Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

Glynn County Board of Commissioners

4:00 P.M., Tuesday, February 20, 2001

Third Floor Conference Room

W. Harold Pate Courthouse Annex Building

Brunswick, Georgia

 

 

Present:

                        Committee Members: M. Bedner and F. Tullos

                        Commissioners: 

Staff: J. Bruner, W. Davis, R. Guarracino,  U. Keller, P. McNicoll, D. Newbern, J. Sanders, K. Thomas, and  K. Taylor

Press:  M. Permar

Others: 

 

 

1.                  Consider approval of the Consent Agenda

a)      Approve the January 23, 2001 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes.

b)      Approve the February 6, 2001 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes.

c)      Deny a request by Mr. C. Harold Turner that $20.00 paid in penalties on tag registrations be refunded.

d)      Deny a request by Ms. M. Tyson that $25.01 paid in penalties on tag registrations be refunded.

e)      Approve the corrections to the 1998, 1999 and 2000 digests as recommended by the Board of Assessors and/or Chief Appraiser at their January 17, 2001 meeting.

f)        Approve the corrections to the 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and temporary digests as recommended by the Board of Assessors and/or Chief Appraiser at their February 7, 2001 meeting.

The following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Tullos passed unanimously.

Recommend approval of the Consent Agenda.  (Vote 2-0-0)

2.                  Consider accepting the joint proposal from Jordan, Jones & Goulding and Advanced Environmental Management, Inc. to provide the Contamination Assessment Report for the Cate Road Landfill with funding from the Solid Waste Disposal Fund.

Mr. Jim Bruner, County Engineer, had not yet arrived and this item was postponed until after Item #4.  Mr. Bruner presented this item and Commissioner Tullos asked if staff had known that the problem was coming.  Mr. Bruner stated that it was expected but not this soon.  Commissioner Tullos asked if there was public water in that area and Mr. Bruner said that there is a well adjacent to the railroad tracks and that there is only vacant property near the well.  He said that there is a chance that the contamination is from the railroad.  After an inquiry by Commissioner Bedner, Mr. Bruner stated that he was not a solid waste engineer but that Ms. Rebecca Rowell was a former certified landfill operator and Steve Mellinger was a landfill operator and that he conferred with the two of them concerning landfill issues.  After discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Tullos passed unanimously.

Consider accepting the joint proposal from Jordan, Jones & Goulding and Advanced Environmental Management, Inc. and enter into a new contract with them to provide the Contamination Assessment Report for the Cate Road Landfill as required by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division rules, with funding from the Solid Waste Disposal Fund.

3.                  Consider approval of the acquisition from the Department of Interior of approximately ten acres of property at Blythe Island Regional Park, authorize the Chairman to sign the agreement, and to approve funding for estimated expenditures of $2,700.00 to complete the following within three years:

1)      Connecting existing walking and hiking trails to ten (10) acre tract (sixteen (16) labor hours), 

2)      Establishing signage through traffic division zz9eight (8) labor hours for installation), and

3)      Construction of wooden viewing platform for marsh viewing (sixteen (16) labor hours).

 

Mr. Wesley Davis, Recreation Director, stated that the ten acres of property backs up to the Park and the acquisition would not cost the County anything.  Commissioner Bedner questioned whether there was a secure location for Park equipment and Mr. Davis stated that they needed to build a building to house equipment.  He said that the Recreation Department has had thefts in two of the last five years.  After discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Tullos passed unanimously.

 

Recommend approval of the acquisition from the Department of Interior of approximately ten acres of property at Blythe Island Regional Park, authorize the Chairman to sign the agreement, and approve funding for estimated expenditures of $2,700.00 to complete the following within three years:

1)  Connecting existing walking and hiking trails to ten (10) acre tract (sixteen (16) labor hours),

2)  Establishing signage through traffic division (eight (8) labor hours for installation), and

3)  Construction of wooden viewing platform for marsh viewing (sixteen (16) labor hours).

(Vote 2-0-0)

 

4.                  Consider adopting the increased Blythe Island Regional Park rates as outlined:

 

 

Mr. Wesley Davis, Recreation Director, presented this item and stated that the Recreation Department had been charged with developing plans to recoup some of the losses at the Blythe Island Regional Park.  He said that the requested rates are in line with other marinas and parks in the area.  In response to questions from Commissioner Tullos, Mr. Davis stated that he was requesting to sell gasoline at 20% above cost.  Commissioner Tullos requested that Mr. Davis discuss the rate increases with Commissioner Tommy Clark before the County Commission meeting since the Park is in his district.  Mr. Keith Taylor, Assistant County Attorney, requested clarification on the meaning of “market” price for bait.  Mr. Davis stated that it was the market price for retail sale of bait in this area.  After discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Tullos passed unanimously.

Recommend adopting the increased Blythe Island Regional Park rates as outlined:

 

(Vote:  2-0-0)

5.                  Consider accepting the $200,000 TEA-21 grant funding for the Coast Guard Restoration Project – Phase II, and direct staff to budget $50,000 in either cash or in-kind dollars as matching in the County’s FY 2001/2002 budget, including a total of $20,500 (41%) cash from the Coastal Landmark Society and authorize the Chairman to execute appropriate grant documents as required by Georgia DOT, subject to approval by the County Attorney.

Mr. Dick Newbern, Grants Administrator, informed the Committee that he had received a commitment from the Coastal Landmark Society to pay 41% of the County’s match and requested to include that correspondence in the Commissioners’ packets.  After discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Tullos passed unanimously.

Recommend accepting the $200,000 TEA-21 grant funding for the Coast Guard Restoration Project – Phase II, and direct staff to budget $50,000 in either cash or in-kind dollars as matching in the County’s FY 2001/2002 budget, including a total of $20,500 (41%) cash from the Coastal Landmark Society and authorize the Chairman to execute appropriate grant documents as required by Georgia DOT, subject to approval by the County Attorney. (Vote 2-0-0)

 

 

 

6.                  Consider authorizing staff to file a $13,500 federal funding application with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and that the Chairman be authorized to sign appropriate grant application documents.

Dick Newbern presented this item.  Commissioner Tullos asked whether the project would cost anything and Mr. Newbern stated that the County has four other grants as funding sources for the Altamaha Park Pier project.  He stated that this NOAA grant is very competitive grant.  Commissioner Bedner asked about our alternatives if the grant was not approved and Mr. Newbern stated that staff would continue to search for additional funding.  Commissioner Bedner suggested that should consider pulling the audio-visual from the project because of the possibility of vandalism.  After discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Tullos passed unanimously.

Recommend authorizing staff to file a $13,500 federal funding application with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and that the Chairman be authorized to sign appropriate grant application documents.  (Vote 2-0-0)

7.                  Consider that Thomas & Hutton Engineering Co be awarded the contract for engineering services for the Phase II improvements of the SSI WWTF in the amount of $197,000.00 with funding to be provided by the FY01 SSI Water & Sewer Capital Fund.

Mr. Uli Keller, Acting Utility Manager, presented this item.  Commissioner Bedner questioned why the Engineering services were not competed by issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP).  Mr. Keller stated that Thomas & Hutton has performed the engineering work for Phase I and that there would be more continuity in the project for them to perform Phase II work also.  Commissioner Bedner stated that a contract this large should be competed.  After discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Tullos passed unanimously.

Recommend awarding to Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company the contract for engineering services for the Phase II improvements of the St. Simons Island Wastewater Treatment Facility in the amount of $197,000.00 with funding to be provided by the FY01 St. Simons Island Water & Sewer Capital Fund.  (Vote 2-0-0)

8.                  Consider that Coastal Engineering Consultants be awarded the contract for engineering services for a replacement well in Mallory Circle Park in the amount of $19,250.00 with funding to be provided by the FY01 SSI Water & Sewer Capital Fund.

Mr. Uli Keller stated that the Mallory well is one of two primary wells that provide water to the north end of the Island.  He also stated that an archeological survey has been done.  Commissioner Bedner questioned whether this was a corrective measure and Mr. Keller confirmed that it was.  After discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Tullos passed unanimously.

Recommend awarding to Coastal Engineering Consultants the contract for engineering services for a replacement well in Mallory Circle Park in the amount of $19,250.00 with funding to be provided by the FY01 St. Simons Island Water & Sewer Capital Fund.  (Vote 2-0-0)

9.                  Consider authorizing a payment of $367,981.42 to the City of Brunswick for sewage processing at the Academy Creek Facility with funding to be provided by the Water & Sewer Operating and Maintenance Fund fund balance.

Mr. Uli Keller stated that the bill has been verified by staff and staff recommends payment to the City.  Commissioner Bedner requested that Assistant County Attorney to get information about the agreement with the State of Georgia concerning the Welcome Center.  After discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Tullos passed unanimously.

Recommend authorizing a payment of $367,981.42 to the City of Brunswick for sewage processing at the Academy Creek Facility with funding to be provided by the Water & Sewer Operating and Maintenance Fund fund balance.  (Vote 2-0-0)

10.              Request that Chairman Tullos identify the Finance Committee items which should be included as consent items in the Commission’s Meeting Agenda.

Commissioner Tullos identified all items (1-9) as consent items for the March 1, 2001 Commission Meeting Agenda.