COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC WORKS Minutes of February 28, 2005 The regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Public Works was held on Monday, February 28, 2005, at 4:00 p.m., in the boardroom at 121 West Court Avenue. In attendance: Gene P. Hancock, Steve D. Reeves, Jr., William Patrick Michael G. Monaghan, Kenneth M. Barnett, Jeff Meredith Henry O. Watts, Denise Giannetti-Walsh, Stacia H. May Scott Banks, Charles Schulze, Jeff Auman Jeff Fowler, Curtis Burnett
I. Chairman Monaghan called the meeting to order and Commissioner Hancock gave the invocation.
II. Chairman Monaghan gave the statement of compliance with the notification provision of the Freedom of Information Act.
III. A motion was made by Commissioner Hancock to approve the minutes of the January 24, 2005 regular meeting; Commissioner Watts seconded and the motion was unanimously approved.
IV. Chairman Monaghan noted that the financial statement was just received. Ms. Giannetti-Walsh pointed out that the budget numbers were not included and will not be included until the budget has been approved. Chairman Monaghan asked about the bad debt collection process. Mr. Reeves responded that most are collected through the set-off debt collection program where tax refunds are filed and there is a source of revenue. Mr. Barnett stated that as long as the customer moves within Greenwood County, the system is designed to let us know if there is an outstanding balance when they request service again. Commissioner Monaghan requested a report each month on bad debt that includes the total amount filed and recovered from the tax commission. Commissioner Watts inquired as to whether the system prevents someone with an outstanding balance from getting service in another person’s name at a later date. Mr. Patrick responded that staff is vigilant in trying to watch for and prevent this from happening but some still get through.
V. New Business:
A. Chairman Monaghan stated the need to open and consider bids at this meeting for a replacement pick-up truck in the electric department. Mr. Burnett stated that of the twenty-seven bids sent out, twelve were received. Chairman Monaghan opened the following bids: Ballentine Ford - $20,297; Ballentine Toyota - $23,288; Benson Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge - $24,190; Benson Nissan - $23,683; C. Thompson Automotive - $22,988; Carolina Ford - $20,099.65; Dave Edwards Toyota - $23,158; Love Chevrolet (state contract) - $20,503; Pendarvis Chevrolet - $22,049; Quality Chrysler of Greenwood - $24,801 – Simpsonville Chevrolet - $21,106; and Smith Chevrolet - $21,781. Chairman Monaghan asked why we were buying a truck with a seating capacity for six adults. Mr. Meredith stated that they had an extended cab truck and that in most cases that works fine around town, but when going out of town, there was not a vehicle to accommodate them. When the truck this will replace was totaled, they discussed getting a vehicle such as an Explorer, or a truck for more people to use on out-of-town trips. Once they started comparing prices, these trucks were right in the ballpark with the Explorers but allow the capacity to use them also as a truck to carry things to job sites. Mr. Reeves added that in checking the prices of Explorers, they are around $23,000. Mr. Meredith gave an example of a time when it would be necessary to have a vehicle available for a group to go out of town, such as when several are going to school for a week. He added that an Explorer will seat five people; this will seat six for about the same price. Mr. Reeves added that we can certainly share vehicles, but must also look at value for the dollar and if by adding another $1,000 we can get more uses out of the truck than another vehicle, that would be good. Mr. Reeves stated that Mr. Meredith would determine whether all bids met the specs mailed out and then return later in the meeting with a recommendation.
B. Chairman Monaghan stated that bids needed to be opened and considered for a meter pit for Fuji Film. Mr. Burnett then explained that a meter pit is a large concrete box set in the ground to run the lines and this particular one will actually have three different meters in it. Mr. Banks further explained the types of lines that will be run into the meter pit. He added that this one is larger than usual to allow for room to work and because three services are in this particular pit. Mr. Reeves added that Fuji has a major project coming up which necessitated opening the bids today. Bids were opened as follows: MST Concrete Products - $12,118.05; Tindall Corporation - $8,857.50; and RMC Mid-Atlantic - $17,133.90. Mr. Burnett stated they would review the bids and return with a recommendation later in the meeting.
C. A motion was made by Commissioner Hancock and seconded by Commissioner Watts to accept the low bid from Powers Solutions for an annual supply of bill forms at a cost of $9.00 per thousand; mailing envelopes at $15.55 per thousand; and return envelopes at $12.30 per thousand. The motion was unanimously approved.
VI. Other Business:
1. Mr. Reeves reported on an event on Tuesday, March 22, at 4:00 p.m., at the Adams Mark Hotel in Columbia. He added that this event will be hosted by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and is a meeting with the South Carolina Congressional Delegation. The Commissioners expressed their desire to attend and Mr. Reeves stated he would make the arrangements.
2. Mr. Reeves stated he and the Commissioners had received letters from an employee concerning the use of sick leave. Mr. Reeves stated that he had no particular need to address or discuss this unless the Commissioners saw an issue there. There was no further discussion.
3. Mr. Jeff Fowler with the Economic Alliance gave a project update. He then informed the Commissioners of one of the larger projects with some people coming in from Germany. He added that if it moves forward, there would be a big natural gas need. He informed them of four projects that are about 50/50 and would mean about 750 jobs. He stated they hired a new employee, Jamie Gilbert, who will be out on the road doing marketing and trade shows; also, John Lawrey is now the Marketing Director. They are trying to get a state grant for $500,000 for the biotech road project. If they get that project, they would like to look at bringing that into the city, and may need CPW’s help. After Mr. Meredith returned to the meeting, Mr. Reeves stated that Mr. Meredith had informed him that the low bid on the vehicle did meet the specifications submitted. He then recommended acceptance of the low bid from Carolina Ford in the amount of $20,099.65. A motion was made by Commissioner Hancock, seconded by Commissioner Watts, and unanimously approved to accept the low bid from Carolina Ford. Mr. Banks stated that the apparent low bid did not meet the specs for the meter pit. He therefore recommended the low bid that met the specs, from MST, Inc. in the amount of $12,118.05. Commissioner Hancock made a motion to accept the bid of MST, Inc., Commissioner Watts seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.
VII. A motion was made by Commissioner Hancock, seconded by Commissioner Watts, and unanimously approved to go into Executive Session to discuss legal matters.
The meeting returned to open session.
Mr. Patrick stated that discussion took place during Executive Session regarding mediation and settlement of the Carolina Contracting, Inc. claim, subject to approval by the Commissioners. He added that Mr. Reeves had reviewed that with the Commissioners and the Commissioners wanted to take the recommendation of the Manager and the Attorney to approve the settlement of the Carolina Contracting, Inc. claim in the amount of $42,500. A motion was made by Commissioner Hancock, seconded by Commissioner Watts and unanimously approved.
Mr. Patrick stated that the Solutia bankruptcy claim was also discussed during Executive Session. CPW’s total claim is $702,000; that part so far approved by the bankruptcy court is $637,000. Mr. Patrick asked the Commissioners whether they wanted to say to them that all would be treated the same or keep the $65,000 and see what happens with it. He stated that the developments that have taken place were reviewed with the Commissioners from firms that are in the business of buying unsecured claims in bankruptcy matters. They have been communicating regularly most recently with Merrill-Lynch and they buy unsecured claims at a discount off of what the bonds of the company trade for. The most recent information from them as of 2:00 p.m. today is that bonds are trading for $0.78 on the dollar and that they would probably pay somewhere in the upper $0.60’s cents on the dollar for the unsecured claim of the CPW. Discussion was held concerning this and the goal of the Commissioners is to approve a motion authorizing the Manager and the Attorney to work out a settlement at levels as discussed in Executive Session, with any settlement being subject to approval of the Manager and the Attorney, and if they need to deviate from what was discussed in Executive Session, get back in touch with each of the Commissioners. A motion was made by Commissioner Hancock and seconded by Commissioner Watts to authorize the CPW’s Manager and Attorney to conclude a settlement to sell the CPW’s unsecured bankruptcy claim including the total amount if possible for an appropriate amount on the dollar. The motion was unanimously approved.
VIII. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned. |