2026-09-17 - ONWASA Board of Directors

00:24director's meeting for Thursday,

00:26September 17 to order. And I'm going to

00:30ask everyone to stand as Pastor Brian

00:33Young, uh, pastor of Love, Grace, and

00:35Mercy Church, provides the imitation and

00:38remain standing for the pledge, pledge

00:40of allegiance.

00:44Amen. Father, we just thank you tonight,

00:46Lord God. We are eternally grateful for

00:48your grace and your mercy, Lord, upon

00:50us, God. We thank you God tonight that

00:52you God your spirit is here God lead

00:55these men God and these women Lord in

00:57making the right decisions God for this

00:59community. Thank you oh Lord for a

01:01spirit of cooperation father God that we

01:04will come to the best decisions God to

01:07God just further God Anwasa's goals and

01:10their vision Lord God to be what they

01:13need to be in this community father we

01:15thank you for leading and guiding us

01:17tonight in Jesus name. Amen.

01:19>> Amen. Amen.

01:22>> Face the flag. I pledge allegiance to

01:25the flag of the United States of America

01:28and to the republic for which it stands,

01:31one nation under God, indivisible, with

01:34liberty and justice for all.

01:37>> Thank you.

01:42We ask all those present to turn their

01:45cell phones off or to vibrate.

01:49Individuals making presentations, public

01:52comments are asked to adjust the

01:53microphones as necessary and speak

01:55directly into the microphone.

01:58This meeting is being recorded.

02:01All right. I need a motion to approve

02:04the agenda.

02:05>> So moved.

02:06>> Second.

02:07>> I have a motion and a second. All in

02:09favor say I.

02:10>> I.

02:11>> Any opposed? By the same sign.

02:14The agenda is approved and then we'll

02:17consider adoption of the consent agenda.

02:23>> I have a motion and a second. Anybody

02:25need anything removed?

02:28Royce, not the remove, but could I ask

02:29one question about one item just real

02:31quick for clarification in regards to

02:33the uncollectible water and sewer

02:34account write offs? I was just wondering

02:36if the number there was in line with

02:38historical averages or if that was

02:40higher or lower from what we've seen in

02:42past years. It is consistent.

02:45>> Thank Thank you. That's the only thing I

02:47was wondering how much.

02:49>> Yeah, I think what I remember seeing in

02:52the past, we're

02:54in pretty good shape there.

02:57>> Um, all right. So, we have a motion and

02:59a second. Can we approve the consent

03:01agenda? All in favor say I.

03:04>> Any opposed?

03:06All right. The consent agenda is passed

03:09and we move into

03:11business and the Camp Davis Wastewater

03:14Force main expansion and emergency

03:17connection. Mr. Lore,

03:24>> good evening directors.

03:28This item consists of two single prime

03:31construction contracts for the Camp

03:33Davis wastewater force main expansion

03:36and emergency connection project along

03:39with construction administration and

03:41observation services and funding for

03:44necessary easement acquisition.

03:48The project includes the following major

03:51components for contract one. It's the

03:54wastewater force main transmission lines

03:57construction, testing and startup

04:01of the wastewater force main

04:02transmission lines from the Camp Davis

04:04Industrial Park. [clears throat]

04:07South on Highway 50, north on Highway

04:1117, then east on Highway 172 to 210, and

04:16then to the Southeast Regional

04:19Wastewater Treatment Facility.

04:22This project also includes an emergency

04:24pipeline connection from the new force

04:26man that'll be constructed on 17 to the

04:30existing Holly Ridge wastewater

04:32treatment plant.

04:34This project includes the installation

04:36of approximately 55,237

04:40linear feet of 12 to 20 in C900

04:46PVC and ductal iron pipe [clears throat]

04:49and associated pertinances via open cut

04:53and directional drill.

04:55The ultimate average daily flow capacity

04:58of this expansion is approximately 1.8 8

05:01MGD.

05:03The apparent low bidder was uh Busco

05:07Contractors, Inc. at $9,988,100.

05:16The next item is contract two, which is

05:18the wastewater pump stations for this

05:21project.

05:23Uh construction, testing, and startup of

05:25two new wastewater pump stations. one

05:28located in the Camp Davis Industrial

05:30Park in the town of Holly Ridge and the

05:33second pump station located off Highway

05:36172 in the Oyster Landing subdivision

05:39area. Again, the apparent low bidder was

05:43Busco Contractors, Inc. at 7,881,500.

05:52Uh this item also includes construction

05:54administration and observation services

05:57by the design engineer of record which

05:59is high infrastructure engineering at

06:031,689,600

06:07and necessary easement acquisition costs

06:10of approximately $75,000.

06:14Uh I will make note that we had a

06:16tremendous uh bid activity for these pro

06:20for this project. We had uh 21 total

06:22biders. Wow.

06:23>> For the pipeline work, we had 13.

06:27And for the pump stations, eight. So

06:29that's that's a pretty good turnout. And

06:32the cost of the pump stations was much

06:35less than what our estimate was.

06:39>> I'm sure you've vetted them, but have

06:41you ever done any business with this

06:42company?

06:43>> No.

06:44>> So we really just hadn't done anything.

06:47What were they out of? Um,

06:51Angier,

06:55>> do do we have any

06:56>> the city?

06:57>> I'm sorry.

06:58>> I was just gonna say, do we have any

06:59concerns at all based on I mean, looking

07:00at the numbers, you guys sent them over

07:01to us and we looked at them and they

07:03were significantly lower on wastewater

07:05by about 2 million and about a million

07:06on the water. So,

07:07>> right,

07:08>> no real concerns. I mean, you're saying

07:10they were vetted by the vetted by the

07:12engineers, but I mean there that's a lot

07:15of competition. That's a

07:17>> it is a lot of competition. Uh if you

07:19look at the range of bids,

07:23it was it's quite a range from the low

07:25bid to the high bid. Um I will say that

07:30uh they were vetted pretty closely. Uh I

07:33had that conversation with uh the

07:36engineer before they started their

07:39review since we had not worked with them

07:42uh here at ona.

07:44And uh I'm comfortable with their

07:46recommendation to award the contracts to

07:50Busco.

07:51>> Maybe they're hungrier than everybody

07:53else.

07:54>> Well, that amount of

07:55>> Well, given the overall bid numbers, I

07:58think uh several people are

08:00>> getting hungrier than they than they

08:02were.

08:06Uh the action requested uh is to

08:08consider a motion to approve the amended

08:10project ordinance and authorize the

08:14chief executive officer to execute the

08:16construction contracts

08:18and any additional documents as required

08:20in connection with this action.

08:22>> Motion second.

08:25>> I have a motion and a second. Is there

08:27any other

08:27>> Yeah, I have uh as y'all know I came

08:31from the contracting world. I have a

08:33concern. I mean, I'm I'm not going to

08:35vote against it, but uh they're too

08:37cheap. They've got a problem. They don't

08:39realize it. It's hard to find your own

08:41problem when you when you bid these

08:42things. Uh I would have preferred to

08:45seen them perhaps drop out. Uh just

08:49because they've got a $2 million

08:52problem. That number for the pipeline

08:55looks to be in line somewhere in the 12

08:57to 13 range. They're they're down there,

09:00you know, 11 to to 12 range. They're

09:03down in close to 10. So I I think

09:06they've [clears throat] got a problem,

09:06but they just don't realize it. But u I

09:09don't know that we can do much. I mean,

09:10they are responsive. They've told

09:12they've told Highfield that, hey, we

09:14we've gone back through our our our

09:16work, and we don't see a problem. So,

09:19but uh I'm still going to vote for it. I

09:21just I just have a concern and I just

09:24didn't want to go without

09:25[clears throat] saying that we that I

09:26had a concern. Sir,

09:28>> do we uh do we investigate their

09:31financial position so that we know if

09:35they fail to perform that we have some

09:38>> recourse?

09:39>> We check references.

09:41>> They're bonded.

09:43>> They're bonded too, right?

09:45[clears throat]

09:45>> The bonding company actually does the

09:47the due diligence on their fi company's

09:50finances. So,

09:53>> but there is one little thing that they

09:54don't do. Um, you know, it takes money

09:57to to to mobilize and you know,

10:01sometimes when we did core of engineer

10:03projects, we had to show a balance uh

10:06statement that we had money in the bank

10:07that we could we could go the first

10:09month of of construction. We could

10:11[clears throat] mobilize the first month

10:13before we ever started getting paid for

10:15our work because you got to put the work

10:17in before you get start getting paid.

10:19So, uh, but hey.

10:22>> Okay.

10:22>> Anyway, I've said my my my two cents.

10:26[laughter]

10:26>> Good concern.

10:27>> Yeah. Yeah.

10:28>> Absolutely. If I may, Bob, I mean, those

10:30are the same questions I sent Frankie

10:31last Friday when I first read over the

10:33agenda, thinking the same thing about

10:34past performance and responsiveness and

10:36understanding the true requirement that

10:38that we're asking them to fulfill. Uh,

10:41and so forth. Uh the the trouble is when

10:44you when you when you get notified that

10:46uh by your the engineering company or

10:48architect that you're low, you you can

10:50go back and through your your bid as

10:52best you can, but but if you've got a

10:54blind spot going in, that blind spot's

10:57generally unless there's a major mistake

11:00that just jumps out of a math mistake,

11:02you're not going to find it. So, but

11:04hey, we'll we'll cross our fingers and

11:06and and hope hope for the best. So,

11:09>> I agree.

11:11>> All right. Any other discussion?

11:14Seeing none, all in favor say I.

11:16>> I.

11:16>> Any opposed?

11:18All right.

11:22Motion pack carries. And uh you're

11:25all right. Miss And

11:28senior associate at the Ferguson Group

11:31has a presentation for us. Welcome.

11:33>> Hello. I'm Andrean. Thanks for um having

11:37me here tonight um to speak. I know um

11:41I've met Chairman Bennett before and

11:43worked with uh Mayor Grant um and many

11:48of you I'm just now meeting but I'm very

11:51happy to be here. Um

12:00I am with uh the Ferguson Group. Um we

12:03do federal advocacy for local

12:07governments, municipalities,

12:09um special districts, authorities, all

12:12of those sorts of things. Um and have

12:14been doing so for 40 years. um

12:18specializing in getting appropriations,

12:22finding funding, implementing that

12:24funding, keeping

12:26uh keeping fees and things or things

12:31problems from popping up u that could

12:33cost you money. I say that uh my job is

12:37twofold. It's to find you money and to

12:39save you money. And I'll show you uh

12:43some specific examples of those things.

12:47uh here in a minute. Uh but I'll keep

12:50this pretty short so that you can ask

12:52questions and we can have a discussion

12:55if you would like on these specifics. Um

12:59I work with um Jeremiah who is also

13:04specializes in the uh water issues and

13:08infrastructure funding, military um

13:13funding which you are uniquely

13:15positioned to based on your position

13:17next to camp lune.

13:20Um we do kind of a fivestep

13:24uh process for identifying. So the first

13:27is what is what are your problems? What

13:30do you need? What are your needs? What

13:32are you worried about? Um and then look

13:35for opportunities. Um trying to find fit

13:40the puzzle pieces together of how we can

13:44make that work at the federal level

13:45because it's not as government's not

13:48always so easy and straightforward. Uh,

13:51and there's if it was then everybody

13:54would go, well, we'll just go to the

13:56water money pot. Well, there's several

13:58different water money pots at the

14:00federal level and they're spread out in

14:02different areas and you're eligible

14:04based on a lot of different criteria.

14:07So, it's finding uh finding those

14:10opportunities

14:12uh and then strategically uh planning

14:16your projects and putting it on the

14:18radar of your uh federal elected

14:21officials. Um working to submit projects

14:27for earmark appropriations.

14:29um working to get authorizations in

14:32bills like WERA to be able to fund

14:35projects a couple years out. Uh and then

14:38organizing that support with the

14:40delegation uh and making sure that uh

14:43your federal elected officials are

14:46listening um listening to you

14:50specifically.

14:52uh our expertise and my personal

14:55expertise aligns with uh working with

14:59water in North Carolina. I work uh this

15:01is all publicly available information uh

15:04with Capefir public utilities, Fateville

15:06Public Works uh and have had some really

15:09great success um with with those

15:12organizations finding funding for those.

15:15So, uh, those don't you're in a

15:18different area. That's not they are not

15:20in competition with you for those money

15:22because we're not going to the same

15:23places. We're not going to the same

15:25representatives for that. Uh, but it

15:27does give me a lot of experience with

15:29these issues because those issues are

15:32the same across the board. Fyville

15:34Public Works is located next to Fort

15:36Bragg, uh, similar to your proximity to

15:40Camp Leune. So, I have a lot of work

15:43with being able to talk with uh the

15:47Pentagon and the military bases and

15:50commanders and have a good working

15:53relationship and establish good working

15:55relationships

15:57um with those because that's you provide

16:00a very good service here and your

16:03proximity to Camp Lune is uh they the

16:08military wants to help and they want to

16:10make things easy for you. Um it's just

16:14explaining how those how your priorities

16:16and their priorities align, how you can

16:18make their lives easier um doing what

16:21you do. We work with policy development.

16:24So if you have an issue, um we will

16:28create a policy and try to work and get

16:30that policy passed. Um environmental

16:34infrastructure through the core. I'll

16:35give you a specific example of this in

16:38just a second. Um, but that's a really

16:42good opportunity for uh getting core

16:45money, core funding for projects. I have

16:48one pending right now with uh Capefar um

16:52for some of their uh long-term projects.

16:56We uh literally TFG wrote the WIFIA

17:00program. Our CEO, Roger Gwyn, wrote uh

17:04the Water Infrastructure Financing and

17:06Innovation Act, uh which pro provides

17:09long-term financing. Currently, North

17:12Carolina is the only state that does not

17:15have the same access to WIFIA as other

17:18states. However, we are actively working

17:21right now with the state to change uh to

17:25change that and remove those limitations

17:27because you are currently at a

17:29disadvantage not being able to take

17:31advantage of WIFIA which is um low fi

17:36low interest rate financing for

17:38long-term really big projects uh really

17:42big money projects um you know hundred

17:44million dollar uh type of projects uh

17:48creative engagement with the NDAA,

17:51National Defense Authorization Act. Um,

17:54that is something a lot of people don't

17:57a lot of other groups like you do not

17:58have access to um because they're not

18:02next to a military base. The uh NDAA has

18:05to be passed every year and uh Jeremiah

18:08specifically right now uh is working

18:10with a transit organization um in

18:14Virginia

18:15um and getting actually getting funding

18:18through the NDAA um for projects uh next

18:23to military bases. Uh we have really

18:26good agency and committee relationships

18:30uh in Washington DC. um so that when

18:34problems arise we can get people on the

18:36phone. Um we can get you in the room and

18:40have meetings. Um I can call I have

18:45happy hours and dinners all the time

18:47with the staff of um the your delegation

18:52and the committees to one hear about

18:55what's going on on the ground and then

18:57also be able to tell them your position

19:02influence policy and tell them what

19:05we're our concerns are because what our

19:08concerns are are also your congressmen

19:10and senators concerns. concerns too

19:12because you are voting constituents. Uh

19:16they really do care. I promise. Uh and

19:19then through annual appropriations. This

19:21is the really big one. Uh and this is

19:24where uh you can get a lot of projects

19:28funding if you are just submitting these

19:30projects. Uh I work every year to submit

19:33a pile of earmark requests um to a v to

19:38everybody but in your state here to

19:40senators and to u mur congressman Murphy

19:43in this district here. Um

19:46appropriations got a bad rep pork barrel

19:49spending way back in the day and that's

19:51why in 2012 they stopped doing earmarks

19:54um and for good reasons. They brought

19:56them back in 2023, but with a whole

19:59different set of restrictions,

20:02requirements. Uh there's no more just

20:05sending some money through and or

20:08sending an idea through and just getting

20:09the money there. Each earmark request is

20:12about a 75page packet uh that I fill

20:15out. Um it's not exceptionally

20:18complicated to do. It's just a very

20:20tedious process. You're gathering

20:22letters. They have a lot of follow-up

20:24requests. uh and so getting the

20:27knowledge of how to submit and get those

20:30projects funding behind the scenes. I

20:32work with uh the congressional offices

20:36ahead of time. So when they're getting

20:38that appropriation request,

20:39[clears throat] that's not a surprise. I

20:41work to long-term plan out with them how

20:45we can get these funded and what they're

20:47looking for each year. Um, Congressman

20:50Murphy

20:53from year to year changes, you know,

20:54what types of projects they're looking

20:56to fund. So, we then pick uh based off

20:59your priorities and your funding needs,

21:01what is going to align that year and

21:03then knowing in the next year they might

21:05be looking at a different focus. And so,

21:08it's strategizing with those offices

21:11uh to make it work for them, make their

21:14lives easier, and get your projects uh

21:17funded.

21:19I have two examples. Like I said, I work

21:22with Fagville Public Works uh and Kate

21:25Fear. Uh Kate Fear I have just worked

21:27with in the past year. Um but right now

21:31uh if they ever pass the

21:34uh appropriate budget bills this year.

21:36They have just voted to ex a continuing

21:39resolution to December. So these are on

21:41hold. This is business as usual uh in DC

21:45these days. Eventually, it gets done,

21:47but uh not ever on time. Um but they

21:51have a $1.83 million uh request right

21:54now uh for um some of their projects.

21:58This is one where we went uh a few years

22:02before and got the authorization in

22:04WERA. Um WERA is Water Resources

22:07Development Act. It is a two-year

22:10authorization. And in fact, the House um

22:12just voted on this version today, this

22:16morning, last night. Um and it's getting

22:20that wording in the bill to be able to

22:22then go after that money in

22:24environmental infrastructure

22:26[clears throat] appropriation bills

22:27later. Uh Fagetville Public Works, uh we

22:31have done a lot of work with I've worked

22:33with them for a couple years now. uh and

22:35they're right now currently uh drawing

22:37down the a $4.5 million request uh that

22:42they received from uh Senator Tillis. Uh

22:46and that was the work I did to uh get

22:50that request submitted and then lobby

22:53and advocate get that request approved.

22:56Um those it's really easy. I never worry

23:01about when people ask me, you know,

23:046,000 a month or 10, that's a lot of

23:06money. That is a lot. But I never worry

23:08about uh ever proving a return on

23:10investment. I've never had that issue.

23:15Um in my work pays for itself tfold

23:20oftentimes. I have many of my clients

23:23have a 30 to1 return on investment. uh

23:25it takes a little while to build that

23:28up, but you know, you can see that

23:30compounds on itself over time because

23:33the longer I'm advocating and working,

23:36the more chance you have of getting that

23:39money. Um the other thing, uh I

23:42actually, it's not water related, but I

23:45work with Holden Beach. the saving you

23:48money part is harder to quantify because

23:51it's easy to go look and see 4.5 million

23:55uh for an infrastructure project that

23:57you get and that's great but the saving

24:00money is where you it's hard to put a

24:03number sometimes on that but uh Holden

24:06Beach uh this past week we resolved an

24:09issue uh with they have a dred they were

24:12dredging they're doing a dredge they use

24:14the core army corps of engineers uh

24:17disposal site for this. Uh out of

24:20nowhere, they had been paying about $5 a

24:23cubic yard for disposal. Out of nowhere,

24:26the core tells them, "Yes, you can use

24:28the site as usual. That'll be $26 a

24:31cubic yard." Uh that was not budgeted

24:34for. [snorts] Uh Holden Beach

24:36[clears throat] is happy to pay, but a

24:38little planning in advance. Uh, I've

24:41spent the last three months with the

24:44Wilmington district, then followed by

24:47Core HQ, uh, dealing with this and

24:50arguing about that one, their

24:53calculation was wrong. Uh, it was just

24:56wrong. There was no way, uh, that that

24:58was true. Um, and it went back and

25:02forth, back and forth. We got an answer

25:04Thursday. Uh, that number is $10. So

25:08that's a savings of $16

25:11uh dollars air ins with 30,000 cubic

25:14yards of material. Uh that's $470,000

25:20saved. Uh just because we have the

25:23knowhow and the relationships with the

25:25Pentagon and Wilmington uh to be able to

25:28say no, that calculation is incorrect.

25:32Um, but that's not necessarily money

25:33back in their pocket, but that was money

25:35they were going to have to pay because

25:36they were going to have to do the

25:37dredge. Um, not specifically water

25:40authority related, but those are the

25:42types of things uh that I do to save

25:45money and keep you from having to spend

25:48money you didn't want to or didn't plan

25:49for. Um,

25:55general overview of how we work with

25:57communications. We have a lot of special

26:00reports of like for example Wera um we

26:05do a special report and tailor it to

26:07you. So how does WRA affect you? Uh and

26:11we send those reports out. We have

26:13meetings with

26:15um anybody you need us to have meetings

26:18with within and we establish how often

26:20you want those. I have some that are

26:22people are like ah every month is fine,

26:25every two weeks uh is fine. Uh some of

26:28my clients, it's no official meetings.

26:30They call me

26:32when they have issues and I keep them

26:34updated when I see things. Uh it's just

26:37how you want that to to work. Uh and

26:40then

26:42um giving you those reports. I think the

26:44day I met Frankie, I was actually

26:46editing a data center um memo report. I

26:51gave them the unedited. I hope there

26:53weren't typos in that. Uh [laughter]

26:55but [snorts] uh we do those and say, you

26:58know, how does that affect you? Um

27:00they're working right now on a lot of

27:03data center, energy, water types of

27:06things in DC right now. Uh nobody's in

27:08agreement. That's a very wishy-washy

27:10area right now where nobody really knows

27:13yet their position. Uh, and that's a

27:16really good area to be able to make uh,

27:20you know, help shape their opinion uh,

27:22and tell them how it would affect you.

27:26Those are really, really good

27:27opportunities.

27:30Uh, these are examples of our uh, like

27:33weekly reports. We send out the

27:35legislative update tells you what's

27:38going on, any bills that are reg uh

27:40would affect you or if interest you as

27:42well as grants funding which is all of

27:45the different grants uh that come out

27:47every week that you might be eligible

27:50for. I kind of call it a shopping list

27:53um to go after

27:57special reports. For example, we've got

27:59a midterm election coming up that it

28:01doesn't matter if the makeup of the

28:04House stays the same, majority stay the

28:06same. The dynamics in every Congress are

28:09different. Um, and so we look at all of

28:12those factors and then tell you what

28:14that is go what to look for. The

28:17priorities change with every

28:19administration. Uh and so we want to

28:22make sure that we're pushing the

28:24priorities that we have that are going

28:27to get the attention in that specific

28:29Congress and in that administration.

28:33That was a pretty quick overview. I

28:36wanted to keep it a little bit short to

28:38uh answer any questions you may have.

28:43>> Yes, sir.

28:44>> Ju just full disclosure, I actually

28:46signed a contract with that firm today

28:48for the town. Um, and it was

28:50[clears throat] because the work that

28:51she did with Topsil Island Shoreline

28:53Protection Group in the interaction that

28:55we had with an um that I mean full

28:58disclosure I pushed um because I felt

29:01that particularly in DC and probably in

29:04the state although the county is working

29:06on that now is we really don't have

29:09anybody looking out for our stuff and

29:11you know not that we think you're cheap

29:14but this is short money to be able to do

29:16that particularly the way the contract

29:17is structured. Um, but also Anna talked

29:20about earmarks coming back and financing

29:23and and a lot of this stuff is knowing

29:24what's out there. So, I just wanted full

29:26disclosure. We've already I literally

29:28signed the contract this morning. So, we

29:30had approved last board meeting. Um, so

29:33full disclosure.

29:35>> Yes, sir.

29:36>> How big a company are you? I mean, how

29:38many how much staff do you have? Because

29:40you got a lot of things going. It's

29:41obvious.

29:42>> Yes. Uh we have uh I think it's in and

29:4730 I believe

29:48>> how many

29:49>> 30 uh I think it's kind of a a small a

29:53small but very impactful firm. Our uh CE

29:56or our president Mark Limba uh was a

30:00secretary in the Bush administration

30:02worked for the interior. Um, and it's

30:06one of those we are small, but the

30:08connections and relationships we have go

30:12a really long way. And something else I

30:16was sitting here thinking, u, you know,

30:18there's only so much money in the pots

30:20and in this region, we're all competing

30:24for the same amount of money. How do

30:25y'all handle that part of it?

30:28>> So, I actually did a lot looking at

30:32where you are. Uh there are act like

30:35there are laws that would prohibit me

30:38from uh actually you know conflict of

30:40interest wise um and I wouldn't take

30:44somebody who I was going to be in

30:46conflict with any of my other clients.

30:48So my concern was that I worked with

30:49Capefir and Fagatville, but that money

30:52uh and they have different in fact

30:54Fagatville uh Congressman Hudson does

30:56not earmark. They are at a disadvantage.

30:59So we have to go differently.

31:01Fortunately, um Congressman Dr. Murphy

31:05does earmark. Um and so we're not

31:07chasing the same the same money there.

31:11The uh congressmen get each year 15.

31:15they pick of all their projects that

31:17they get 15 and then they submit those

31:19to the committee. Um, and so you're kind

31:22of competing against other interests in

31:24your area.

31:25>> Well, my town's been fortunate with

31:27Congressman Murphy to get some money

31:28already.

31:30>> But, uh, that was just I was just

31:32curious about that because, you know,

31:34when there's only so much money there,

31:36everybody wants it

31:38>> and uh,

31:38>> yes. And it's a shame, you know, you

31:41can't the Congress, we have to have

31:43somebody advocate for us because

31:45congressman won't just do specifically

31:47for us. I mean, I, you know,

31:49>> uh,

31:51you one fortunate, um, Senator Bud has

31:55not previously earmarked. He would only

31:57do military defense related earmarks.

32:00That is changing. I actually helped his

32:02office this past year uh, set up how

32:04they do the portal uh, based on my work

32:07with the other offices.

32:09um telling them which offices had good

32:11ways of doing it versus really

32:13cumbersome ways. Uh but Congress or

32:16Senator Bud

32:18pays even he will do more than just the

32:21defense has works really well and does a

32:24lot uh with the defense communities. Uh

32:27and so you're very uniquely positioned

32:29with Senator Bud. Additionally, uh

32:33Senator Tillis earmarked. He's he

32:35obviously will not be there. Um but we

32:39my conversation so far with the part uh

32:43both potential new senators is that they

32:46do intend on earmarking and so actually

32:49you're growing your chances of being

32:51able to get money uh with this new

32:54Congress no matter how it shakes out.

32:57>> Director Herbert may have two questions.

32:59One, where are you physically located

33:01then? Just thinking for accessibility

33:02and so forth.

33:04>> So uh our firm is in DC. Okay.

33:07>> Uh we are on Pennsylvania Avenue. Um I

33:10am have just actually relocated to this

33:13area. Uh I kind I was in I'm from

33:16Georgia. I lived in Mobile, Alabama. Um

33:19I spend the bulk of like the first half

33:21the year in DC every week. Uh but have

33:25worked just out of how it shook out the

33:28clients I have in this area in North

33:30Carolina. Just very much liked uh and

33:33had I said, "Well, I like it here. Why

33:35don't I just live here? I'm here also

33:38>> and it's a closer uh to DC. So

33:41>> my my other question is c can you

33:43quantify then what your I guess for lack

33:45of better word your success rate is with

33:47water water authority projects i.e.

33:50annually you're submitting 12 projects

33:52for some type of support uh and eight

33:55are approved nine are approved or

33:57something along those lines.

33:59So that

34:00>> and when I say approve that could be any

34:02level of support not the you know the if

34:04they're asking for x amount of dollars

34:05or getting a portion of that or

34:06something along those lines.

34:08I wouldn't know how to do that. I could

34:11give you a list of, you know, this year

34:14each earmark that I received uh and the

34:17year before and that would span across,

34:19you know, from water authorities and to

34:21towns, municipalities. Um

34:25the I wouldn't just condense it down to

34:28just the appropriations request. Those

34:29are kind of the big flashy ones and

34:32those are the ones everybody's going

34:34after [clears throat] more competitive.

34:36However, there are other harder kind of

34:40to not as easy accessible money pots

34:44like the uh environmental in

34:46infrastructure uh pot of money with the

34:48core of engineers. Um that's there's

34:52that extra step and so it's not just

34:54easy for everybody to go. So, we want to

34:56think long term um of being able to set

35:00up projects to go after those pots or

35:04going with the funding you can get out

35:07of things like the NDAA

35:09um for, you know, defense communities.

35:13Um, and so spreading out where you're

35:16asking the money, looking at your

35:18project strategically from a one year,

35:20three year, 5year plan of what you want

35:24and then going after gradually uh, and

35:27spreading out where we're looking for

35:29that money and creating opportunities,

35:32too. For example, WIFIA, that would be

35:34an example of we built all of our water

35:38and sewer way back in the 40s, 30s. I've

35:41heard towns with older and it's really

35:43frightening. But around the time in 2014

35:46where this was created, the towns were

35:50going bankrupt with uh having to

35:53overhaul uh their water infrastructure.

35:56And that was an example of where we

35:59advocated the need to Congress uh and to

36:03DC to actually create WIFIA, to make

36:07that law, to create that pot of money uh

36:10to be able to help towns uh and local

36:13governments fund those those massive uh

36:16projects that were all coming due at the

36:18same time.

36:20>> If I can just two context things real

36:23quick. when we were we've been trying to

36:25the town's been trying to do this Cobra

36:27stuff for 25 years and [clears throat]

36:29when I did some research on it I found

36:32out that the the bills that are

36:34introduced in Congress it's about a 4%

36:36chance of it even getting to a vote

36:38[snorts] but the other reason and to

36:40follow up on your point which is a good

36:41point is we don't even know what's out

36:43there that that's what we faced is what

36:46pots are to your point what pots are out

36:48there what do we even ask for you know I

36:50couldn't go to Murphy today and say can

36:52you ask us you know can we get money in

36:53this pot or what's and that's why we

36:56decided, you know, because the work you

36:57did with TISPC, it's like you we had a

37:00discussion about we ought to spend some

37:02money in the front end to find out if

37:03there's value in doing other things. And

37:05so it was kind of a a test run and you

37:07would you were doing this stuff for

37:08TISPC, but you will be committing your

37:10time to on WASA, correct?

37:13>> Yes.

37:13>> Okay. Sorry.

37:15Um,

37:17I don't even know how to really phrase

37:19the question really, but so when you

37:21identify things when you we retain your

37:23guys services. So, do you look at our

37:25current CIP list and kind of go from

37:28there and see where the money would go

37:29or do or do you also do we get maybe

37:34lent staff that would look at our our

37:35organization holistically and say,

37:37"Well, you guys aren't really there's

37:39other places that you could spend money

37:40that you don't have um identified on

37:42your CIP and we could perhaps go that

37:45direction."

37:45>> Yes. So, uh, when I was drafting the

37:48proposal, [clears throat] I, uh, met

37:50with Frankie, uh, and this was, I would

37:52say, a more broad strokes of just

37:54understanding

37:56what your needs, priorities, issues were

37:59right now, uh, which is what I put, you

38:02know, specifically in the proposal. Um,

38:04looking at with EPA permitting, I job is

38:08to go make EPA get an answer back to

38:11Frankie. Um, and I go into the offices

38:15uh to do that. Uh, but it's looking at

38:19you. You would tell me how you would

38:21want, but looking overall at your CIP

38:24and then I can sit and say, "All right,

38:26here's easy. Here's where we want to

38:28focus this part." Um, how do you eat an

38:32elephant? A bite at a time. There's not

38:34going to be $500 million sitting

38:36somewhere so that you can do everything.

38:39But it's strategically looking at for

38:41like Cape Fear. They're $250 million

38:45project [clears throat] we paired down

38:48to all right this year we can go after

38:50phase one. And so you're gradually doing

38:53that uh and picking the projects.

38:56There's going to be some that are going

38:58to be easier to go find with military.

39:02There's going to be some that are easier

39:03to earmark. There's going to be some

39:05that are easier to go after grants.

39:07Hopefully, uh, we're getting close and

39:09getting North Carolina to change their

39:10mind on WIFFIA. Um, it's fine in that.

39:14And I always say it's easier sometime

39:17sometimes, you know, your easiest thing

39:19to fund is not what there's just federal

39:21money sitting there for. Uh, which is a

39:23challenge. So, it's finding what you

39:26have that you need that there is easy

39:29money for. So then you you can get that

39:32funded and have that money left over in

39:34a budget to fund the thing that's harder

39:36to find federal dollars for.

39:43>> Yeah. So I don't know in my recollection

39:47I don't know that we've ever had an

39:48advocate in in DC for Anasa. I had an

39:53opportunity to to talk to an uh

39:58before and um

40:01you know she she already has has

40:04introduced us to money sources talking

40:08about we wifia

40:11um that we didn't know about to start

40:14with and um I don't know it just seems

40:18like it uh the the I'd be happy to go to

40:22DC and hang out and do this for on, but

40:25it cost you a whole lot more than

40:26$72,000 a year. Um, so anyway, uh, if

40:31if, uh, if we need more discussion, if

40:33if somebody wants to make a motion to,

40:36uh, to approve the proposal from

40:39Ferguson Group for one-year term subject

40:41to renew

40:43the renewal and approval of the

40:45agreement by the authority attorney and

40:48authorizes CEO to execute the agreement.

40:51Somebody want to make that motion?

40:53>> Moved.

40:54>> We have a motion.

40:55>> Second.

40:55>> Second.

40:56>> And we have a second.

40:57>> Do we have any more discussion? Anybody?

40:59>> Brett, do I need to recuse myself or

41:01not?

41:02[snorts]

41:03>> Any other concerns, discussions? I mean,

41:06it's not like we're uh not like we're

41:09committing ourselves to a huge uh

41:12long-term

41:14commitment.

41:15Um,

41:17you know, we look at it again months, a

41:20year from now and and if we see the uh

41:25um see the benefits, we continue. We

41:29don't and [sighs and gasps] we wave

41:32goodbye.

41:33>> That's

41:34>> um

41:35>> easy. [laughter]

41:36>> Well, is she going to work hard the

41:37first year, huh?

41:38>> That's right. when she she said

41:4210% that's that's only $770,000.

41:45That's true. She can bring us

41:47>> 10 10 to one. Yeah, she'll be all right.

41:50>> I got a question, Eric. Where where does

41:53this money come from that we're going to

41:54pay for this?

41:55>> It was included in our administrative

41:58budget.

41:59>> Okay.

42:01>> All right. Any other discussion?

42:04All in favor say I.

42:06>> Any opposed? All right. Motion carries.

42:10Thank you, Ann.

42:10>> Thanks,

42:11>> very much. Very excited to work with

42:12you.

42:13>> Look forward to to getting you working

42:15with you and the staff and and

42:18determining what those priorities and

42:20opportunities are for Anasa.

42:22>> Very excited. Uh Frankie has my contact.

42:25I know I passed out my business cards,

42:26but please, if you have any questions or

42:28want to talk in detail about anything,

42:30I'm always available.

42:32>> Thank you very much.

42:33>> Thank you.

42:34>> Thank you.

42:34>> How does the county use to lobby at

42:36state level? You got everybody or no?

42:39[snorts] Yeah, we did. Um, all right.

42:42Let's see. Item C, uh, authorization of

42:46upset bid process for surplus property

42:48on Viking Place. And that is, um, who's

42:53presenting that? Frankie,

42:55>> that's me. I got you [laughter] got me.

42:57I appreciate everybody's attention this

42:59matter. We've got I think we spoke about

43:00this um prior meeting, but we've finally

43:03got everything sort of in order to be

43:04able to present to the board. So, we

43:06just want to go um out for upset bid on

43:09this particular piece of surplus

43:11property. This uh sits adjacent to um a

43:15facility that we we took over in this

43:17community. It's old wastewater treatment

43:19plant. This individual has a piece of uh

43:23I think a storage unit on this property.

43:25So, we felt the easiest thing to do is

43:28mark it as surplus. It doesn't do us any

43:30good as far as valuable to that. All we

43:32operate there now is a pump station um

43:34and send that flow to another site. Um

43:37so worked with the individual that's

43:40adjacent there who has the property and

43:42he submitted an offer of 5,000 to

43:45purchase approximately 2 acres and that

43:48area has been surveyed out that is

43:50included in the cost of this transaction

43:52as well. Just so there's no cost to

43:54Anasa. So, what we're doing is

43:56requesting that the board consider a

43:57motion to adopt a resolution declaring

43:59the 0.2 acres um as surplus property and

44:03authorizing the upset bid process.

44:06>> I move second.

44:07>> All right. I have a motion and a second.

44:09Is there any discussion?

44:12All in favor say I.

44:14>> Any opposed?

44:16>> Motion carries. And the interlocal

44:19agreement for fleet maintenance, Mr.

44:21Adams.

44:22>> Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good

44:23evening directors. First item this

44:25evening is the interlocal agreement

44:27[clears throat] between Enslow County

44:29and Anasa to provide for Enslow County

44:32to provide Anwasa with fleet repair

44:35maintenance services for specifically

44:37our diesel vehicles and equipment

44:40approximately 50 vehicles and 100 um

44:44heavy equipment. [cough]

44:46[clears throat] Our staff had an

44:47opportunity some time back to visit the

44:50the maintenance facility the county

44:52operates. uh and feel very very

44:54comfortable with their expertise and

44:56ability to perform these services. Um

45:01enter into some negotiations discussing

45:03and it's very coste effective um and

45:07very similar to what we're currently um

45:10receiving from our current vendor. So we

45:14feel that this is a very beneficial

45:15agreement for both parties and and a

45:18cost-effective one going forward. So

45:20this evening we're considering asking

45:23you to consider a motion to adopt or

45:26approve the interlocal agreement and

45:27authorize the CEO to execute any

45:30contracts required with this action.

45:32>> So move

45:33>> second. I have a motion and a second

45:36>> question.

45:36>> Yes.

45:38>> What was your guess on savings? What

45:40what did you what did you guess?

45:43>> So savings are not going to be as

45:45significant as as we had might have

45:47hoped. Um, but I do think that the the

45:51benefits come from the access to them

45:53and and utilizing their um systems for

45:58identifying issues and their uh queuing

46:02system for lack of a better term is how

46:04how they enter enter those projects in

46:07the costs were very very close with what

46:10we currently have with our current

46:11vendor. Um,

46:12>> what about timing? what about,

46:14[clears throat] you know, returning

46:15returning an equipment or vehicle back?

46:17>> And and that's where I think the real

46:18benefit is is is their their promises in

46:22the agreement their their

46:23[clears throat] agreement to um perform

46:26the necessary repairs and maintenance in

46:28a timely manner.

46:30>> That was that was a question I was going

46:32to ask is would we be put on the back

46:34burner because the county has a lot of

46:36vehicles they have to maintain.

46:38>> They have a really good system that

46:39they've employed that that keeps their

46:42their

46:43they're uh them flowing. They are very

46:47upfront that emergency services do take

46:50a priority. So we know that you know

46:52going in um this doesn't

46:56you know disallow us from using any

46:57outside vendor if it became an issue

46:59where we had a piece of equipment that

47:01we needed

47:04you know serviced immediately and they

47:06were unable to provide it. Um, but they

47:09they do have a very good process. It it

47:13does seem and how they present it is how

47:15they

47:16>> enter and and keep things moving.

47:18>> Well, I think the uh you know the

47:20naturally the cost savings, but if the

47:22cost savings wasn't significant to to

47:24amount for the time we'd have to have

47:26our vehicle down, I think that would be

47:28considered too. So,

47:29>> right.

47:30>> Thank you.

47:31>> What was the uh what's what's the uh how

47:33long is this agreement for?

47:37Anybody can

47:38>> anybody can cancel at any time if that's

47:40>> a 30-day notice or something.

47:42>> Yeah, we we have in here that anybody

47:44>> All right. So So we have a we have a

47:47self check selfchecking me mechanism. If

47:49we if we don't get the service we feel

47:51we deserve, we have a we have an out.

47:53Okay.

47:54>> Correct.

47:54>> 30 no exclusivity. So you don't get

47:57locked in if you've got to go someplace

47:59else. Right.

48:00>> Right.

48:01>> Worth a shot. [clears throat]

48:02Al also I would say the reason they are

48:05efficient because they schedule

48:07everything

48:07>> right

48:08>> and

48:08>> and I can tell you I started that

48:11>> and it makes a big difference

48:13>> and if you can keep people on time to do

48:16their part can more

48:20over more then do their part. So uh I'm

48:24glad this worked out.

48:25>> I think it's a great thing. And I think

48:27it's a way we can all down the road save

48:30money in government and uh not just

48:33savings on dollar amount but turnaround

48:36time is very important when it comes to

48:39projects.

48:40>> Their scheduling Bob well.

48:42[clears throat]

48:43>> Yes sir. Their their scheduling was was

48:45uh excellent. They also use the uh

48:48similar fleet maintenance software that

48:50we have recently employed um for

48:53tracking. So,

48:55>> are we will we have any employees

48:57displaced?

48:59>> No.

48:59>> Because of this move.

49:00>> No, sir.

49:01>> It was a contract. It's a prior

49:02contract. We had a

49:04>> service provider.

49:05>> That's correct.

49:06>> Also, just real quick to follow up on

49:08Tony's comment, anytime we can do a

49:10partnership with the different agencies

49:12and stuff, to me, you know, it's

49:17>> I think it's mutually beneficial.

49:18>> Yeah. I I just think the more you can do

49:20like that, the better the part more

49:22partnerships, Tony, you can make between

49:24between [clears throat] the groups makes

49:25a lot of sense to me.

49:26>> You have something?

49:28>> Yeah, just for what it's worth, I did a

49:29little bit of research on base and we

49:30have a very similar IGSA with the base

49:33and the county for very similar

49:35equipment sets for the last three years.

49:37And to the points a lot of people have

49:38made, we we have seen cost savings on

49:40base and more importantly, we've seen a

49:42very quick turnaround time. uh where

49:44before with the company we were using on

49:46base it was weeks now it's days. Uh so

49:49that is something that we can quantify

49:50to [clears throat] our benefit. And also

49:51some feedback we got from the county was

49:53that it was it was keeping their team

49:55busy and active and working on equipment

49:57repetitively and some new equipment that

49:59they hadn't had experience on and

50:00they've gotten that experience which is

50:01a good thing.

50:02>> And I I I did that too not trying to

50:06take anything because it was a team

50:08effort.

50:10But by doing these projects, just to to

50:13Bob, Bob, you make a great point is that

50:17we're able to buy the up-to-date

50:19equipment to go with the piece of

50:21equipment you bring on help diagnostics

50:25tool

50:26>> and that tool means a lot. That's why

50:28the base I'm so [clears throat] happy we

50:30were able to get the cat machine to to

50:33work to feed in and we can use it not

50:36just for them but for Oslo County as

50:38well as you know

50:40>> anyone else. It's

50:42>> great great facility that the camp

50:43>> Oh yes it is.

50:45>> But thank you. That's all I got to say.

50:47Chairman, I'll pull up.

50:49>> I would I would just commend the uh our

50:52staff and the county and and thank them

50:55all for the work because this has been

50:57in the process for uh many months now

51:01>> negotiating the deal and and trying to

51:03make sure it's good for all parties

51:06involved and I think it'll be good.

51:08It'll be good for us. Did Did we get a

51:10motion?

51:11>> Yeah, we did.

51:12>> We did. Okay. Thank you. You want to say

51:14something? Oh, I just found the uh

51:15quotes that Danny had provided us just

51:17to show us some examples, real life

51:19examples. So, like on a 4500 pickup

51:22truck, service truck, um what we were

51:24paying now was like $560 for a typical

51:26service and their estimated cost would

51:28be $380 for that same service. And then

51:30on a backhoe, it was $480 versus 360.

51:34So, just ballpark kind of idea of what

51:36we would be saving.

51:37>> That's because we're buying bolt.

51:40>> Okay,

51:40>> that's true. All right. If there's no

51:42more discussion, all in favor say I. I.

51:44>> Any opposed.

51:47All right. Motion carries. And then Mr.

51:50Adams, you got the next one.

51:52>> All right. Thank you. Um, next is um

51:56requesting approval for a project

51:58ordinance for the Irving Town Wastewater

52:00Pump Station. So, our staff currently

52:03has an design agreement in place that to

52:07work on an upgrade for the Irving Town

52:09Pump Station, which is located in the

52:10Northwest service area in the Richlands

52:13area. Um, it's been identified as

52:15needing an upgrade for future

52:17development and to meet current needs.

52:19So, this project ordinance would

52:20establish uh the project for the funding

52:24for the next couple years to continue

52:25that design work. At the end of that

52:27work, we would um bring forth a contract

52:30and construction costs to amend the

52:33project ordinance.

52:35Uh this project was included in our CIP,

52:38so has been considered in the 10-year

52:40plan and in the recent rate model.

52:45>> Make a motion we we we adopt the budget

52:48ordinance.

52:49>> Second.

52:50>> We have a motion in a second. Any

52:52discussion?

52:55All in favor say I.

52:56>> I.

52:57>> Any opposed?

52:58>> All right, moving on. Mr. Adams.

53:00>> Yes, sir. Um, next, similarly, a project

53:03ordinance for the Northeast Wastewater

53:05Treatment Plant. Um, this also is

53:08included in our CIP in the five six to

53:1110 year range for a wastewater treatment

53:14plant to serve the Swansboro and Highway

53:1624 corridor. This would be the uh

53:19initial study and analysis for a future

53:23plant to be located potentially at the

53:25Parkertown property that is owned and

53:28operated by Anasa currently.

53:30[clears throat]

53:32Um again, this was included in our CIP

53:35uh and and in a in a future date, we

53:38would come back with a uh

53:42contract or additional design work for

53:45to complete. So move.

53:48>> Got a motion. I have a second.

53:50>> Second.

53:51>> Do we have any discussion about that?

53:54>> This is property that on was owned for

53:56many years. I haven't really used it to

54:00uh to the extent possible hopefully and

54:04this uh study will help us know if if

54:06there's more potential use for that

54:08property. Um so all in favor say I.

54:12>> I.

54:12>> Any opposed?

54:14>> Right. Moving on to item G. Um, Mr.

54:17Adams, you're up again.

54:19>> Yes, sir. Next is a project ordinance

54:21for uh the study to relocate an existing

54:24pump station at North Topsel Wastewater

54:27uh for the North Topsel Wastewater pump

54:29station. It's pump station number 49. If

54:31you're familiar with the area, that's

54:32the pump station just when you uh cross

54:34the bridge on the right. Um its current

54:38location is is not environmentally sound

54:41or safe for staff to maintenance. So,

54:44this ordinance would establish funds to

54:47begin um the process of relocating uh

54:51determining a suitable site to relocate

54:54uh in the in the future. Again, this is

54:56[clears throat] included in our CIP and

54:59these funds would cover that initial

55:01work.

55:04>> Motion to approve.

55:05>> All right. So, we got a motion.

55:07>> Second.

55:08>> Second. Um

55:12does does the study include in uh whe

55:15there's a need to um upgrade that pump

55:18station? It needs to move if you know

55:20where it is. Oh yeah,

55:21>> it definitely needs to move, but is with

55:25the growth in on the on the island, does

55:28it need to be expanded or

55:32will we find out that with this study?

55:35>> Yeah, I'm certain that that would be a

55:37part of that. Um, I'm sure Mr. Lure may

55:40could speak more specifically to those.

55:42>> Yeah. Um, [clears throat]

55:46we might be able to salvage some of what

55:48the pump state what's there now, but I

55:50think we're basically looking at a new

55:52pump station.

55:53>> I gotcha.

55:54>> A new location

55:56>> and then we would demolish the existing

55:59one.

55:59>> I think that's your best bet.

56:01>> Yes, sir. I think what Royce is asking

56:03too is it would it wouldn't need to be

56:05larger, right? Or bigger for for future

56:07growth.

56:08>> We would take that absolutely. The

56:09design would take that into

56:10consideration.

56:11>> Okay.

56:12>> All right. Rick Rick said he had some

56:14room in his yard. [laughter] I'm

56:17>> telling you, if you've ever if you've

56:18ever seen them servicing this thing.

56:20>> It's they got traffic block.

56:22[clears throat] This is just [snorts]

56:24>> you can never figure out why they put it

56:25there. It's it's definitely an unusual

56:27location for anything.

56:29>> We wouldn't know where we're going to

56:30move. Yep. today

56:32>> has not been

56:32>> because we might possibly have to buy

56:33more land or something.

56:35>> Yeah, we've made some inquiries. We've

56:36looked at some alternatives possibly

56:38even different routes off the island.

56:40You know, right now that that pipe is

56:41suspended on the bridge and that's

56:43another concern, right, from the

56:46environmentally standpoint. So, we'd

56:47have to look at the hydraulics of

56:48putting it under the

56:50>> inter coastal waterway.

56:54>> All right, we need a Let's see. All in

56:56favor say I. I.

56:58>> Any opposed? All right.

57:00Motion carries. And then we got Mr.

57:03Adams. Finally, your last one.

57:06>> Final project ordinance for the evening.

57:08Uh for the wastewater system master

57:10plan. Um again, this has been included

57:13in our CIP. Um it would be to create a

57:17wastewater hydraulic model similar to

57:18the work that's been completed on our

57:20water model. um obviously help us ident

57:24to help better help us to identify um

57:27needs issues um throughout the system as

57:30we continue to expand develop but also

57:35be able to identify for um improvements

57:38of aging infrastructure.

57:41[clears throat]

57:42>> Will this model uh be owned by us and

57:46not not a consultant?

57:48>> Be owned by us. Mhm. [clears throat]

57:49>> It will be owned by us

57:51>> and we'll be able to run it on our own.

57:54Okay.

57:56>> To Bob's point though, would we be

57:58hiring in a consultant to develop this

58:01>> the plan and so forth?

58:02>> Yes, we already have this consultant on

58:05board. They've already done begun the

58:07initial work. We're actually I think we

58:10have we're up to about 25

58:1226.

58:14Um we're

58:17have meters and

58:20>> [clears throat]

58:20>> to start to gather the data that's

58:22needed over a period of time

58:26that that'll get built into the model

58:28and then we'll ultimately be using the

58:30model to master plan and develop future

58:33improvements as uh Eric said.

58:36>> Thanks Jeff.

58:39>> We have a motion

58:40>> move and a second.

58:42>> Second.

58:44>> Have any other discussion?

58:46This is definitely uh with the

58:49tremendous growth of Enzo County. Um

58:54planning is what it's all about, right?

58:57>> Crazy.

58:57>> And planning for INI every year. Your

59:00your your infrastructure slowly degrades

59:02and uh and causes you problems. So you

59:05got to

59:06>> got to plan for it.

59:07>> Well, we got these people from like

59:10Mobile and those places moving up here,

59:12too. And so they're adding. It's

59:14terrible.

59:16She just moved here.

59:18>> I didn't [laughter] think you had enough

59:19room down there to build much more.

59:21>> You know, you know what's funny is off

59:23the subject,

59:24>> the next phase is the is the tear down,

59:26build out. They're going to buy that 800

59:28ft house on the beach, tear it down.

59:30It'll be a 12 bedroomedroom, 14 bath

59:32monstrosity like we see near the serve

59:34city line that they're building motel.

59:40>> All right. Um, all in favor?

59:42>> I.

59:43>> Any oppose? say no. All right. And we

59:47move on to Thank you, Mr. Adams.

59:49>> Thanks.

59:50>> Um All right. We have a whole line of

59:52folks for public comment.

59:55>> Nobody. [laughter]

59:56>> Man, [snorts]

59:59nobody. Okay. Um we don't need a closed

1:00:02session. Is that right? So, we're gonna

1:00:07[laughter]

1:00:07>> I know everybody wants to have a clos

1:00:10wants to get home.

1:00:12Um [snorts]

1:00:14I think the item for close session

1:00:16didn't uh isn't hasn't materialized. So

1:00:19um we'll have to do that in October.

1:00:22>> Um so do we have to do anything for

1:00:25that? We just bypass it.

1:00:27>> All right, Mr. Howard, your comments.

1:00:30>> Yes, sir. Thank you. Just a couple items

1:00:32um before we wrap up. Just uh letting

1:00:35the board know we've been successful in

1:00:37getting signatures on the letter to the

1:00:38base. Uh Royce has went around to

1:00:40different meetings and in fact um I

1:00:43think we got one of our signatures this

1:00:44evening from the city of Jacksonville. I

1:00:46think we'll be getting one from the

1:00:48county and Swansboro here later in the

1:00:50week. Um Royce and I will be

1:00:52participating in the CPG meeting uh

1:00:54later this month to maybe hand deliver

1:00:56that letter to the to the general

1:00:58himself uh or his representative that'll

1:01:01be at that meeting. So I know at that

1:01:03meeting they'll be hearing from the

1:01:04group that's conducting the uh

1:01:06resiliency study and we have several

1:01:08items that have been identified in the

1:01:09resiliency study that impact anasa and

1:01:11the base. Uh so and some of those are

1:01:14partly uh identified in that letter as

1:01:16well. Um just wanted to also let the

1:01:19[clears throat] board know that earlier

1:01:20today we received notice from the EDA

1:01:22and I shared that with you all via

1:01:23email. Um in case you hadn't seen that

1:01:26we we did not get the grant for the

1:01:29water tower in Holly Ridge

1:01:31unfortunately. But now that we have some

1:01:33advocacy uh contract work, we might can

1:01:35find another avenue of funding or maybe

1:01:37try again with EDA. Um they told us

1:01:40nicely [clears throat] in the response

1:01:41there that they had quite a few

1:01:43inquiries for funding this year and they

1:01:47had better applicants basically. So

1:01:49>> we don't have a dedicated uh uh grant

1:01:51writer, do we on staff? We we don't and

1:01:54we've used consultants for various um

1:01:57would part of part of uh part of the

1:01:59Ferguson group be be partially doing

1:02:02some grant writing also in addition to

1:02:04finding the uh

1:02:05>> I think they'll definitely help us find

1:02:06the sources. I'm not sure about the

1:02:08actual writing of the grants but

1:02:10>> yes so in the proposal or in the

1:02:12contract it's not we have a the grant

1:02:16division is separate um but with your

1:02:20contract we do already included grant

1:02:23review so if you do write the grant

1:02:24yourself um we will have a grant writer

1:02:27or somebody an expert with it review

1:02:30your grant and get back to you also um I

1:02:34would be getting you letters of support

1:02:37from your delegation to include in your

1:02:38grant packet. Uh as well, did EDA get

1:02:42[cough] debrief?

1:02:43>> We did get offered that and we will

1:02:45reach we reached out and of course

1:02:47thanked them for the the notice and um

1:02:50we're going to reach out again to to get

1:02:51some feedback because I promised at Holl

1:02:54Ridge that we would figure out, you

1:02:55know, where we could maybe make that

1:02:57applicant application better for future

1:03:00submitt. But we will we will definitely

1:03:03follow up with that. We used um Hazen I

1:03:06think was our group that helped us write

1:03:07that particular grant. They had some

1:03:09capacity to help us. They were doing our

1:03:10water model and it was part of that uh

1:03:12water models. We identified these two

1:03:14projects. So, but we've also used

1:03:16others. We've got our firm Rafelis that

1:03:18does our financial models. They have a

1:03:20grant writing group. We've engaged with

1:03:21them to kind of see uh how they can help

1:03:24us. Um and they've identified some areas

1:03:26like some of these projects you approved

1:03:28tonight. these ordinances like the pump

1:03:29station for example is one that they

1:03:31feel like is a prime project for certain

1:03:34funding that's out there that we might

1:03:35seek. So

1:03:39and other than that we uh I just point

1:03:40out I saw a map earlier too. I think

1:03:42it's today Thursday the drought map

1:03:43comes out. So we picked up some areas in

1:03:46the county that's back into the drought.

1:03:48We had kind of come out of the drought

1:03:49and now we're getting some dry areas. So

1:03:52for us hopefully it's not as big a deal

1:03:53because we're on the downward slope of

1:03:55our demand, our peak demand. you know,

1:03:57it's July and August, so we're starting

1:03:58to see that come down, but we still have

1:04:00to pay attention to the drought and that

1:04:02may folks may pick up using water again

1:04:04and try to keep that grass as green as

1:04:06possible to the end this the season.

1:04:09[clears throat]

1:04:10Um, other than that, it was mentioned

1:04:11that we'll meet in October. We

1:04:12appreciate the board's flexibility to

1:04:14have that meeting date. I think we

1:04:16settled on the 22nd. That'll be to

1:04:18consider uh some debt placement for our

1:04:21CIP projects this fiscal year. So Doug

1:04:24Carter and the folks from Rap Tails will

1:04:26be here to talk to us about approving

1:04:28[snorts] items that'll [clears throat]

1:04:29go to the LGC in November

1:04:32for review

1:04:33and that is all I have. So I appreciate

1:04:35staff of course for working on items for

1:04:37this evening. And uh thank you to the

1:04:39board.

1:04:41>> I got I ask Frank a question

1:04:42[clears throat] please.

1:04:43>> Sure. I know that the state was doing

1:04:46that study on the government property

1:04:47down there. Uh

1:04:49>> yes.

1:04:49>> Uh did they finalize that or was that

1:04:52just a preliminary thing?

1:04:54They said that they would let us know if

1:04:55they found anything. We have reached out

1:04:57to our contact through public water

1:04:59supply to see if they were familiar with

1:05:01what was going on there. Um, but just so

1:05:03the board's aware of what's happening,

1:05:04we got notice uh in the town of Holly

1:05:06Ridge did as well because they have

1:05:07property next to uh this subject

1:05:09property that was being reviewed by the

1:05:11state uh department of um

1:05:16whatever that's the state that reviews

1:05:17the uh abandoned landfills. uh they had

1:05:20a consultant doing some studies for the

1:05:22abandoned landfill of Camp Davis that's

1:05:24on the Ottawa property I believe and so

1:05:26we have property north of that the

1:05:27Wakovia track and the town has property

1:05:29adjacent to it in the industrial park

1:05:31and they wanted to identify any public

1:05:33water supply wells within a certain

1:05:35search ring around that

1:05:37>> of course we have wells D10 and 11 that

1:05:39are on the Wovia track so we identified

1:05:42those for this firm uh and we have not

1:05:45heard back so but for what we hear from

1:05:47our consultants we're outside of any

1:05:49concern area that they're aware of, you

1:05:51know, by current state requirements. So

1:05:55now, if they find something through this

1:05:57review or study, then we'll we'll adjust

1:05:59accordingly.

1:06:03>> Uh, Mr. Howard, I have a question, too.

1:06:05Have you have you had a an opportunity

1:06:07to talk to anybody at this uh with the

1:06:09city of Jacksonville about the

1:06:11properties that have left their ETJ

1:06:14that uh are being serviced by the city

1:06:18utilities? I don't know. I' I've assured

1:06:21people that they're not not going to

1:06:23turn off their water, but uh you know,

1:06:26the question then is who's going to

1:06:28service their their water and sewer?

1:06:31>> Yeah. And I think it just comes down to

1:06:34what they've negotiated with that

1:06:36developer, I guess, in these areas for

1:06:39future volunteer annexation because I

1:06:41think they're still allowed to do that

1:06:42in certain areas of the ETJ. Um, and

1:06:44they're working on figuring out what

1:06:45happened with this whole south of 24

1:06:47area. So, if they're, you know,

1:06:49petitioning to voluntary annex and the

1:06:50city has infrastructure there, it

1:06:53naturally fits that they'll be the

1:06:54service provider. In a lot of cases,

1:06:56what we found is, or in some cases, we

1:06:58might have the water there and the

1:06:59city's got sewer. to work out a deal

1:07:01where we'll be the sewer provider and

1:07:04they might be the sewer provider.

1:07:06>> So, we haven't really gone to a lot of

1:07:07detail, but I do meet regularly. Matter

1:07:09of fact, we met Monday with the city

1:07:11manager and so we'll continue.

1:07:13>> I got one more thing, too.

1:07:15>> Okay.

1:07:15>> Just come to thought, a lady

1:07:17[clears throat] called me the other day

1:07:18and she was really concerned about all

1:07:20these hacks and all this stuff that's

1:07:22going on all over the country with the

1:07:25systems and she was really concerned

1:07:27about it happening here. And I know we

1:07:30had a problem one time before, but uh

1:07:33basically she just want to know how

1:07:35would the public be notified if this

1:07:38happened and would it affect our water

1:07:40system at all?

1:07:41>> Yeah, I mean we we've certainly put

1:07:44things in place to be prepared and to

1:07:46shield ourselves as best we can from

1:07:48these types of attacks. Um in fact,

1:07:51we've gone through some exercises where

1:07:52we make sure certain controls are not

1:07:55connected to outside uh sources. So, and

1:07:58in fact, if if a consultant needs to get

1:08:00in, they're having to directly

1:08:02communicate that with us to do any kind

1:08:04of changes to that system. So, I feel

1:08:06like we're we're we're doing everything

1:08:07possible now. We're participating in

1:08:10statewide communications when when they

1:08:12see things that are happening. Um, we

1:08:15are uniquely position, you know, close

1:08:17with the base, you know, so it's a good

1:08:19thing for a lot of these things we've

1:08:21talked about, but it actually puts a

1:08:22target on us for certain things as well.

1:08:23So, I feel like we've done the best we

1:08:26can. you know, we things, you know, are

1:08:29happening every minute, you know, to try

1:08:31to attack these things.

1:08:32>> Basically, I told her the same after

1:08:33that first time we, you know, we made a

1:08:36lot of changes. Her biggest concern was

1:08:38was how is the public going to know if

1:08:41something happens?

1:08:42>> Yeah. I mean, we would definitely um

1:08:44with with every means of possible, we

1:08:46would communicate like we do now to the

1:08:49customers if there is a concern about

1:08:50water quality. You know, what they

1:08:53they're trying to do is get in there and

1:08:54control the system. Um, fortunately we

1:08:57don't we don't have a lot of systems

1:08:58controls that would impact directly to

1:09:01the customer that I feel like, you know,

1:09:03as far as the way the operations are.

1:09:05Um, but we would definitely communicate

1:09:06out to the customers if there was a if

1:09:09there was something to communicate

1:09:10related to water quality.

1:09:14>> Frank, I got a random question, too. Um,

1:09:18water leaks and stuff like that. When

1:09:19there's a leak near DOT road that's

1:09:22going to potentially affect the road, do

1:09:24we have to get in line to get like

1:09:25permits with them to fix said leaks or

1:09:29do we have a does it depend on how bad

1:09:31the leak is?

1:09:32>> I think it really just depends on how

1:09:33bad um Matthew still here. Yes,

1:09:36>> encroachment.

1:09:37>> We do have a blanket encroachment which

1:09:38would allow us to get into certain

1:09:40areas. They do have restrictions in

1:09:42parts of the um county that we can only

1:09:46work during certain hours, right? if

1:09:48it's a planned event, but I think during

1:09:50emergencies, it's one of those you just

1:09:51got to get it done.

1:09:52>> The only reason I'm and I've been seeing

1:09:54water run down the road and obviously a

1:09:55leak has been identified and I was just

1:09:57kind of looking at it the past couple

1:09:58days and again it's not massive. It's

1:10:00not like it's shooting up in like it was

1:10:01in Steve's Fair or whatever.

1:10:03>> Easy easy.

1:10:04>> Hey you guys, when you guys do it, you

1:10:05do it. Um but no, I was just looking at

1:10:08it. I'm like, well, it's either a

1:10:09scheduling issue on our part or we're

1:10:10waiting on DOT to say we can dig up the

1:10:12road right here. So, I'm glad you asked

1:10:14because I think I answered his question

1:10:15earlier too, but I didn't put it in the

1:10:16all uh email back. So, in in

1:10:18[clears throat] Matthew's report to to

1:10:20the leadership team this week, his

1:10:22distribution department identified how

1:10:24many leaks they've been working on

1:10:25weekly. So, this past week, I think they

1:10:27fixed 30 leaks and they have 50 leaks on

1:10:30the list to be completed. Like, so

1:10:32they're working down a list, you know,

1:10:34but when I got here, it was taps we were

1:10:35trying to deal with and get caught up on

1:10:36taps and now it seems like it's leaks.

1:10:38>> Well, that were

1:10:39>> I just want to make sure. Um, that's

1:10:41just I was just wondering like I said if

1:10:43if it was a thing with DOT cuz we've

1:10:45been dealing with them on something

1:10:46privately, you know what I mean? Just

1:10:47kind of getting in the queue and going

1:10:48through the process and

1:10:50>> man, what a process that can be and I

1:10:52just didn't know if we had a problem if

1:10:53we could figure out how to

1:10:55>> Well, we when we do, you know, I have

1:10:57communicated concerns with DOT to like

1:10:59Senator Lazaro when we have we've been

1:11:00waiting on encroachment approvals or um

1:11:04and that is frustrating because it's

1:11:05take it's taken months sometimes to get

1:11:07those. But for leaks though, we we put

1:11:09them in the queue. We go out and

1:11:10identify them. In fact, we've put some

1:11:11signage out and I think some folks have

1:11:13seen the signage where we once has

1:11:15identified the leak so we don't continue

1:11:16to get multiple calls and that works in

1:11:18some cases but I know it frustrates

1:11:20folks when they see a leak and we

1:11:22haven't jumped right on it. Now there is

1:11:23a time that we do have to wait for

1:11:25[clears throat] um location like

1:11:27locating utilities around there so we

1:11:29can dig

1:11:30>> and I never blame the people. I always

1:11:31blame the bureaucracy that you know that

1:11:33we've been able to create around certain

1:11:35things. So again that was no slight on

1:11:37DOT by any means. Oh, no, no, no, no.

1:11:38It's just a process. It's just a

1:11:40process, right?

1:11:43>> All right. Thank you. Thank you. Um,

1:11:48Mr. Herbert,

1:11:50>> I just want to quickly say thanks to the

1:11:51uh the organization in totality,

1:11:53[clears throat] up and down the org.

1:11:54Appreciate everything you do on a daily

1:11:55basis, especially to our crews out

1:11:57there. You know, I mean, I I travel back

1:12:00uh daily from Swansboro to Jacksonville.

1:12:02my duties on base take me off in the New

1:12:04River out in town and you see our crews

1:12:07consistently almost daily for me at

1:12:09least and they're the face of the

1:12:11organization. They're the they're

1:12:12interacting with the uh the community

1:12:14and so forth and we just want to say

1:12:16thank them for everything they do. We

1:12:17appreciate it.

1:12:20>> Mr. Padet

1:12:20>> couldn't said it better. Thank you so

1:12:22much,

1:12:24>> Mr. Hind.

1:12:25>> Well, I'm just tickled to death to be

1:12:27here. Uh and also my usual say hello to

1:12:30Miss Janette. I got to say that. But uh

1:12:33yeah uh y'all said enough about it. I

1:12:36mean that's we do have I've always said

1:12:38we've got the best crowd out there.

1:12:40>> Absolutely.

1:12:42>> All right, Mr.

1:12:43>> I'll throw some kudos to the uh the

1:12:45staff. Uh this is some of the best

1:12:47planning that I've seen in the in the

1:12:49relatively short time I've been on WASA

1:12:51on Wasa. I can see an improvement. Uh so

1:12:54so thank you all for for what you're

1:12:56doing.

1:12:58>> Took the words right out of my mouth.

1:13:00Great job. Thank you. Thank you.

1:13:02>> Thank you, Mr. Bitner. [clears throat]

1:13:04Um,

1:13:05>> thank you everybody. And Frankie, if you

1:13:07hadn't fixed the geyser soon, we're

1:13:08going to use it as a marketing tool to

1:13:09bring people onto the beach because that

1:13:11I could see that sucker from my house.

1:13:13[snorts] Unbelievable. Everybody got a

1:13:16copy of that. You got the video on that,

1:13:17didn't you?

1:13:18>> Yeah. Yeah, I saw something else. You

1:13:20could have made a splash pad out of it

1:13:21while

1:13:21>> That's what I was thinking. Ain't that a

1:13:23splash pad? I mean,

1:13:25>> behind the booster station.

1:13:26>> But thank thank you and your team.

1:13:28[laughter]

1:13:29>> Uh, Mr. Vice Chairman,

1:13:31>> thank you guys as always. Thank you very

1:13:33much.

1:13:34>> All right. All right. And I'd say the

1:13:36same thing. You guys, you got a lot got

1:13:39a lot done for this meeting tonight. We

1:13:41really appreciate it. And and um yeah,

1:13:45being out there in the middle of the

1:13:46night working on these uh these systems,

1:13:50and I I know I'm glad I'm not out there.

1:13:52You do a great job. [clears throat]

1:13:54All right. So, do we have a motion to

1:13:56adjurnn?

1:13:57>> And we got a motion in a second. And

1:13:59we're ajourned. [snorts] They're like

1:14:01the Coast Guard. They go out.

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