STOKES COUNTY WATER
AND SEWER AUTHORITY
MEETING
JANUARY 10, 2008
The Stokes County Water and Sewer
Authority met in the Commissioners Chambers of the Ronald Reagan Building with
the following members present:
John Hawkins, Vice Chairman
Worth Hampton, Member
Arzell
Montgomery, Member
Wayne Smart, Member
Scott Snow, Member
Mark Delehant, Public Works Director
Julia Edwards, Finance Director
Brenda Carter, Secretary
Mr. Hawkins brought the meeting to
order.
Mr. Hawkins asked if there were any
discussion of the minutes of November 8, 2007.
As there was no discussion, Mr. Montgomery made a motion to approve the
minutes, seconded by Mr. Hampton and the motion was approved.
INTRODUCTION
OF NEW MEMBER
In the absence of Bryan Steen, the
county manager, Mark Delehant introduced the new member, Scott Snow, to the
Board. Mr. Snow informed the Board of
his background and expertise he was bringing to the Board. The members welcomed Mr. Snow. Swearing in of the new member will be at the
February meeting.
Mr. Hawkins asked for a motion to
approve a new chairman. Mr. Smart made a
motion to approve John Hawkins as the new Chairman, the motion was seconded by
Mr. Hampton, and was unanimously approved.
Mr. Montgomery then made a motion to approve Worth Hampton as the Vice
Chairman, seconded by Mr. Smart and the motion was unanimously approved.
FEES
SCHEDULE
Mr. Hawkins asked Mr. Delehant to speak
to the Board concerning the new fees schedule.
Mr. Delehant then reviewed the information that he had given the Board;
current water rate information on other water systems in the area and figures
regarding the present cost of operation and a copy of a Winston-Salem water
bill to point out their justification for their most recent increase was to
“pay for water/sewer capitol projects”.
Mr. Hawkins gave each member a copy of Water
Rates figures that he had compiled for water usage, fees and amounts that might
be added to the revenue.
Mr. Hawkins noted that there was a large
amount of water being unaccounted for, but Mr. Delehant had a system in place
that would check the amount of water being used and who was using it.
Mr. Montgomery noted that the Town
of Walnut Cove had been using water from the Authority due to the fact they had
no water in their tanks. He noted that
this was not normal and the Authority could not rely on getting revenue from
this source on a regular basis. Ms.
Edwards noted that she could not bill for water usage in the past because she
could not get a water reading and even though there was a meter, the meter had
not been read. She had billed at one
point on an average of water usage.
Mr. Delehant noted that he and Mr. Hawkins
had met with the Town Manager of Walnut Cove, Homer Dearmin,
about becoming a regular customer. They
would be set up as a regular customer, charged $16.00 availability fee and
would pay the same rate as the SCWS Authority pays the City of Winston-Salem.
Mr. Montgomery noted that he did not agree
with this, that they should be charged more than the Winston-Salem rate. He
noted that the Town of Walnut Cove is charging their customers and the SCWS
Authority Board should be making a profit also.
Mr. Delehant noted that he had not
agreed to anything only that they could expect to be billed for the water
usage.
It was decided that the Board should
base the rates on the 145 customers that are now being served and not depend on
the Town of Walnut Cove as they may not use water the coming year and only
depend on their $16.00 availability fee.
Mr. Delehant noted that he had spoke
with the officials from Winston-Salem today and they informed him that the
flushing at the end of the line, they will give him a meter and everything that
goes through, they will be crediting back to the Authority. The Board was very glad to hear this.
After further discussion, concerning
a rate increase for the Highway #65/Germanton users and a notice to go out in
the February billing informing the customers of this increase, Mr. Montgomery
made a motion to approve a rate increase from 2.76 to 3.10 per thousand gallons
of usage, beginning with the March billing, seconded by Mr. Hampton and the
motion was unanimously approved.
After further discussion Mr. Smart
made a motion to charge the Town of Walnut Cove a $16.00 availability fee. The motion was seconded by Mr. Hawkins and
was unanimously approved.
The Board then discussed water rates
for Walnut Cove. After discussion Mr.
Montgomery made a motion to charge the Town of Walnut Cove a flat rate of $3.10
per thousand gallons, the motion was seconded by Mr. Hampton and was
unanimously approved. Mr. Montgomery
amended the motion to be effective immediately, seconded by Mr. Hampton and the
amended motion was approved unanimously.
Mr. Hawkins then brought to the
attention of the Board, resolution changes to the current SCWS Authority Water
System Policy that was adopted December 14, 1999.
Mr. Hawkins gave each member a copy
of changes that he recommended, as follows:
Article II Sec 30 ( c ) Delete all
Add:
Per Usage Rate. Germanton Water
Customers will be charged per 1,000 gallons of water furnished through each
meter per monthly billing period as set forth in the fee schedule.
Article II. Sec. 30 (d) Delete: $12
per month
Add: $16 per month
Article III Sec. 42. Add (b) (3)
Water Rates.
Residential/Small Business _______per 1,000 gallons
Town of Walnut Cove $3.10 per thousand gallons
Article III Sec. 42 (b) (1) Add:
3” Tap ________
6” Tap ________
Note: A cost recovery fee may be applicable, depending
on location. Where the County’s cost
exceeds these tap fees and/or meter fees, the charge will be based on the
actual cost plus 20%.
With discussion of tap fees, it was
noted that with residential customers, the tap fees be paid as a lot is
sold. Ms. Edwards questioned the cost
for a ¾ inch tap that the cost was $1,500 and Mr. Delehant noted that this was
correct, but a clause should be added that if the installation exceeded this
amount that it would fall into cost plus 20%.
Mr. Hawkins noted that he had included this in the paragraph of his
recommendations.
Mr. Hawkins noted that there was a
motion to eliminate the 1½ inch tap fee and to add all other tap fees will be
at a cost plus 20% and to note at the bottom of the page that this will cover
all tap fees.
Ms. Edwards noted that she
understood that if a citizen came in they would be charged $1,500 for a tap on,
but if a developer comes there will be no charge. Mr. Hampton noted that a developer pays for
installing the system and then gives the system to you. Mr. Delehant noted that there are no
specifications to give to a developer for the correct pipe to use and the pipe
has to be the same to be able to maintain the system.
Mr. Hawkins then asked if the Board
approved the changes to the resolution.
Mr. Hampton made a motion to approve the changes to the resolution,
seconded by Mr. Montgomery and the motion was unanimously approved.
WALNUT
COVE NEW DEVELOPMENT
There was discussion concerning the
new development in Walnut Cove and where they would be connecting to the water
lines. Mr. Hawkins noted that he had been informed by Lisa Edwards that the
developer was tapping into the Walnut Cove side of the system. Mr. Montgomery noted that a turning lane
would be required and the vault would have to be moved at that time, and who
would pay for this and who would it benefit.
After discussion Mr. Hawkins noted that he and Mr. Delehant could meet
with the Town Manager to discuss this issue. This matter was tabled until the
next meeting.
Ms. Edwards noted that she had
positive response from the customers concerning the new billing system. There had been a few problems with
addressing/billing, but this was being addressed.
Mr. Hawkins noted with the matter of
the Christian Child Care Center that this was taken care of and Ms. Edwards
noted that it had been.
Mr. Snow addressed the issue of the
delinquent bills and if they had been caught up. Mr. Delehant noted that with the billing sent
out, there was a set date that if these were not paid they would be turned over
to NC Debt Clearing and this will be pulled out of their state taxes.
Mr. Hampton asked the status on the Golder Associates Project and Mr. Delehant noted that the
next step was to contact property owners to get their approval to do testing on
their land.
The Board agreed that the next
meeting would be February 21, 2008 at 3:00 and with there being no further
business to discuss, Mr. Hampton made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr.
Montgomery and the motion was approved.