COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC WORKS Minutes of January 24, 2005 The regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Public Works was held on Monday, January 24, 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, Phillip Bell, Jean Martin, Rebecca Steifle, Mike Kernels
I. Vice Chairman Monaghan called the meeting to order and Commissioner Hancock gave the invocation.
II. Vice 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 December 28, 2004 regular meeting, and the January 11, 2005 work session; Commissioner Watts seconded and the motion was unanimously approved.
IV. Vice Chairman Monaghan stated that he had e-mailed one question on the Financial Statement to Ms. Giannetti-Walsh. Ms. Giannetti-Walsh responded that she made a correction. Vice Chairman Monaghan commented on seven items that do not have a budget which overstates the variance and asked that those items be included with this budget.
V. New Business:
A. Ms. Rebecca Steifle with the Countybank thanked the CPW for the relationship earned and introduced Ms. Jean Martin in the Trust Service Department and Mr. Phillip Bell. She stated that Ms. Martin and Mr. Bell, who is partnering with Mr. Michael Nicks, will be managing the money in the accounts at the Trust Department. Mr. Bell reported on $5 million that was received last week and the Investment Policy going forward. He stated that these funds will be invested in government and government agency securities in the one to ten-year timeframe. Initially, those investments will be in the shorter end of that spectrum; as interest rates move up, those maturities will be extended out a little further. He stated that a Federal National Mortgage Association Bond was purchased last week at $250,000 that matures in 2008 with a yield of a little over 4%. He informed the Commissioners that as the federal funds rates move up, interest rates in general will drift up as well. He added that Mr. Nicks will be reporting quarterly at subsequent meetings.
B. A motion was made by Commissioner Hancock, seconded by Commissioner Watts, and unanimously approved to elect Commissioner Monaghan as Chairman.
A motion was made by Commissioner Monaghan, seconded by Commissioner Watts, and unanimously approved to elect Commissioner Hancock as Vice Chairman.
A motion was made by Commissioner Hancock, seconded by Commissioner Monaghan and unanimously approved to elect Commissioner Watts as Secretary.
The Commissioners noted that all terms would run through April 2006.
VI. Other Business:
1. Mr. Reeves reported on a request from the City of Greenwood asking that CPW staff work with Davis & Floyd on the lighting requirements for a parking lot they have now purchased adjacent to Rick’s Café. He stated that they will be paving that lot and are asking that we work with Davis & Floyd on the lighting requirements. They are also asking that we purchase and install the lighting as done on other City projects. Commissioner Hancock made a motion to approve the City’s request to include it in the annual exchange of checks, Commissioner Watts seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.
2. Mr. Reeves stated he had a second request from the City to install the generator at Fire Station #1. The labor and equipment has been estimated by Mr. Meredith at around $3,000. Commissioner Hancock inquired if they are buying the equipment and Mr. Meredith responded that they have bought the generator and transfer switch and are asking us to install and wire it. Commissioner Hancock made a motion to approve the request, with the labor and what is purchased on the generator included in the annual exchange of checks; Commissioner Watts seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.
3. Mr. Reeves stated that there are a number of projects that can be explained further by Mr. Banks for upgrades at the water treatment plant. He stated that these projects have been in the engineer’s hands for sometime, and we are approaching an opportunity to bid these projects. Normally, we go out on the open market for bids, as was done on the last project with the filter control upgrade. That project was to have been completed in September of 2004 and is still not complete. There are issues with the contractor that we hope to get ironed out within the next 30 to 60 days. Mr. Reeves stated that Mr. Banks’ request is to limit bidding to a list of eight qualified bidders on these upcoming projects. We are not likely to run into construction problems with these contractors as we have on other projects where we have simply taken the low bidder. He added that the engineers did a very detailed analysis and review of the firm that is doing the work now, they had a good reputation; there is no guarantee we will always eliminate that but we would like to restrict these projects particularly because of the coordination of efforts that will be required at the water treatment plant. Mr. Banks then explained that of the bond issue projects associated with the water plant, there are six or seven projects on the list that will be bid as a package. He stated that these projects will require a lot of coordination, and the plant will have to be shut down temporarily at different times throughout the projects. There will be a lot of digging around existing structures in the ground which could potentially result in issues with something torn up that could cause the system to shut down. Chairman Monaghan asked how the contractors were chosen. Mr. Banks stated that we already have relationships with some through past projects, including the three locals, Chandler, South Atlantic, and Kahn. Langston has also done work before and a couple of others were recommended because they have always done plant work. He then pointed out that these are $2 - $3 million projects and a lot of people can get bonded to do these type projects, it’s not like the $20 - $30 million large projects where you eliminate a lot of people because they can’t get bonded. Commissioner Hancock stated that when the plant is shut down, all the fire departments in Greenwood County and also some of the manufacturing plants should be notified well in advance. Mr. Reeves read the list of the qualified contractors identified either because they have experience with CPW, or have been recommended by the engineers or other utilities as follows: M. B. Kahn of Greenwood, Turner Murphy of Rock Hill, Goodwater of Greenville, South Atlantic of Greenwood, Famer of Norcross, GA, Langston of Piedmont, SC, Hickory Construction or Hickory, NC, State Utility Contractor of Monroe, NC, and Chandler of Ninety Six, SC. A motion was made by Commissioner Hancock, seconded by Commissioner Watts, and unanimously approved to authorize a selected bidders list for this set of projects.
4. Chairman Monaghan asked whether we are still pumping the sewer line to the new CVS. Mr. Reeves responded that to his knowledge, the line has never been approved and accepted by DHEC and Metro is still pumping sewer. Mr. Reeves responded he would check with DHEC on the status.
5. Chairman Monaghan requested that future water projects be put on the water project sheet for COC Planning. Commissioner Hancock requested that they also include whether annexation is being pursued with water projects in the City.
6. Chairman Monaghan asked about the sewer project on Cobb Road. Mr. Reeves responded that this is the project we initially tried to tie into a manhole on Cobb Road and Metro was concerned that it would be too shallow. We then tried to go down to a manhole behind the post office where the flow of the sewer line in place that is maintained by Metro is on a reverse grade. We asked if we could go in and correct the reverse grade and install our line into that one to save both Metro and CPW money. They rejected that idea, so we then went to a third place which is near the rear of the mall, and is also the longest run.
VII. A motion was made by Commissioner Hancock, seconded by Commissioner Watts, and unanimously approved to go into Executive Session to discuss legal, contractual, and personnel matters.
VIII. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned. |