HomeMy Public PortalAbout20060511WSCommMinutes.docWater & Sewer Committee Meeting Minutes May 11, 2006
Chairman Eddie Crone called the meeting to order at 6:00PM. In attendance were committee members Doyle, Wolff, Bill Lovett from Hussey Gay Bell and DeYoung, Mark Williams Water Sewer
Department Director, City Attorney Bubba Hughes and concerned citizens.
Ms. Doyle motioned to approve minutes from April 13, 2006 meeting, Wolff seconded, and the minutes were approved.
Mark Williams explained that plans and submittals have been given to the Department of Transportation concerning the extension of sewer down Hwy 80 to Cason Ave and they sound favorable.
He said the city has certified plans. Ms. Fox said the IFB has not been released yet because she is uncertain whether the engineer has to sign off on it. Mr. Hughes said the city
may need to have a liquidate penalty if it takes longer to complete. He said they plan to put it out for bid to get the amount and then cost share would be negotiated. He said he understands
there are property owners that will benefit from this plan but they are not a part of it. He said he thinks assessments are the fairest way to get the needed funds. Mr. Wolff said
we need to get an estimate and work out a percentage divided by the number of properties and assess them that much or a percentage of that plus the amount the city has budgeted. Mr.
Hughes said the assessments could be based on parcel size. Mr. Hughes said they have to come up with a fair way to do them. The next step is to put the project out to bid. Ms. Fox
asked if the liquidated damages clause needed to be included. Mr. Crone said the property owners had the engineering plans done. Mr. Hughes said he would talk with Mr. Boswell and
find out what clauses he recommends.
Ms. Doyle asked if this is Phase I and where does it leave Cason Ave. Mr. Crone said that would depend on when the money comes in. He said there is no sense in the city running line
down there if the property owners are unwilling to put the pumps in. Ms. Fox said she recommends putting Cason Ave. in next year’s budget. Mr. Williams said Cason Ave. is not at an
elevation where the city could run sewer to them but maybe the next step may be grinder pumps for those 5 or 6 properties. He said at that point they will have to decide if they want
the people to purchase the grinder pumps or not and who will maintain them. He said they cost about $3500 a piece and he is certain they will get some opposition. Mr. Lovett said that
is just the purchase price without installation. Mr. Williams said another option would be for the city to put a submersible grinder pump station in. Ms. Doyle said they could look
at that for next year’s budget. She said on her street they had to buy their own grinder pumps. Mr. Williams said any grinder pumps in the city are not maintained by the city and they
are purchased by the homeowners.
Mr. Crone said the EPD will eventually make the property owners get on the sewer line. Mr. Wolff asked why some of the properties that are within 200 ft of the sewer line are not tied
in. Mr. Crone said that is why they are putting a list together of the people in that location still on septic tanks. Mr. Williams said he went to Chatham County Health Department to
get a list of properties still on septic tanks and they were all from the 60s
and 70s. He was surprised there were so many considering that there is sewer available in most locations. He said he did not know if they all still existed. Mr. Crone said those people
would not be charged for sewer on their water bill so that would be a starting point. Ms. Fox asked that they show the clusters on the zoning map of where the septic systems exist.
She said Claire and Chuck had gone out and looked at those properties.
Mr. Wolff motioned to put Phase I Hwy 80. out for bid and including all recommendations from the engineer. He said we can divvy it up after we find out how much it will cost. Ms. Doyle
seconded and the motion carried. Mr. Wolff said it will not include Cason Ave. Mr. Williams said the only thing they are waiting on is the DOT review. Ms. Fox said she will go ahead
and advertise the bid.
Mr. Anderson said DOT will not let them cut the road. Mr. Crone said they have a Jack and Boar and they will go under Hey 80 at McKensie St. Mr. Williams said they will have to use 2
Jack and Boars.
Mr. Crone said the only way the city can know if a property is on septic is by knocking on the doors. Mr. Wolff said the good news is that is only about 40 doors. Mr. Anderson said they
had talked about sending letters telling them they had to tie into the sewer line. Mr. Williams said the city of Vernonberg is on septic tanks and the city offers incentives for them
to maintain their tanks every couple of years and that is why they are allowed to have them.
Mr. Bill Lovett of Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung said council had asked them to look at the low pressure systems on South Campbell Avenue. He said they had talked with Mark about what
is existing and what he knew about it and then they went and looked at it. He said they recommend going in at the city’s expense and replace the existing 1 ¼ inch main with a 2 inch
sewer main and put a check valve at the property line that allows flow in only one direction. He said for them to tie the existing grinder pump systems into the city’s forced mains.
He said that way we know it is the right depth and we know where it is. He said the homeowner would not have to maintain that force main and the home owner would have double protection
because there is a check valve located in the grinder pump also. He said there should be an agreement that the city maintains the force main from the property line and the owner maintains
everything on his property. He said that means the grinder pump would be the homeowner’s responsibility and not the city’s because the city did not have anything to do with that installation
and it needs to be in writing. He said pump runs by electricity and if the power fails there is no gravity flow so the system doesn’t work. He said the pump that he saw on that property
did not have an overflow valve on it that he could see. He said it would be a pressure line and the water department could install it with a ditch witch. Mr. Williams said the hardest
part would be cutting the road because the city would want the line to go into a manhole. Mr. Lovett said they have started putting a lining in the manholes because of the hydrochloric
acid that comes in and corrodes it. He said their recommendation is to make it clear that the homeowner is responsible for what’s on his property and the city is responsible for what’s
on the street. Mr. Lovett said the city should not be liable for anything they do not know the quality of and the workmanship and materials that were used to install.
Mr. Lovett said the hardest part will be locating where the properties are tied in. Mr. Major said a man from Bellsouth told him there was Fiber Optics on Tybee. Mr. Williams asked
Mr. Smith if there is Fiber Optics on Tybee. Mr. Smith said yes all over the Island but he wasn’t sure there were any on South Campbell. Mr. Lovett said they have to call the locater
service to locate the lines anyway. Mr. Crone asked for Mr. Williams to put together a price for the water main installation and let them know. Mr. Williams said he would hope it would
be under $5,000. Mr. Major asked if 2 inch line would be enough. Mr. Lovett and Mr. Williams answered yes. Mr. Lovett said a 2 inch line can carry several hundred properties. Mr. Williams
said if they run that 2 inch line down to Horsepen Point the septic owners may need to tie in. Mr. Crone asked Mr. Williams to have prices together for the meeting next month.
Ms. Doyle moved to adjourn, Mr. Wolff seconded and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted by Vivian Woods