HomeMy Public PortalAbout160_032_Infrastructure Committee Minutes - 10.10.13 INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE MINUTES
CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND
October 10, 2013
5 P.M.
ATTENDEES: Paul Wolff, Wanda Doyle, George Reese, Barry Brown, Joe Wilson,
Tom Groover and Diane Schleicher.
Approve the minutes of the previous meetings—Minutes were approved from the 9.19.13
meeting. * Audio not on at this time *
New Business: I. Tom Groover asked for an agenda item for next month's meeting; the
raising of the pumps in the well houses; it's in George's budget; we need to get started on
that; it should help with FEMA problems. George Reese states, I'd like to bring in an
engineer because you have technical in there; you've got electrical; you'll have to bring
in a well man; raise the casing up and all of that; pumps; generator. Diane Schleicher
states, I think we budgeted for 1 this year; suggests going ahead and getting a proposal
from Thomas &Hutton. George states that Chris (T&H) should be here next week and
we can talk to him then.
II. Paul Wolff asks if everybody got the word about the EPD; the
Governor's potential announcement; that's what I had been talking about that I learned
about at the Environmental Conference; I knew that we were going to get some State help
for drilling a well to the cretaceous aquifer; putting in a cooling reverse osmosis system;
then a pre-cooling and a post cooling and having it delivered as that; it's basically just
going to be like what Hilton Head has been doing on 2 of their wells; the good news is
that there will be an announcement the first part of November, that the Governor will
announce that the State is going to do that as a pilot project on Tybee; which is
essentially going to save us between$2,000,000 - $3,000,000, to set this system up; the
only downside is, a reverse osmosis plant is hugely, energy intensive; happily, we have
an option with very little investment, to put a 50 kilowatt wind turbine...not audible.
Old Business:
I. Public Safety Building Update—Mayor Pro Tern Doyle—Wanda Doyle states we
are on schedule with everything; the final bid package, advertising and all of
that, for the sub-contractor,the bids are due on 11.8.13; we are still scheduled,
right now, to break ground on 12.3.13; if everything goes as scheduled, we'll
be ready for demolition on 11.1.13; they have been given 30 days to remove
those 2 buildings; we will be having a groundbreaking, at some point in time.
II. Discuss New ADA Sidewalk on Eastside of Butler from 18th Street to 19th Street
a. RFP is out—due November 7, 2013 —Joe Wilson states, that's a 510 ft. X
5 ft. sidewalk; ADA pads, one on each end; and basically 3 driveway
roads going down through there; about a week before we start, I'll give an
intent notice to effected residents; they're already had prior notice and
invites to meetings; I'll put notices on the doors.
III. Update on Sewer Force Main on Jones and Miller:
a. Project Completed
IV.Update on Ally 3 Project—
a. Launch mat installed
V. Jones Avenue:
a. Engineering for water lines has started—Per email from Chris Stovall
(Thomas & Hutton), the water line plans are 95% complete. Diane
Schleicher states, I sent this email to everybody with all of the details and
updates.
b. Paving is budgeted for project which includes GEFA funding—Diane
states, Thomas & Hutton wants our most recent rate structure change and
our audit, which has already been completed; Diane states that when she
talked with Chris (T&H), he said he wants to bid the project out, sometime
in December, to award sometime in January; the only problem is, GEFA
doesn't meet until January; Chris recommends, and I agree with him, that
when we do the bids out, we say, everything is subject to GEFA funding;
bids would be valid for 90 days.
c. Discuss possible timeline for project
VI. Sewer Force Main#6:
a. Thomas &Hutton Engineering Proposal approved by city council on
September 26, 2013
b. GEFA loan will be used and paperwork handled by Thomas & Hutton
c. Discuss possible timeline for project
VII. New AMR System:
a. Installation in still in progress—George Reese states, the installation is
close to 80% complete; 2 more weeks they should have all the meters in;
there's a few bugs they're working on that has to do with Incode and
billing; the conversion.
b. Staff training still in progress
VIII. TRAILS PROJECT:
a. Project update—Diane states, they're still doing the environmental; the
biggest issue is they've got some areas that the Core might consider being
filled; so they want to discuss the option of trying to apply for a fill permit,
or look at other materials that the Georgia Power trucks can go over, that
are ADA; so they're in the process of sorting all of that out. Tom Groover
states, I thought Georgia Power didn't want any part of this. Paul Wolff
states, that's a good point; I suggest to ask Bubba(City Attorney)to pull
the easement and let us know what the terms are for the Georgia Power
portion; if the easement doesn't say that everything we do within that
easement has to accommodate Georgia Power trucks, then let's just do this
the way we need to for biking.
IX.Beach Rake &Tractor Replacement
a. Committee recommendation regarding permit to city council—Paul states,
my personal opinion, which I know is a minority here, I think it would be
a waste of time and money, trying to get a permit for that; especially based
on what they did for the Sponge Bob Movie when they said they couldn't
even rake the beach; they had to bring in their own sand; that pretty much
gave us an indication of how they would deal with a request to rake the
beach on a regular basis. Tom Groover states, I don't disagree with
anything you've said, but I think Tybee needs it; it is a habited island
that's a recreational beach. Joe Wilson states, I've talked with Deb and
Carl (DNR); this new beach re-nourishment has thrown a kink in the
Core's and our plans; they're talking about, once that gets re-nourished,
there's new laws coming out that we will not be able to engineer the
beach; we may not even be able to remove turtle nests; it's new Federal
and State laws; that's what Carl told me; they're re-vamping it. Paul asks,
I'm guessing that will be a condition with getting Federal money for the
re-nourishment. Joe states, I don't know; but you know it's the pledge
with the Core of Engineers, they always yield to the State level; so the GA
DNR is going to have input into that; they always say, if the states okay
with it, we're okay with it; that's the way the Core of Engineers work; I
don't care one way or the other; if you want to buy it, I'll use it and see
what it does. Paul states, if they're depending on DNR's
recommendations, DNR has already suggested that we not do this. Tom
states, I'm not saying we need to go out and buy this thing right now; but I
think that Tybee needs to fight the DNR, to get approval to do things on
the beach that are more recreational and friendly to tourists. Barry Brown
states,before it's over, they will take a community like ours, with enough
regulations that the stuff will build up on the beach and we won't have a
beach anymore for tourists; it'll be all rack and seaweed. Diane Schleicher
states, I would like to get a recommendation from this committee, as to
what we should apply for; do it year round; St. Patrick's Day to Labor
Day; the DNR told us they were looking for some specifics. Joe states, I
would like to limit it to certain locations and certain times of the year.
Tom states, I think we need to do it whatever we feel the "season"is;
weather its March through October or when the lifeguards start and stop;
and only do 13th St. to 19th St., once a week. Joe states, they said we could
probably do it there and at Center St. and North Beach; basically, where
you have the lifeguard stands. Paul asks, so that's your recommendation,
Tom, that we do it when the lifeguards are on duty and once a week; Paul
asks Barry, do you want to second that motion. Barry states, yes, I second
the motion. Paul asks Tom, so this is a recommendation to Council that we
apply for a permit to do that. Tom replies, yes. Joe states, you're going to
have a 90 day process; 30 days for DNR review; 30 days for Public
comment; and 30 days to review the Public comments; then you go before
the committee, whenever they meet, and ask for the permit. Paul states, so
the vote is 2-1 in favor of the recommendation.
With no further business to discuss, Paul Wolff asked for a motion to
adjourn. Tom Groover motioned to adjourn. Barry Brown seconded.
* Portions of this meeting, in the beginning,were not available for transcript, due to
audio not on.
A quorum of city council members may be present which would constitute a meeting.
Respectfully submitted by Karen Reese on 11.12.13