OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Public Works and Infrastructure Special Called Committee Meeting – May 22, 2026

Board of Commissioners & Committees — Friday, May 22, 2026
BodyDekalb County, Georgia
SessionBoard of Commissioners & Committees
DateFriday, May 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:14:56

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Good morning, everybody.

0:05

Uh this is uh I'm Commissioner Robert Patrick.

0:07

This is the Public Works and Infrastructure uh special called committee meeting.

0:12

Uh we do have a fairly lengthy agenda.

0:14

I want to acknowledge we're starting a little bit late.

0:18

A little story.

0:20

Uh when the Board of Education collects all the Chromebooks the week before school ends.

0:25

Your children then come back and say, Why do I have to go to school?

0:29

And so that was part of the argument this morning was was you have to go to school.

0:34

I'm on a calendar, I gotta be at a meeting and y'all gotta get it going.

0:37

So uh anyway, and then there was some traffic in Atlanta.

0:40

Imagine that.

0:41

We never have that kind of stuff.

0:42

Um dad comes first, yes.

0:45

Yes.

0:46

Uh with that said, Commissioners, I know as I said, we do have a lengthy agenda.

0:50

Um agenda item uh 2026-0932.

0:54

This is for all commission districts.

0:56

Minutes of the May 5th, 2026 Public Works and Infrastructure Committee meeting.

1:00

If y'all are comfortable with the minutes, I'll open the floor for a motion.

1:04

Move to approve.

1:06

Okay, we got a proper motion.

1:08

Commissioner Second.

1:11

All right, proper motion, please.

1:14

I think this mic is on.

1:15

So just apply my switch the microphone.

1:18

Do you want to I got you?

1:19

Okay.

1:20

It's coming in from feedback, so this is a weird thing for all of us.

1:27

Uh but uh anyway.

1:29

He is in rare form.

1:31

It's it's a Friday already.

1:32

Um we have a proper motion, a proper second.

1:35

All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye.

1:37

Aye.

1:38

All right.

1:38

Uh, we're gonna get into our discussions first.

1:41

We have water and sewer CIP update.

1:43

Is uh staff ready to go just yet, Zach?

1:45

Yeah.

1:47

Sure.

1:49

Thank you, Mr.

1:49

Chair.

1:50

If our members of Watershed would come up, uh we're going to have a fairly brief presentation today.

1:55

Come on, Cassandra, and talk through the uh water and sewer CIP, but we recognize there is a lot on the agenda, so uh this will be more of a kind of an abbreviated version of the presentation, but they will definitely hit the eye points.

2:08

Okay.

2:08

You know, um we've had many conversations at the BOC level uh about things that take too much time at the BOC level and sort of committee is the time we need to do things.

2:18

So if we got to do it right, let's do it right the first time, and then we'll make it work.

2:21

And if we have to reschedule things, we'll reschedule things as we need to.

2:24

Thank you.

2:25

We appreciate that.

2:28

Reggie.

2:30

Good morning.

2:30

Good morning.

2:31

Thank you guys.

2:33

For the um remaining consistent with what CEO will say.

2:37

I just want to state the importance of this.

2:40

Um, although it's consistent with CIP, the main difference and importance is this is actually all project management system, which is essential in the fact that we hadn't had one, even though we've had previous CIPs that we've delivered.

2:59

The importance of this is it really allows us to quote comprehensively manage with with data, um, be as transparent as possible, as visible as possible, not only currently during the construction, but later when we're looking backwards, two or three years later, reprioritizing, complicating something again.

3:21

This is how essential this is.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management████████████████████████████28%
Solid Waste Management███████████████15%
Public Works Maintenance██████████████14%
Procurement Policy███████████11%
Technology and Innovation█████████9%
Environmental Protection█████5%
Procedural███3%
Zoning Regulations███3%
Public Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

DeKalb County Public Works and Infrastructure Special Called Committee Meeting – May 22, 2026

The Committee convened on May 22, 2026, under Chair Commissioner Robert Patrick to address the water and sewer CIP update, a feasibility study for the Pole Bridge Creek plant, proposed stormwater and sanitation fee increases, and numerous procurement and contract items. The meeting included presentations, discussions, and votes.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of May 5, 2026: Approved unanimously.
  • 2026-0232 – Odor Control Chemicals: Awarded to five vendors for a three-year contract not to exceed $494,049.15.
  • 2026-0677 – Snapfinger Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility Design Expansion: Change order to CDM Smith for $658,789.35 and extended term to December 31, 2031.
  • 2026-0678 – Snapfinger Vault Assessment and Cleaning: Emergency change order to Compliance and Viral Systems LLC for $3,014,358, term extended through March 31, 2027.
  • 2026-0627 – Snapfinger Membrane Bioreactor Emergency Purchase: Ratified emergency procurement from Clovis LLC, revised amount $550,000.
  • 2026-0474 – Operational Assessment of Watershed Management: Purchasing exemption awarded to Malden Jenkins LLC for $116,530; completion expected by August/September 2026.
  • 2026-0792 – Service Trucks for Watershed: Two 2027 International trucks from Rush Truck Centers for $249,862.
  • 2026-0679 – Dump Trucks: 20 dump trucks from Rush Truck Centers for $3,328,370; approval pending audit, with vehicles allocated to stormwater, watershed, and parks.
  • 2026-0762 – Electrical/Mechanical Maintenance: Cooperative agreement via Cobb County contract for up to $1,500,000 awarded to Coal Technology Inc. and Tech Well Services LLC.
  • 2026-0434 – LMIG Road Resurfacing: Term extension only for ER Snell Contractor Inc. to complete work; approved.

Discussion Items

Water and Sewer CIP Update

Staff from the Watershed Department presented the new project management information system (Cahua) for the $4.27 billion CIP program. The system integrates cost management, construction management, risk registers, community engagement logging, milestone scheduling, and analytics. Key benefits include real-time reporting, centralized document management, automated workflows for invoices and daily reports, and enhanced accountability. Commissioner Terry suggested adding text messaging to outreach efforts. Commissioner Johnson clarified how commissioner inquiries should be routed to the department. Commissioner Patrick inquired about integrating artificial intelligence into the system; staff replied that Cahua is developing an embedded AI assistant and that an AI policy is under review and nearing distribution. Discussion also included the stalled CIP monitor position; staff committed to revitalizing it. The presentation was informational, no vote.

Pole Bridge Creek Feasibility Study and Master Planning

The CERM Volkert JV team presented results of Phase I due diligence for the 500-acre site surrounding the Pole Bridge Creek Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. The county spends over $250,000 per year mowing the vacant land. The study evaluated reuse options: recreational trails, composting, solar farm, sludge land application, and conservation/reforestation. Key findings: City of Stonecrest zoning (R-100 residential and Arabia Mountain Overlay) may restrict some uses; an NPDS permit for land application expires in three years; nitrate levels in groundwater have remained consistent since land application ceased in 2014. Next steps include stakeholder outreach to Stonecrest, Lions, Decide DeKalb, and others. Commissioner Terry highlighted potential for on-site composting to reduce biosolids hauling costs, citing $600,000 annual savings from not trucking to the landfill. Commissioner Johnson questioned the feasibility of gathering 20 years of nitrate data within the remaining permit window. Commissioner Patrick suggested exploring revenue from fertilizer production. No action taken.

Proposed Stormwater Utility Fee Increase (2026-0587)

Director Allen presented the proposal; no new details were added. Commissioner Terry requested the ordinance language and confirmation of continued green infrastructure allocation. The committee agreed to hold the item for further public input. A town hall was tentatively scheduled for June 3 or 4, 2026. The item was held in committee.

Sanitation Fee Increase Proposal (2026-0930)

Arcadis consultant Robert Riley presented a revenue sufficiency study showing a persistent deficit in the sanitation enterprise fund. Over the past five years, the general fund has subsidized sanitation, with deficits reaching $20 million in 2022. The proposed plan includes a 25% residential fee increase (from $315 to $393/year) in 2026, followed by 10% annual increases through a five-year horizon. Commercial and landfill tipping fees would also increase. The current landfill cell has three to four years of capacity left; expansion must begin in 2027. Commissioner Terry proposed several amendments: reducing tire fees to the metro standard, offering a rebate for residents within two miles of the landfill, providing a senior discount, adopting a 10-year planning horizon, including projected methane revenue, and smoothing the initial increase (e.g., 15% rather than 25%). Commissioner Johnson supported a longer horizon to avoid sharp hikes. Staff agreed to return with alternative scenarios. The item was held in committee pending a town hall on June 4, 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the minutes of May 5, 2026.
  • Approved multiple procurement and change order items as listed in Consent Calendar.
  • Held in committee: Stormwater fee increase (2026-0587) and Sanitation fee increase (2026-0930) pending public town hall.
  • Conditionally approved: Right-of-way mowing (2026-047) and litter removal (2026-0655) subject to GIS map distribution and district review.
  • Approved pending audit: Dump truck procurement (2026-0679).
  • Directed staff: To revitalize the CIP monitor position and coordinate town hall meetings on June 3 or 4, 2026, for both stormwater and sanitation fee proposals.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, everybody. Uh this is uh I'm Commissioner Robert Patrick. This is the Public Works and Infrastructure uh special called committee meeting. Uh we do have a fairly lengthy agenda. I want to acknowledge we're starting a little bit late. A little story. Uh when the Board of Education collects all the Chromebooks the week before school ends. Your children then come back and say, Why do I have to go to school? And so that was part of the argument this morning was was you have to go to school. I'm on a calendar, I gotta be at a meeting and y'all gotta get it going. So uh anyway, and then there was some traffic in Atlanta. Imagine that. We never have that kind of stuff. Um dad comes first, yes. Yes. Uh with that said, Commissioners, I know as I said, we do have a lengthy agenda. Um agenda item uh 2026-0932. This is for all commission districts. Minutes of the May 5th, 2026 Public Works and Infrastructure Committee meeting. If y'all are comfortable with the minutes, I'll open the floor for a motion. Move to approve. Okay, we got a proper motion. Commissioner Second. All right, proper motion, please. I think this mic is on. So just apply my switch the microphone. Do you want to I got you? Okay. It's coming in from feedback, so this is a weird thing for all of us. Uh but uh anyway. He is in rare form. It's it's a Friday already. Um we have a proper motion, a proper second. All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye. Aye. All right. Uh, we're gonna get into our discussions first. We have water and sewer CIP update. Is uh staff ready to go just yet, Zach? Yeah. Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chair. If our members of Watershed would come up, uh we're going to have a fairly brief presentation today. Come on, Cassandra, and talk through the uh water and sewer CIP, but we recognize there is a lot on the agenda, so uh this will be more of a kind of an abbreviated version of the presentation, but they will definitely hit the eye points. Okay. You know, um we've had many conversations at the BOC level uh about things that take too much time at the BOC level and sort of committee is the time we need to do things. So if we got to do it right, let's do it right the first time, and then we'll make it work. And if we have to reschedule things, we'll reschedule things as we need to. Thank you.

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