[email protected]

The city

of Fairburn moved a step closer last Friday to building its own wastewater

treatment plant.

The city

approved issuing $14.3 million in bonds to build the plant, said City

Administrator Tony Cox.

"The

plant will be one [million gallons per day] and we hope to begin construction

in the fall if permitting goes smoothly," said Cox. "This

is Fairburn's only plant which will serve areas south of the ridge that

the CSX rail line marks. The rest of the city will continue to be served

under contract by Fulton County," Cox said.

Additionally,

Fairburn will provide wastewater treatment capacity for the town of

Tyrone through Fulton County until its new wastewater treatment plant

is built.

The contract

stipulates that Tyrone can purchase 250,000 gallons of daily capacity

until the plant is built.

Tyrone will

pay Fairburn the wholesale rate that Fairburn pays Fulton County, plus

a 15 percent premium charge.

Fairburn

will supply Fulton County a $4 million performance bond to compensate

the county in case Fairburn does not build its own treatment facility.

Tyrone will split the cost of the bond.

After Fairburn

builds its plant, Tyrone will pay the city on a monthly basis, based

on Fairburn's operation and maintenance municipal rate.

Fairburn

is building the plant to provide sewerage to residents and businesses

to the east of U.S. Highway 29 to the the Tyrone town limits.

In order

to induce Fairburn to build the plant, Tyrone agrees to pay the city

$570,000 within 30 days of completion of the contract.

Tyrone will

receive a credit that will be prorated over the 30 years of the contract.

Tyrone will

be responsible for the installation of all sewer lines installed in

unincorporated Fayette County, Fulton County, Fairburn or Tyrone that

is necessary to complete the agreement.

Tyrone will

be solely responsible for the maintenance and operation of the sewer

collection system.

If Fairburn

decides to expand its wastewater treament plant, it will notify Tyrone

and Tyrone will have the option of purchasing more capacity.