Sewer rates

in Peachtree City are pretty good compared to elsewhere

in metro Atlanta, according to a report issued at Monday

night's monthly meeting of the Peachtree City Water and

Sewerage Authority.

A study was

conducted in November by the Douglasville-Douglas County

authority, according toWASA general manager Larry Turner,

to whom a copy was furnished since Peachtree City was

included in the study.

A dozen

metro-area systems were rated on their connection fees

and monthly sewer rates. In both cases, Peachtree City's

costs were slightly below average and in the bottom half

of the group.

WASA's

$1550 connection fee was higher than only three other

systems: Rockdale County ($1400), Gwinnett County ($948)

and DeKalb County ($650). Henry County led the list at

$2600, followed by Carroll County ($2500), Paulding

County ($2000), Fulton County ($1810), Douglas County

($1800), Cherokee County ($1700), Cobb County ($1700) and

Clayton County ($1560). The average for all 12 systems

was $1685.

The monthly

sewer rate comparison was based on an average customer

using 7000 gallons. The most expensive was Fulton

($39.25), followed by Rockdale ($32.35), Cobb ($31.34),

Paulding ($30.25), Gwinnett ($30.19) and Douglas

($26.20). The average for the group was $26.36.

Right

behind Peachtree City ($24.50) was Carroll ($24.04),

Cherokee ($23.92), Henry ($23.89), DeKalb ($15.70) and

Clayton ($14.70).

"There

has not been a rate increase for some time," Turner

said of Peachtree City's rates. "And I do not

anticipate one."

He did not

hesitate to give the WASA board credit, saying that the

figures prove the group is watching its finances closely.

Turner

pointed out that the rates used in the comparison are for

sewer only, which is typically 30-40 percent higher than

just for water.

"That

makes these figures even more significant," said

board member John Williams.

Ironically,

at the same meeting the board approved a revised rate

resolution establishing a separate rate district, with

higher fees, for what Turner described as the

Wynnmeade/West Village service area.

Turner said

that this change was necessitated by a litigation

settlement that led to apartments being built in the

area, which required the construction of certain pump

stations and force mains to serve other properties.

The parties

to the agreement - Ravin Homes, TEF Investments and

TEF Partners - have paid the higher connection fees

($2050 for residential; $2850 for commercial, industrial

or apartments), Turner said, but there was nothing in

place that would bind a future user to those fees. The

board's adoption of the rate resolution solved that

problem.

In other

business, the board approved two change orders for a

contract with P.F. Moon and Company for improvements at

the city's three wastewater treatment plants. The

combined changes lower the total cost, from $1,205,400 to

$1,184,353.10.

The annual

WASA retreat is scheduled for Saturday, June 10, at the

Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center. The June board

meeting will be at 1 p.m. that day, instead of the

regular Monday night meeting.