The Utilities Board of the Town of Cedar Bluff

July 17, 2018

STATE OF ALABAMA

CHEROKEE COUNTY

The Utilities Board of the Town of Cedar Bluff met for their regular business meeting Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. in the Utility Board room located at 4971 AL Hwy 68, Cedar Bluff Alabama. Meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m.

Roll Call:

Norman Burton	Absent Linda Pickelsimer Present

Cindy Early	Present Donald Sanders Present

James Bo Martin Present

To start the meeting, Chairman Martin recognized visitor Anthony Flippo. Mr. Flippo has been being charged for a second structure on his property for the past three months. Manager Harrell had gone back to check the property again recently and had instructed personnel to change the customer back to single billing. The change would be in effect for the August bill. Mr. Flippo requested a refund for the months charged a double bill. After discussion of Board policy, no action was taken.

Minutes for the June 19, 2018 meeting are first on the agenda. Chairman Martin stated he wanted to discuss actions taken in that meeting before minutes were approved. Chairman Martin thought the rate increase, which was approved in the previous meeting, was excessive. The increase left the minimum at $21.25 but raised excess usage over 2,000 gallons to $6.93 per thousand. The Board's current financials and debt were discussed. Chief Utility Clerk Jenni Burt presented the Board with a printout of other possible options for the increase. Option 1 started out at $5.50 per thousand gallons for 4, 000 usage, and going down in $.50 increments. Option 2 started out at $5.00 per thousand, and going down in $.50 increments. After some discussion, Manager Harrell suggested another option in between these two. He suggested the increments start at $5.25 and go down in $.50 increments. After discussion of the legality of rescinding the action taken in previous meeting, a motion was made by Donald Sanders to rescind the portion of the minutes that pertained to the $6.93 increase. Motion was seconded by Chairman Martin.

Motion Carried (4-0)

AYE: Early, Martin, Pickelsimer, Sanders

NAY: None

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT: Burton

Cindy Early made a motion to approve the June minutes with the rescinding of the paragraph containing the $6.93 per thousand gallons. Donald Sanders seconded the motion.

Motion Carried (4-0)

AYE: Early, Martin, Pickelsimer, Sanders

NAY: None

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT: Burton

Treasurer Linda Pickelsimer presented financials for the month of June. The water department had a gain of $4,243.19 and year to date gain of $38,534.26. The sewer department had a monthly gain of $6,072.47 and year to date loss of -$6,670.51. Both departments combined had a monthly gain of $10,315.66 and year to date gain of $31,863.75. Treasurer Pickelsimer made a motion to accept the financials as presented. Motion was seconded by Bo Martin.

Motion Carried (4-0)

AYE: Early, Martin, Pickelsimer, Sanders

NAY: None

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT: Burton

Treasurer Pickelsimer also presented the Board with a 9 month Budget Comparison. Treasurer Pickelsimer explained an overage in the Water System Maintenance of $852.21. The overage is due to the purchase of water meters to replace older meters that are over 1,000,000 gallons of usage.

In Manager's Report, Manager Jeff Harrell presented the Board with a printout of work performed by utility workers for the months of June. The log consisted of 19 water leaks, 2 meters replaced, 1 meter repaired, 2 pump station repairs, and 1 sewer leak with a total of 87 work orders performed.

In unfinished business, Cindy Early made a motion to decrease the approved rate of $6.93 per thousand gallons to the following: 4,000 from $6.93 to $5.25

6,000 from $6.93 to $4.75

8,000 from $6.93 to $4.25

10,000 from $6.93 to $3.75

Motion Carried (4-0)

AYE: Early, Martin, Pickelsimer, Sanders

NAY: None

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT: Burton

Also in unfinished business, Manager Harrell addressed complaints of the increase to service deposits. Deposits were raised in June from $150.00 to $400.00. After discussion, no action was taken.

Donald Sanders updated the Board on the impending sewer ordinance.

In new business, Manager Harrell informed the Board of a water customer that is interested in hooking onto our sewer system. The customer is not in the city limits but is within 100 feet of our sewer line. The Board has a policy in place since 2007 stating you cannot tie on to our sewer if you are not within the city limits. After further discussion, a motion was made by Chairman Martin to allow any customer to hookup to our sewer system if we supply their water service. Motion was seconded by Cindy Early.

Motion Carried (4-0)

AYE: Early, Martin, Pickelsimer, Sanders

NAY: None

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT: Burton

After assuring there was no other business, Donald Sanders made the motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Linda Pickelsimer.

Motion Carried (4-0)

AYE: Early, Martin, Pickelsimer, Sanders

NAY: None

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT: Burton

Meeting was adjourned at 5:40pm.

APPROVED August 21, 2018:

________________________________________________

JAMES W. MARTIN, CHAIRMAN

________________________________________________

JENNI BURT, SECRETARY