Woodfin Sanitary Water and Sewer District
Meeting of Board of Trustees
Minutes of August 19, 2024
Chairman Gordon Maybury called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. In attendance were Larry Hopkins, Vice Chair; Lauren Edgerton, Secretary; Dr. Joseph Martin, Executive Director Emeritus; Seth Eckard, Executive Director; Jackie Bryson, MSD Representative.
Approval of the Agenda
The agenda was approved by unanimous consensus.
Approval of Minutes
Motion by Edgerton to approve July 2024 minutes, Hopkins seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
MSD Report
Ms. Bryson gave a general update for MSD. She reported that a few significant projects were under budget, and everything was going well. Dr. Martin provided a brief update on the history of wastewater consolidation in Buncombe County and how our representative from the District is determined. Chairman Maybury noted that MSD mailed an informative newsletter to their customers. The district also mailed an MSD insert during the last cycle.
Public Comment
No one from the public spoke.
Director’s Report
Director Eckard provided the following updates:
- Reservoir Graph and Activity Explanations: Director Eckard noted the new reservoir and activity graph explanations in the August agenda packet. Chairman Maybury asked how many gallons were in the reservoir at 100% capacity. Dr. Martin said it is about 45 million gallons, not accounting for some sedimentation. We could run for 35 to 40 days without flow at the reservoir before we got down to the point where the water was too dirty to treat.
- Goats at the Plant: Director Eckard noted that the goats recently had a vet visit and received annual shots. The goats are in excellent health! Chairman Maybury asked if they had names. Director Eckard said they have names, but he couldn’t remember off the top of his head.
- Leak Detection and Investigation: Asterra delivered leak data to the District on August 6th, identifying 40 points of interest (POIs). We have scheduled a subcontractor to investigate these POIs from August 19th to 30th to pinpoint the exact locations of each leak. Our team is developing a priority list to address the leaks based on their severity and impact. We anticipate it may take up to six months to resolve all issues. Progress will be monitored and reported in our monthly updates to the Board.
- Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and Rate Study Update: We have submitted all required financial data for the CIP/Rate Study. The next step involves McGill staff meeting with the Water Treatment Plant and Distribution ORCs to evaluate potential capital improvement projects. Our team has compiled an informal list of these potential projects.
- Lead and Copper Sampling Results: We completed our tri-annual sampling with 30 samples collected across the district. We are pleased to report that all samples tested negative for lead and copper. Residents who participated in the sampling will receive individual reports confirming these favorable results.
- Audit Schedule: The auditors plan to conduct their audit in early September. Then, the audit will need to be reviewed and approved by the Local Government Commission in October. We expect the auditors to present their findings on the Fiscal Year ending June 30th, 2024 Budget at either the November or December Board meeting.
- Meter Replacement Update: I am pleased to share that our team has successfully identified and replaced 28 non-functional meters over the past two months. These dead meters, which no longer record water usage, have now been replaced to ensure accurate measurement and billing.
- Community Garden Partnership: I am currently in discussions with the Town of Woodfin regarding a potential partnership on a community garden project. This initiative aims to foster community engagement and enhance local green spaces.
Chairman Maybury noted the importance of fixing the District’s capital items. It is good news that McGill is helping us identify those priorities, and we need to prioritize addressing those items in current and future budgets. Director Eckard noted that the one big project we would like to complete this year is the rehab of Reynold’s Tank before the end of the current fiscal year.
Old Business
No old business.
New Business
A.
Resolution 2024-10 Authorizing the Sale of Surplus Property. Trustee Edgerton motioned to approve the resolution as presented with an amendment to start the minimum bid at $1,500. Trustee Hopkins seconded the motion. The resolution was passed unanimously. The Board commented that if the truck did not sell, we may consider donating the truck to a charity at the next board meeting.
B.
Customer Satisfaction Survey Results: Director Eckard provided the Board with information related to the survey methodology, how it was advertised, and for how long it was available for customers to complete. There was a total of 10 responses. Overall, the responses were positive, with a few takeaways on improvements that staff will look at implementing.
Call of Board Members
Director Eckard mentioned that he plans to provide a “State of the District” presentation at the April 2025 Woodfin Town Council Meeting. Trustee Edgerton mentioned that she received a message from a customer who asked how folks who are served by the District but not in the primary voting district could become voters. The Board noted that the process exists in the laws but has challenges. The customer's area is far from the voting area of the District boundaries, and adding them would not be easy. Trustee Hopkins noted that voter turnout is low in general. Dr. Martin said that voter turnout (percentage-wise) would probably remain similar if you increased the District’s voting boundaries. Dr. Martin noted that the biggest concern in the future is the possible regionalization of local water systems. Chairman Maybury shared a message from the Mayor inviting Woodfin Water staff to volunteer at the local elementary school. Director Eckard said he would share that with staff and create a paid volunteer program for the organization.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:04 PM.