The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2021-05-12 Regular Meeting Minutes CAPE FEAR PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITY AUTHORITY BOARD MINUTES MAY 12, 2021 Wilmington Convention Center Regular Meeting 9:00 AM 10 CONVENTION CENTER DR. WILMINGTON, NC 28401 I. CALL TO ORDER 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 Present Authority Jennifer Adams Cape Fear Public Utility Treasurer Present Authority 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 Carel Cape Fear Public Utility Deputy Executive Director Present Vandermeyden Authority John McLean Cape Fear Public Utility Chief Financial Officer Present Authority Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Page 1 MinutesAuthority BoardMay 12, 2021 Kristine Irick Cape Fear Public Utility Customer Service Director Present Authority Lindsey Hallock Cape Fear Public Utility Director of Public and Present Authority Environmental Policy Vaughn Hagerty Cape Fear Public Utility Public Information Officer Present Authority Donna S. Pope Cape Fear Public Utility Clerk/Executive Secretary to the Present Authority Board III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Authority Board - Regular Meeting - Apr 14, 2021 9:00 AM RESULT: ACCEPTED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: Jonathan Barfield, Board Member SECONDER: Rob Zapple AYES: Corder, Norris, Hackney, Adams, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple V. PUBLIC COMMENTS - 4 MINUTE LIMIT PER SPEAKER There were no speakers. VI. CONSENT AGENDA Dr. Cannon asked for discussion and clarification on Item 8. Mr. Norris moved to approve the remainder of the Consent Agenda. Mr. Briggs seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. 1. Authorize Executive Director to execute a $125,000 contract with Colony Tire and Service for Heavy Duty Vehicle Maintenance RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: William Norris, Vice-Chair SECONDER: Hollis Briggs, Board Member AYES: Corder, Norris, Hackney, Adams, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple 2. Authorize Executive Director to execute a $125,000 contract with Hughes Brothers, Inc. for Light and Medium Duty Vehicle Maintenance Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Page 2 MinutesAuthority BoardMay 12, 2021 RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: William Norris, Vice-Chair SECONDER: Hollis Briggs, Board Member AYES: Corder, Norris, Hackney, Adams, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple 3. Authorization for Design-Build Procurement - Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant Interim Rehabilitation Phase 2 Project. RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: William Norris, Vice-Chair SECONDER: Hollis Briggs, Board Member AYES: Corder, Norris, Hackney, Adams, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple 4. Donation of Surplus Pipe to New Hanover County RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: William Norris, Vice-Chair SECONDER: Hollis Briggs, Board Member AYES: Corder, Norris, Hackney, Adams, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple 5. $462,000 Design-Build Contract with TA Loving Company for Mott's Creek Pump Station Project RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: William Norris, Vice-Chair SECONDER: Hollis Briggs, Board Member AYES: Corder, Norris, Hackney, Adams, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple 6. $1,145,796 Construction Contract Award to Bitting Electric Inc., for Kings Bluff Auxiliary Power Source RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: William Norris, Vice-Chair SECONDER: Hollis Briggs, Board Member AYES: Corder, Norris, Hackney, Adams, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple 7. $32,800 McKim & Creed Amendment #2 for Kings Bluff Pump Station Project Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Page 3 MinutesAuthority BoardMay 12, 2021 RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: William Norris, Vice-Chair SECONDER: Hollis Briggs, Board Member AYES: Corder, Norris, Hackney, Adams, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple 8. Approval for Write Offs for Uncollectible Accounts Mr. McLean answered questions about the uncollectible write-off amounts and collections procedure. Mr. Zapple moved to approve the item. Dr. Cannon seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: Rob Zapple SECONDER: Jessica Cannon, Board Member AYES: Corder, Norris, Hackney, Adams, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple 9. $60,000 Contract Amendment with Itineris for Monthly Billing System Modifications RESULT: APPROVED \[UNANIMOUS\] MOVER: William Norris, Vice-Chair SECONDER: Hollis Briggs, Board Member AYES: Corder, Norris, Hackney, Adams, Cannon, Briggs, Sneeden, Barfield, O'Grady, Rivenbark, Zapple VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Administrative Reports i. Attorney's Report Ms. Miles had no report for open session. She requested a closed session to discuss CFPUA's Motion to Intervene in NC DEQ v. Chemours. ii. Executive Director's Report 1. Key Indicators Report RESULT: REVIEWED 2. Environmental Report RESULT: REVIEWED 3. Safety Report Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Page 4 MinutesAuthority BoardMay 12, 2021 RESULT: REVIEWED 4. Customer Service Update - May 2021 RESULT: REVIEWED B. Committee Reports i. Executive Committee 1. Executive Committee - Regular - May 5, 2021 10:00 AM Mr. Zapple asked for further information regarding well testing for PFAS, an item discussed by the Executive Committee. Mr. Flechtner reported that CFPUA tested its emergency wells. Staff will talk to state and county health department officials, as those agencies had previously tested private wells. RESULT: NO ACTION REQUIRED ii. Long Range Planning Committee 1. Long Range Planning Committee - Regular - Apr 22, 2021 3:00 PM RESULT: NO ACTION REQUIRED 2. Cape Fear River Raw Water Allocation and Supply Overview The presentation was in the agenda packet for Board review. RESULT: NO ACTION REQUIRED iii. Finance Committee 1. Finance Committee - Regular Meeting - May 5, 2021 9:00 AM RESULT: NO ACTION REQUIRED 2. Monthly Financials Mr. McLean presented the financial data. The unrestricted fund balance on March 31 was $67,591,038. April 30 marked 83.33 percent of the year complete, with revenues at 83.8 percent of budget and expenditures at 84.08 percent. Volumetric water and sewer use is greater than budgeted. Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Page 5 MinutesAuthority BoardMay 12, 2021 RESULT: REVIEWED 3. Monthly Billing Timing Modifications Ms. Irick explained operational changes that will support the transition to monthly billing in October. Mr. McLean reported that billing tiers will be presented to the Board in November, to be activated in January 2022. RESULT: REVIEWED 4. FY 21-22 Recommended Operating Budget Mr. McLean presented the recommended FY22 budget. The public hearing for the budget will be held at the June 9 meeting and has been advertised according to North Carolina statutory requirements. The Board can adopt the budget at the June 9 meeting. The FY22 capital budget and System Development Charges have already been adopted by the Board, with a public hearing for the SDCs. The budget has no increase to water and wastewater consumer rates. The total operational budget is 2.2 percent greater than the current year's budget. The budget includes four new full-time employees, some equity adjustments to reduce attrition and meet market conditions, a 1.5 percent cost of living increase, and a 3 percent merit pool. The employer contribution to the Local Government Employees' Retirement System has increased. CFPUA's cost for health insurance has decreased, with no change in coverage. Debt service will decrease by $562,000 because CFPUA has paid some state revolving loans ahead of schedule and has reduced interest payments on 2019 bonds. RESULT: REVIEWED iv. Sustainability Committee 1. Sustainability Committee - Regular - Apr 22, 2021 4:00 PM RESULT: NO ACTION REQUIRED 2. Quantifying Customer Assistance Needs The presentation was in the packet for Board review. The Board discussed the flow restrictor program that CFPUA had previously considered before revising the delinquency and cutoff policy. Dr. Cannon reported that the Committee is Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Page 6 MinutesAuthority BoardMay 12, 2021 pursuing options to assist customers with bill assistance, including accessing local, state, and federal funding. Mr. Zapple added that staff's work had narrowed down the number of customers who might need continued assistance. RESULT: REVIEWED VIII. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. IX. AUTHORITY Q & A/CLOSING COMMENTS There were no additional questions or comments. X. CLOSED SESSION Mr. Barfield moved to enter closed session to discuss CFPUA's Motion to Intervene in NC DEQ v. Chemours. Mr. Norris seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The Board entered closed session at 9:55 AM and received a report from Mr. Miles. Mr. Barfield moved to return to open session. Mr. Norris seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The Board returned to open session at 10:04 AM. XI. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Barfield moved to adjourn. Mr. Briggs seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The Board adjourned at 10:05 AM. The next regular Cape Fear Public Utility Authority meeting will be Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The Board will meet at 9:00 AM in the Wilmington Convention Center. Respectfully submitted, Donna S. Pope Clerk to the Board Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Page 7