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441 sewer project flows forward
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| A 'for sale' sign sits on the property owned by Allen Taylor, chairman of the Clayton-Rabun County Water and Sewer Authority, which is spearheading a project to expand sewer services along a corridor between Mountain City and Dillard. Taylor's property sits on the corner of Wolffork Road and Highway 441, just north of Mountain City. Taylor adamantly denied any conflict of interest regarding the sewer project and his property. |
By Jeremy Styron News Editor
The Clayton-Rabun County Water and Sewer Authority approved unanimously Sept. 11 to begin surveying precise locations of a main line and pump stations that would provide sewer service along U.S. Highway 441 North between Mountain City and Dillard.
The service area, which begins just outside of Mountain City and runs to the wastewater treatment plant in Dillard, is expected to cover 1,000 feet of property on each side of the highway.
Previously having purchased a sewer treatment allowance of 30,000 gallons per day from Dillard at a price of $420,000, the authority may be able to service a wider stretch as capacity dictates, chairman Allen Taylor said.
The authority is "not limited to that (1,000 feet), but it's a primary concern for the services that are needed," he said.
According to research performed for the authority by Engineering Management Inc., customers currently interested in latching onto sewer service along that corridor would use about 10,000 gpd. Another 10,000 gpd will be needed in 15 years to accommodate projected growth along the highway.
"The project will serve 30 years into the future," Taylor said. "That's our best estimate, possibly longer, but that's our best estimate."
About one year ago, numerous potential customers, including The Feed Mill, Rabun Flea Market and Osage Farms owner Ricky James petitioned the authority to pursue a sewer expansion project.
"We started doing some investigation on all the businesses in that area that needed sewer," authority member Danny Gillespie said about the impetus behind expansion.
"The motivation for the project to begin with was the demand for services of property owners," Taylor said.
The project is expected to cost between $800,000-$950,000 for lines, pumps and other components.
The authority applied Aug. 15 for a $300,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission for the sewer expansion project and plans to apply for another $200,000 grant in October, EMI vice president Jerry Hood said. He added that the authority might seek a Community Development Block Grant through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for the remainder.
He said bidding on construction would likely begin one or two months before the work begins.
The expansion is expected to be completed by late spring or early summer of 2008, Taylor said, noting that actual construction work would take only 90-100 days.
Taylor, who owns a piece of property for sale on the corner of Wolffork Road and Highway 441, said he had come under some scrutiny for possible conflict of interest because he might directly benefit from added sewer service along the highway.
"I know there's people complain all the time, and if you're trying to point out a conflict of interest ... there's no conflict whatsoever," he said.
Clayton Mayor Tom Ramey Sr. said it wasn't an issue directly involving his city, but said that "anywhere that they can add sewer or water, it just makes it that much better as far as development's concerned. I don't see how you can keep the people from developing their property."
"I'm sure that Allen is going to take care of himself," Ramey added later in the interview. "I know he has a piece of property there, and he's been showing it to folks."
County Attorney Allyn Stockton said he had heard of such complaints, but such a discourse had not come up in official county business. "I've heard that but to be honest, I've had no dealings at all. I mean, yeah, you hear that just from the local bomb throwing, but that's something (the expansion project) the water and sewer authority" are in charge of.
Adamantly opposing such criticism, Taylor first noted that the "for sale" sign on the property was installed after the authority initiated the project. He said potential buyers would be notified that water was indeed available and that sewer was coming soon. "Here's a fact, if I sold the property today ... by the time any development could take place (on the property), why, the public sewer would be there on 441."
"So the question: is this project to benefit me. The answer's hell no. ... In other words, I didn't initiate this project," he said, noting that the project was instituted for the larger benefit of the numerous property owners along the corridor.
The service area, which begins just outside of Mountain City and runs to the wastewater treatment plant in Dillard, is expected to cover 1,000 feet of property on each side of the highway.
Previously having purchased a sewer treatment allowance of 30,000 gallons per day from Dillard at a price of $420,000, the authority may be able to service a wider stretch as capacity dictates, chairman Allen Taylor said.
The authority is "not limited to that (1,000 feet), but it's a primary concern for the services that are needed," he said.
According to research performed for the authority by Engineering Management Inc., customers currently interested in latching onto sewer service along that corridor would use about 10,000 gpd. Another 10,000 gpd will be needed in 15 years to accommodate projected growth along the highway.
"The project will serve 30 years into the future," Taylor said. "That's our best estimate, possibly longer, but that's our best estimate."
About one year ago, numerous potential customers, including The Feed Mill, Rabun Flea Market and Osage Farms owner Ricky James petitioned the authority to pursue a sewer expansion project.
"We started doing some investigation on all the businesses in that area that needed sewer," authority member Danny Gillespie said about the impetus behind expansion.
"The motivation for the project to begin with was the demand for services of property owners," Taylor said.
The project is expected to cost between $800,000-$950,000 for lines, pumps and other components.
The authority applied Aug. 15 for a $300,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission for the sewer expansion project and plans to apply for another $200,000 grant in October, EMI vice president Jerry Hood said. He added that the authority might seek a Community Development Block Grant through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for the remainder.
He said bidding on construction would likely begin one or two months before the work begins.
The expansion is expected to be completed by late spring or early summer of 2008, Taylor said, noting that actual construction work would take only 90-100 days.
Taylor, who owns a piece of property for sale on the corner of Wolffork Road and Highway 441, said he had come under some scrutiny for possible conflict of interest because he might directly benefit from added sewer service along the highway.
"I know there's people complain all the time, and if you're trying to point out a conflict of interest ... there's no conflict whatsoever," he said.
Clayton Mayor Tom Ramey Sr. said it wasn't an issue directly involving his city, but said that "anywhere that they can add sewer or water, it just makes it that much better as far as development's concerned. I don't see how you can keep the people from developing their property."
"I'm sure that Allen is going to take care of himself," Ramey added later in the interview. "I know he has a piece of property there, and he's been showing it to folks."
County Attorney Allyn Stockton said he had heard of such complaints, but such a discourse had not come up in official county business. "I've heard that but to be honest, I've had no dealings at all. I mean, yeah, you hear that just from the local bomb throwing, but that's something (the expansion project) the water and sewer authority" are in charge of.
Adamantly opposing such criticism, Taylor first noted that the "for sale" sign on the property was installed after the authority initiated the project. He said potential buyers would be notified that water was indeed available and that sewer was coming soon. "Here's a fact, if I sold the property today ... by the time any development could take place (on the property), why, the public sewer would be there on 441."
"So the question: is this project to benefit me. The answer's hell no. ... In other words, I didn't initiate this project," he said, noting that the project was instituted for the larger benefit of the numerous property owners along the corridor.
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