Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Systems topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Royston manager flags water-plant staffing needs after State EPD renews 10-year permit; council reviews unaudited financials
Summary
City Manager Lanier Dunn told the council the State EPD renewed Royston's 10-year water permit (1 MGD permitted), filters were uprated, and the permit requires a Class 1 chief plant operator; Dunn also reviewed unaudited FY2024 financial statements and said staff will address insurance renewals and website/permit updates.
City Manager Lanier Dunn briefed the Royston City Council on Sept. 9 about a range of operational items, emphasizing that a recent State EPD 10-year renewal for the water treatment and distribution system imposes a Class 1 chief plant operator requirement that the city must meet.
Dunn said the permit maintains the city's permitted capacity at 1 million gallons per day and that plant filters have been uprated from 2 gallons per minute per square foot to 4, allowing the plant to operate at capacity with one filter offline. "We are permitted for 1 million gallons per day," Dunn said. He added that the new permit requires the Chief Plant Operator hold a Class 1 license; "we do have one Class 1 license holder on staff, and it will be very important in the near term to train or hire staff that will achieve the Class 1 license," Dunn said.
Dunn also reported administrative items: staff are reviewing the Code of Ordinances and will update permit and application forms on the city website by the end of September; permit applications and zoning requests are being processed at City Hall following the retirement of Chief Boleman. On employee health insurance, Dunn said current Anthem (through GMA) renewal discussions were underway and that keeping the existing plan would increase rates about 5%; he asked staff to explore options to increase participation and reduce per-person costs ahead of open enrollment in October.
Dunn presented unaudited fiscal-year financial statements through June 30, 2024, noting auditors were onsite for field work. Key figures he cited: assets exceeded liabilities by $20.6 million; $9.4 million was invested in net capital assets; cash on hand was just under $9.7 million (about 60% in the natural gas fund). For governmental funds, net income was $260,000. For proprietary (business-type) funds, operating income was $1.15 million; including nonoperating items, net income was $1.4 million. Cash receipts from customers exceeded $5.4 million; cash flows from operating activities were just under $1.6 million; $568,000 in cash was used for capital activities and interest generated $87,000; business-type activities produced just over $1 million in free cash flow. Dunn emphasized these were unaudited figures and that some adjustments are expected.
Separately, Michael Crump delivered a Main Street update, thanking Councilmen Roach and McCollum for volunteering at the music fest and announcing upcoming events including the Fall Festival (Oct. 12), a tree lighting (Nov. 25) and a Christmas Parade on the second Sunday in December at 3 p.m. Councilman Matt Fields said a downtown "Cut A Block" event will be held Sept. 27 (6-9 p.m.); Councilman Jason Phillips asked whether the city could close two side streets for the event and Crump said he would coordinate with the Street Superintendent.
The council entered executive session for personnel at 5:55 p.m. and returned to regular session at 7:21 p.m.; no final personnel actions were recorded on the public docket.
