The Rabun County Board of Commissioners voted “to exhaust all avenues to protect Rabun County resources” during a special called morning meeting on Friday, Aug. 21.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a letter commissioners received from the Rabun County Water and Sewer Authority (RCWSA) that expressed concerns about the City of Demorest’s intent for a water withdrawal and future water treatment plant in Tallulah Falls.
Demorest City council members announced late Friday, Aug. 21, they have rescheduled a public hearing to consider a proposed eminent domain proceeding for the purposes of expanding its water system to Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. at the Demorest Municipal Conference Center and Court, 250 Alabama Street, Demorest, Ga.
The hearing was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m.
“We need to keep Rabun resources in Rabun,” County Administrator Darrin Giles told commissioners at the Aug. 21 meeting.
Rabun County commissioners Tom Garrison, Will Nichols and Chairman Greg James were in attendance during the special called meeting. Commissioners Scott Crane and Kent Woerner were not able to attend.
Commissioners discussed that this project Demorest is proposing could affect Rabun County’s ability to grow in the future. They expressed other concerns as well.
Commissioners said they are “dialed in” and will do everything they can to serve the people of Rabun County.
Commissioners also said they were not notified by Demorest city officials at any point about the project and never received any official notification.
What’s more, none of the public hearings about the project have been scheduled in Rabun County nor are planned to be scheduled here.
“I don’t understand why they wouldn’t have to have a public hearing in Rabun County,” James told The Clayton Tribune
James said Demorest rescheduling the hearing to Sept. 16 gives more time for Rabun citizens to plan to attend.
After discussing the matter in public, commissioners went into executive session for about 30 minutes for the purposes of potential litigation and land acquisition. RCWSA General Manager Brendan Thompson attended the executive session with commissioners.
The motion to protect resources was voted on when commissioners joined back in regular session.
The commission meeting came about following a special called meeting by the RCWSA a day prior at 8 a.m.
The RCWSA meeting on Aug. 20 was for the purpose of discussing issues and further actions related to the City of Demorest’s actions to acquire property in the City of Tallulah Falls for a water withdrawal and a future water treatment plant.
“I felt like this is something that needed to be taken care of,” RCWSA Chairman Sam Beck said about calling the special meeting to make commissioners aware of their concerns.
Beck said he wanted the authority members to grant their permission and support before the letter was sent to commissioners.
“I wanted to raise the flag with the Board of Commissioners,” Beck said about the importance of making them aware of the situation.
The vote was unanimous.
Authority members also voted at the Aug. 20 meeting to direct RCWSA Attorney Aaron Myers, with Jarrard & Davis, to send open records requests to the cities of Demorest and Tallulah Falls, as well as the Georgia EPD to “figure out what’s going on.”
Concerns about the project
“It has come to the attention of the Rabun County Water and Sewer Authority (RCWSA) that the City of Demorest, Ga., intends to acquire property adjacent to Tallulah Falls Lake and within the City of Tallulah Falls,” according to the letter signed by Beck and addressed to James and Rabun County Board of Commissioners. “It is RCWSA’s current understanding that the proposed acquisition is for the purpose of conducting a water treatment plant to withdraw water from Tallulah Falls Lake for use within the City of Demorest’s municipal water system.”
The subject line reads, “City of Demorest Condemnation of Property in Tallulah Falls for Water Treatment Plant, Water Withdrawal from Tallulah Falls Lake, and Interbasin Water Transfer.”
The property in question is identified as Tax Parcel Nos. 100D 006 and 100D 006A, located at the end of River Street approximately 430 feet beyond the intersection with Hickory Nut Mountain Road in Tallulah Falls, according to a City of Demorest legal ad.
The property is owned by the Irvin family and is a Rabun County Tax Parcel.
“As the public authority charged with planning for and providing water and wastewater services within Rabun County, RCWSA must consider both the present and long-term water and wastewater needs of the community and the protection of the water resources upon which our community depends,” the letter details. “RCWSA is concerned that the construction of a water treatment plant and withdrawal of water from Tallulah Falls Lake by the City of Demorest could adversely affect the interests of RCWSA, Rabun County, and the municipalities and citizens within Rabun County.”
According to the RCWSA letter to Rabun County Commissioners, RCWSA Authority members are concerned that the proposed withdrawal of water from Tallulah Falls Lake could threaten the supply of water available to meet the existing needs of citizens and communities within Rabun County; reduce the water supply available to accommodate future growth and development within Rabun County; adversely affect the water supply available to meet the current and future needs of downstream communities and other water users within the Savannah River Basin; and jeopardize
RCWSA’s planned Wastewater Reclamation Facility project and its ability to preserve and utilize the associated WLA (Wasteload Allocation).
“Tallulah Falls Lake is located within Rabun County, Georgia, and is an important water resource within the Savannah River Basin. The water resources of the Savannah River Basin are finite and must support the existing and future needs of communities throughout the basin. RCWSA holds permits relating to the withdrawal of water and the operation of water and wastewater systems within the Savannah River Basin,” the RCWSA letter to the commissioners reads. “The City of Demorest, by contrast, operates a municipal water system in Habersham County within the adjacent Chattahoochee River Basin. Based on the information presently available to RCWSA, the proposed project therefore appears likely to involve the withdrawal and interbasin transfer of water from the Savannah River Basin into the Chattahoochee River Basin.”
Proximity concerns
RCWSA is planning and developing a new Wastewater Reclamation Facility to be located approximately one mile north of the City of Demorest’s proposed Tallulah Falls Lake water treatment plant, according to the letter.
“RCWSA has obtained the necessary Wasteload Allocation (WLA) for the proposed facility,” the letter details. “The proximity of Demorest’s proposed drinking water intake and treatment plant raises substantial concerns regarding RCWSA’s ability to complete the Wastewater Reclamation Facility as planned and to preserve and utilize the associated WLA.”
Beck said in the RCWSA letter the City of Demorest has not consulted with the RCWSA concerning the Tallulah Falls project, so the RCWSA has limited information regarding the scope, capacity, proposed withdrawal volume, permitting and other details of the project.
“RCWSA has serious concerns regarding the proposed City of Demorest project and its potential effects upon the citizens, communities, and water resources of Rabun County,” according to the letter.
RCWSA officials said they intend to seek additional information from the City of Demorest regarding its plans for Tallulah Falls Lake and hopes that the city will engage with RCWSA and other affected entities so that these issues can be fully evaluated before actions are taken that could affect Rabun County’s water resources.
“Given the importance of this matter to the present and future interests of Rabun County, RCWSA respectfully urges the Rabun County Board of Commissioners to evaluate the proposed project and its potential effects upon the county; communicate the county’s concerns and position to the City of Demorest as appropriate; coordinate with other affected local governments, utilities, and jurisdictions within the Savannah River Basin; and, where appropriate, engage with the relevant State regulatory agencies and State officials concerning the proposed project and its potential effects,” RCWSA officials wrote to commissioners.
Beck told commissioners he looks forward to working with them on the matter.
“RCWSA stands ready to work cooperatively with the Rabun County Board of Commissioners and other affected entities to protect Rabun County’s water resources and ensure that the county’s present and future water and wastewater needs are appropriately considered,” according to the letter.
Tallulah Falls Mayor Mike Early did not return multiple phone calls from The Clayton Tribune asking for comment.
Rabun County Director of Development Rick Story declined to comment on the matter due to being a county employee.