER: William Norris, Vice-Chair AYES: Corder, Norris, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple EXCUSED: Hackney, Adams 4. Purchase Salt Saturation Tanks for Wells 46 and 47 Water Softening Project for $123,670 from Brinemaker, Inc. RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: Rob Zapple SECONDER: William Norris, Vice-Chair AYES: Corder, Norris, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple EXCUSED: Hackney, Adams 5. Approval for Write Offs for Uncollectible Accounts - December 2020 Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Page 3 MinutesAuthority BoardJanuary 13, 2021 RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: Rob Zapple SECONDER: William Norris, Vice-Chair AYES: Corder, Norris, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple EXCUSED: Hackney, Adams 6. Emergency Sick Leave RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: Rob Zapple SECONDER: William Norris, Vice-Chair AYES: Corder, Norris, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple EXCUSED: Hackney, Adams VIII. NEW BUSINESS A. Administrative Reports i. Attorney's Report Ms. Miles had no report and did not require a closed session. ii. Executive Director's Report 1. Key Indicators Report Mr. Vandermeyden answered questions about reduced demand in the Monterey Heights water system. Reduced demand is attributed to a combination of two factors, a rainy autumn and voluntary irrigation restrictions during the summer. RESULT: REVIEWED 2. Environmental Report RESULT: REVIEWED 3. Safety Report RESULT: REVIEWED 4. Quarterly CIP Report RESULT: REVIEWED 5. Customer Service Update - January Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Page 4 MinutesAuthority BoardJanuary 13, 2021 RESULT: REVIEWED B. Committee Reports i. Executive Committee 1. Executive Committee - Regular - Jan 6, 2021 10:30 AM Mr. Vandermeyden answered questions regarding the Water Research Foundation/Clemson project and the Department of Defense request for data. RESULT: NO ACTION REQUIRED ii. Finance Committee 1. Finance Committee - Regular Meeting - Jan 6, 2021 9:00 AM RESULT: NO ACTION REQUIRED 2. Monthly Financials Report Mr. McLean presented the December financial data. With 50 percent of the fiscal year complete, revenues are at 51.22 percent. Expenditures exceed revenues by $13.5 million. System Development Charges and total equivalent residential units (ERU), and use per ERU are slightly above budget. Mr. Zapple thanked Ms. Irick and Customer Service for working with customers for customized payment plans. He thanked Messrs. Briggs and Hagerty for outreach and public service announcements. Mr. Corder added that he had received a good response from members of the community regarding CFPUA's work to assist customers. Dr. Cannon reported that the December federal Covid relief legislation provided $638 million to assist low-income residents with water utility payments. The monies will be provided to states to distribute to utilities. She asked for Board direction to staff to pursue funding. Mr. Zapple reported that the County has a program for assistance for heating bill payments and that it may be possible to piggyback on that program. Mr. Flechtner reported that state staff had contacted CFPUA regarding the funds, and staff will continue the conversation and explore how to use the funding. Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Page 5 MinutesAuthority BoardJanuary 13, 2021 RESULT: REVIEWED IX. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. X. AUTHORITY Q & A/CLOSING COMMENTS Mr. Barfield reminded the Board that Secretary Regan of the NC Department of Environmental Quality has been selected by President-Elect Biden to serve as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. He recommended that the Board reach out to Mr. Regan to further CFPUA's relationship with the EPA. Mr. Flechtner reported that staff will draft a letter for Mr. Corder to send to Mr. Regan. XI. CLOSED SESSION There was no closed session. XII. ADJOURNMENT There was no further business to come before the Board, and Mr. Norris moved to adjourn. Mr. Zapple seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:25 AM. The next regular meeting will be Wednesday, February 10, 2021. The meeting will be held at the Wilmington Convention Center and will begin at 9:00 AM. Respectfully submitted, Donna S. Pope Clerk to the Board Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Page 6