SSLGC 06-18-2009MINUTES OF THE
SCHERTZ-SEGUIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION
THE STATE OF TEXAS §
COUNTY OF GUADALUPE §
SCHERTZ-SEGUIN LOCAL §
GOVERNMENT CORPORATION §
On this the 18~' day of June, 2009, the Schertz-Seguin Local Government Corporation (SSLGC)
convened at 1:30 p.m. in the City of Seguin Council Chambers located at 210 E. Gonzales,
Seguin, Texas. The following members being present and in attendance:
Sydney Bauer President
Patricia Ramirez Vice-President
Robin Dwyer Secretary
Jim Wolverton Treasurer
Hal Baldwin Ex-Officio
and the following directors being absent:
Terry Wells Director
Betty Ann Matthies Ex-Officio
constituting a majority of the persons appointed to the Board and a quorum for the transaction of
business, and notice of such meeting having been- duly given in accordance with the provisions
of Texas law. Also in attendance were:
Alan Cockerell
Don Taylor
Johnny Bierschwale
Susan Caddell
John Schraub
Georgia Hanks
Sam Willoughby
Larry Dublin
Patrick Lindner
Bill Klemt
John Winkler
Crockett Camp
Jack Fickessen
General Manager
City Manager of Schertz
Assistant City Manager of Schertz
Finance Director of Seguin
Seguin Water Utility Manager
Administrative Assistant
Schertz Public Works Director
Schertz City Engineer
Legal COU11se1 (Davidson & Troilo)
Hydrologist Consultant
Consultant
Consultant/Project Manager
Consultant
The first order of business was the calling of the meeting to order.
President Sydney Bauer called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.
The second order of business was public comment.
General Manager Alan Cockerell welcomed Mrs. Tammy Turner and her two sons Colin and
Austin. Colin and Austin are working to attain Boy Scout merit badges. In order to earn a merit
badge they are required to attend a public meeting and they chose to attend SSLGC's board
meeting.
Mr. Cockerell introduced Counselor Jaci Holmes and two of the students from the Nixon-Smiley
High School Class of 2009 who were awarded scholarships from SSLGC, Jeffrey Medina and
Chester Wiley Casas. Mr. Cockerell recognized a third recipient, Brandon Colby Jackson Stone,
who could not attend the meeting. He was at the University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA)
taking tests.
Mr. Medina plans to attend San Antonio College and UTSA in order to become a physician's
assistant. Mr. Casas will attend Texas Tech to major in kinesiology and minor in mathematics in
order to coach high school athletics and teach math. Mr. Stone plans to attend UTSA and major
in civil engineering.
The third order of business was approval of the minutes for the board meeting held on
May 21, 2009.
Treasurer Jim Wolverton made a motion to approve the minutes of the May 21, 2009
meeting as written. Vice-President Patricia Ramirez seconded the motion. Upon a vote
being called, the motion carried by unanimous decision.
The fourth order of business was presentation of the General Manager's Report -Alan
Cockerell, General Manager.
Mr. Cockerell's written report was included in the board agenda packets. He highlighted the
following items in his report:
Water Production
The water production trend remains consistent with previous years during the same
month.
• Gonzales County Underground Water Conservation District (GCUWCD)
At the District's June 9, 2009 meeting, GCUWCD Director Bruce Patterson recognized
SSLGC as a scholarship donor for Nixon-Smiley High School and thanked the
Corporation for its participation.
Operations Report
Well #5 is out of service. Lubrication of the shaft and bearings appears to be the issue
with the well. Peerless Equipment has ordered parts and plans to have the well back in
service the week of June 22, 2009. Mr. Cockerell visited the Peerless yard and inspected
the pump that Peerless representatives had pulled. The pump and seal appeared to be in
good condition. The cause of the lack of lubrication of the shaft and bearing is being
investigated. Mr. Cockerell noted that SSLGC's other wells are able to keep up with
demand even though well #5 is out of service.
• Other Issues
Secretary Dwyer asked why water continues to overflow at the Booster Pump Station.
Mr. Cockerell reported that programming software of the Corporation's SCADA system
had recently been improved. The Nixon Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and Booster
Pump Station communicate through radios and the SCADA system. If the SCADA
system at the WTP malfunctions and does not pick up the level of the water tank and
communicate the information by radio to the Booster Pump Station, the tank will
overflow. With the programming improvements to the SCADA system, the overflow
problem should be resolved.
Mr. Cockerell reported that well measurements had recently been taken and Hydrologist
Bill Klemt will submit his report at the next board meeting. He added that water
conditions were favorable.
GCUWCD Management Plan
The District is waiting for information pertaining to the Desired Future Conditions to
determine the quantity of water available and add it to the Management Plan.
General Manager Cockerell presented Agenda Items 5 and 6 collectively because of the
relationship between the two.
The fifth order of business was SSLGC's FY 2009/2010 Budget -Alan Cockerell, General
Manager.
Mr. Cockerell summarized Resolution SSLGC R09-03 and the attached budget (exhibit A)
which were included in the board agenda packets. A summary of actual accounts which detailed
comparisons, changes and percentages of the specific accounts in the budget was also included in
the agenda packets.
The sixth order of business was SSLGC's FY 2009/2010 Water Rates -Alan Cockerell,
General Manager.
Mr. Cockerell presented Resolution SSLGC R09-04 and attached FY 2009-2010 water rates
(Exhibit A) which were included in the board agenda packets. A schedule of water rates for the
current and past years was also included in the agenda packets. A brief discussion of the debt
service was held.
After his presentation of SSLGC's FY 2009-2010 budget and water rates, Mr. Cockerell asked
the Board to approve Resolutions SSLGC R09-03 and SSLGC R09-04 (Agenda Items 5 and 6).
Secretary Robin Dwyer made a motion to approve Resolution SSLGC R09-03 to adopt
SSLGC's FY 2009/2010 annual budget and make appropriation in accordance with said
budget as provided. Vice-President Patricia Ramirez seconded the motion. Upon a vote
being called, the motion carried by unanimous decision.
Treasurer Jim Wolverton made a motion to adopt SSLGC's FY 2009/2010 water rates,
Resolution SSLGC R09-04. Secretary Dwyer seconded the motion. Upon a vote being
called, the motion carried by unanimous decision.
Mr. Cockerell called attention to the written resolution to approve SSLGC's FY 2009/2010 water
rates. It read SSLGC R08-04 and should have read SSLGC R09-04. The written resolution was
changed to read SSLGC R09-04. The resolution will be signed and the change initialed by the
secretary and president of the Board.
The seventh order of business was the Ashley/Ritchie Grazing Lease Proposal -Alan
Cockerell, General Manager.
Mr. Cockerell reported that he had received a strong response from his solicitation for bids for
the Ashley, Ritchie #1 and Ritchie #2 grazing leases. A tabulation sheet for each property was
included in the board agenda packets. Mr. Kenneth Schoenfield was the high bidder for all three
leases. Mr. Schoenfield is from San Antonio and is in the real estate and cattle business. He has
a ranch in Wharton County which has been in his family for over 100 years. Mr. Cockerell
stated that the Corporation's standard grazing lease would be used with a couple of
modifications. The original lease reads that the lessee cannot produce hay for sale. This
statement was removed from the lease. It also reads that SSLGC reserves the right for hunting
leases and no hunting of any type will be tolerated by the lessee or his assigns. In the new
contract SSLGC reserves the right for hunting leases, but a phrase was included which states that
hunting of predators by lessee would be acceptable. If the Board approves the grazing leases
with Mr. Schoenfield at the meeting in progress, five-year leases will be executed at SSLGC's
office the week of June 29, 2009. Mr. Cockerell requested approval of the Ashley, Ritchie #1
and Ritchie #2 grazing leases with Mr. Schoenfield.
Secretary Dwyer made a motion to approve the grazing leases with Kenneth Schoenfield
for all three tracts. Treasurer Wolverton seconded the motion. Upon a vote being called,
the motion carried by unanimous decision.
The eighth order of business was Annual Chemical Bids -Alan Cockerell, General
Manager.
Mr. Cockerell referred to a chemical bid tabulation sheet that was included in the board agenda
packets. He advised the Board that SSLGC collaborates with the City of Seguin to solicit annual
chemical bids in order to obtain more favorable prices and noted that the Seguin City Council
had already approved the bid package for the purchase of three chemicals. Of the three,. SSLGC
only purchases the caustic soda. The Thatcher Company submitted the lowest bid at
$0.08850/liquid pound. Mr. Cockerell recommended approval to accept the bid for caustic soda
from the Thatcher Company.
4
Treasurer Wolverton made a motion to approve the annual chemical bid for caustic soda
from the Thatcher Company. Secretary Dwyer seconded the motion. Upon a vote being
called, the motion carried by unanimous decision.
The ninth order of business was Authorization for Pumping Test in the Carrizo/Wilcox -
Alan Cockerell, General Manager.
Mr. Cockerell reported that the Corporation has an opportunity to conduct a pumping test south
of Gonzales County near its well field. Testing would be performed on an existing well to
accumulate data to evaluate the possibility of developing an additional well field in order to
provide an alternative for additional water. He requested authorization to proceed with the
pumping test with funds to be taken from the Future Development Fund and costs not to exceed
$10,000.
Secretary Dwyer made a motion to approve a pumping test in the Carrizo/Wilcox with
costs not to exceed $10,000. Treasurer Wolverton seconded the motion. Upon a vote being
called, the motion carried by unanimous decision.
The tenth order of business was Legislative Update -Jack Fickessen, Consultant.
Mr. Fickessen reported that no administrative changes were made to Chapter 36 of the Water
Code at the last Legislative Session in Austin. The Groundwater Alliance which is made up of
approximately 95 water districts with great effort made sure that no amendments were made to
groundwater law at the last session. Mr. Fickessen provided a brief review of the local bill
which was introduced for the Corporation just before the March 15, 2009 deadline. The bill
would amend the enabling legislation of the GCUWCD to direct it to consider existing permits
and projects when issuing new permits. Senator Wentworth asked that the bill be held until a
later. date. Mr. Fickessen stated that until "Desired Future Conditions" are established in 2010,
the Groundwater Alliance most likely does not want any changes made to the present legislation
on groundwater law.
President Bauer deferred additional discussion for agenda item 10 to Executive Session.
The eleventh order of business was Guadalupe County Expansion Proiect -Alan
Cockerell, General Manager. '
President Bauer deferred agenda item eleven to Executive Session.
The twelfth order of business was Gonzales County Expansion Proiect -Alan Cockerell,
General Manager.
President Bauer deferred agenda item twelve to Executive Session.
President Bauer closed General Session at 2:17 p. m.
The thirteenth order of business was Executive Session called under Chapter 551
Government Code, Subsection 551.071, to seek the advice of its attorney on legal matters
relating to the Board of Director's rights and liabilities under certain contracts, Section
551.072, to deliberate the purchase of and/or sale of certain real estate and Section 551.074,
for deliberations regarding a specific officer or employee.
President Bauer opened Executive Session at 2: 30 p. m.
Executive Session was held from 2: 30 p. m. to 3: S8 p. m.
The fourteenth order of business was to consider and take action as a result of Agenda Item
Thirteen.
President Bauer reopened General Session at 3: 59 p. m.
No action was taken as a result of Executive Session
The fifteenth order of business was Consideration and/or Action on auestions and possible
items to be placed on the next agenda.
No additional discussion was held.
The next regular board meeting was scheduled July 16, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. in Schertz, Texas.
The sixteenth order of business was adjournment.
President Bauer declared the meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
MINUTES APPROVED THIS I ~ 1'1~ DAY OF ~ , 2009.
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