Newspaper Page Text
September 23, 2019, The Islander, Page 11
Burroughs updates JWSC
on Dorian preparation
By Pamela Permar-Shierling
Even though Hurricane Dorian did
not damage Glynn County the Bruns
wick Glynn County Joint Water and
Sewer Commission (JWSC) were
prepared and took the opportunity
to pump down the entire St. Simons
Island sewer system manually.
Interim Executive Director An
drew Burroughs reported to the com
mission in their regular meeting last
week (Sept. 19) that the exercise
went very well.
“There are 65 pump stations on
St. Simons and shortly before the ex
pected arrival of Dorian, staff had the
entire system pumped down in four
and a half hours in order to provide
as much sewer capacity as possible,”
Burroughs said.
“It was a good exercise because
we found a couple of minor problems
that we were not aware of and were
able to correct them,” he said.
“We had good communications
with the other agencies,” he contin
ued, “and we were well prepared.”
In other business:
• The commission awarded a
$216,000 construction contract to Bio-
Nomic Services, Inc to rehabilitate 55
manholes. According to Burroughs
there are 8,000 manholes through
out the JWSC system. Previously the
manholes had been repaired two or
three at a time, Burroughs said. “We
decided we could cut the cost in half
by lumping the work together so in
stead of costing $7,000 per manhole
the cost will be $4,000 per manhole.
The repairs will help eliminate I /
I (inflow and infiltration) into the
system.
As an aside, 90 manholes will be
repaired during the SPLOST North
Mainland work.
• The commission approved the
$15 million GEFA (Georgia Environ
mental Finance Authority) loan at an
interest rate of 2.38% to be paid back
monthly over 30 years. $10 million
will go to rehabilitate the Academy
Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
and $5 million will be spent on reha
bilitation of the Brunswick and St.
Simons Island sewer systems. GEFA
requires construction completion by
Feb. 2022.
Commission Chairman Ben Tur-
nipseed pointed out that the Academy
Creek design was underway; smoke
testing had been done on St. Simons
Island; Brunswick smoke testing is
underway.
Interest will not accrue until the
loan is drawn down and draws won’t
start until construction starts.
The loan documents now go to the
City and County Commissions for ap
proval as the taxing authorities.
• The commission approved the
unsolicited proposal from Hillpointe
Residential, LLC for improvements to
Lift Stations 4056 and 4059 and the
Old Cypress Mill Road Force Main.
The work will increase capacity for
the 240 unit apartment complex to be
located at 3061 Cypress Mill Rd.
• The commission approved mov
ing $1 million from fiscal year 2019
operating funds into the JWSC Re
pair and Replacement reserve. Ac
cording to Burroughs this will give
the JWSC $5 million in uncommitted
funds in the R&R Reserve.
• Burroughs notified the commis
sion that the JWSC has received an
award letter from GEMA notifying
them of a grant for 22 transfer switch
es for critical wastewater facilities.
The total cost approved was $58,762.
With a federal share of $44,071 and
state share of $5,876 the JWSC’s cost
will be $8,814. The JWSC has a total
of $3.1 million in two FEMA / GEMA
applications for disaster mitigation
funding.
During the Finance Committee
meeting (Sept. 18), where the 22
transfer switch grant also was dis
cussed, Burroughs said that GEMA
purchased a pool of generators for the
state.
“We (the JWSC) buy the switches
and borrow the generators,” Bur
roughs said.
He also said there may be an op
portunity to get generators outside of
this grant request.
During the Facilities Committee
meeting, the Magnolia Park Subdivi
sion water improvements were dis
cussed. The JWSC budgeted $1,150
million for this project but accord
ing to Director of Engineering Todd
Kline, the city wants the JWSC to
pay for the paving costs related to the
water line replacement, and the city
also wants the work done under the
road.
Kline said the options were to
place the new water line under the
street at a cost of $2.4 million (pav
ing priced at $1.4 million) or in the
road shoulder at a cost of $2.3 million
(paving priced at $1.5 million due to
curb and gutter replacement).
Commissioner Don Elliott said,
“We need to look at what’s best for
the JWSC in the long term not at the
city paving requirements.
After a brief discussion the facili
ties committee decided to support
placing the new water line in the
shoulder of the road which would
make future repairs easier since the
road would not have to be torn up.
The JWSC will also bid the project
two ways: open trench and trenchless
and compare the costs.
The Colors of Ute
Kleeman in Wilcox Gallery
Golden Isles Arts & Humanities
will host the vibrant Colors of Ute
Kleeman in the Millie Wilcox Gallery
opening with a community reception
during the First Friday festivities on
October 4 from 5-8 p.m. at the Ritz
Theatre in Downtown Brunswick.
The exhibit will remain on display
through November 22.
golden isles arts presents
& humanities
Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble
Hot Strings and Flying Feet
Friday, September 27, 2019
7:30 pm
Historic Ritz Theatre
A dazzling and diverse array of
traditional and original music and choreography
For reservations & information call
912.262.6934 or visit
www.goldenislesarts.org
Advance tickets
Members:
Adults $i5/Seniors $10
Nonmembers:
Adults $20/Seniors $15
Ticket price increases
day of show
Students always only $5
Welcome to Starke Florida! Just off highway 301
is Florida's most exclusive manufactured housing
community, Armadillo Acres. (OK it’s a Trailer
Park). Here you’ll find Jeannie the agoraphobic
wife of tollbooth collector Norbert. Throw in the
hilarious trio; Betty (the Trailer Park manager),
Lin (husband is on death row), and Pickles (suffers
from an hysterical pregnancy) as they sing us
through the lives of the folks at Armadillo Acres.
And let’s not forget Duke, the long lost boyfriend
of the new girl in town, the exotic dancer Pippi. Sit
back and enjoy this fast paced, over the top funny
musical. You’ll find yourself clapping your hands and
tapping your toes to the country-rock and blues
style music. Come join in the fun and forget your
troubles for a couple of hours.
**light adult humor
Casino Theatre
530 Beachview Drive
St. Simons Island
ww.theislandplayers.com
912-638-0338
Oh
1HI:
ifur«o
I I4MI f
Mkfjie & Liri«
*D&c/id 7ta
Bwk by
EVfSTc&o
Dates: Oct.4-6,KM3,17-20
Fn-ScT7:30 prr Sun matinee 3:00 pm
Thurs. Oct. 10 A l7iJ;30 pm
