Ellijay-Gilmer County Water and Sewerage Authority (EGCWSA) board members approved a new sewer service transfer rate for residential developments when meeting Friday, Oct 28.
The authority already had a water transfer rate for subdivisions, but not one for sewer service, noted Gary McVey, EGCWSA director.
“We only have a handful of customers on the (water) transfer rate, so there was no need to have a sewer rate attached. All of them right now are water only. It’s basically those large developments that we are selling water through a master meter,” McVey told board members Mike Gibbs, Hubert Parker, Don Callihan, Tony Whitaker and Billy Rowe.
The four developments currently under the transfer rate for water service are High River, Oakridge, Walnut Mountain and the Coosawattee campground, McVey said. There could possibly be other developments in progress where sewer service will also be needed, he added.
“I want to get ahead of the curve, so I feel it’s best to go ahead and establish this sewer transfer rate now,” McVey said.
The minimum sewer transfer rate charge will be $592, which will include the first 100,000 gallons. Anything beyond that will be billed at $5.92 per 1,000 gallons, McVey said.
“(It’s) the same as the water rate, basically the highest tier,” he added.
Existing water transfer rate agreements are with property owner associations of the contracted entities, McVey noted. Money is usually collected through annual dues and the POA pays the monthly invoice, but it’s up to the POAs as to how they collect the money from residents, he added.
In other news ...
McVey said he officially accepted a $500,000 OneGeorgia Equity Grant awarded to the water authority by the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) at a recent ceremony in Douglas County.
The grant funds will go toward a South Main Street water system improvement project, in which aging Transite (asbestos cement) water line will be removed from underneath South Main Street. The project will also include water line replacement along Spring Street, Church Street and River Street.
The cost estimate for the extensive line replacement project is $2 million. The water authority will fund the remaining $1.5 million not covered by the DCA grant.
Once paperwork for the grant has been finalized and designs have met all grant requirements, the project will be put out for bid, McVey said.
Mike Gibbs, EGCWSA board chairman, gave the board’s appreciation to House Speaker David Ralston and the Georgia DCA for awarding the grant, which is a funding source the water authority has not previously received.
“Speaker Ralston and his staff have truly been committed to the betterment of the north Georgia area over the years. He’s provided assistance for various projects that will benefit this community for many years to come,” said Gibbs.