Tyrone's efforts to tie into

Fairburn's wastewater treatment plant could have a new player involved

the Fayette County Board of Education.

During its annual retreat Saturday,

town leaders learned that Fairburn will probably have the okay from other

municipal governments in Fulton County to proceed with its wastewater

treatment plan within the next two months.

Once Fairburn officials get

the okay, Tyrone leaders will have to fork over $570,000 in fees to Fairburn

for its portion of the excess capacity at the plant.

Tyrone's leaders said now is

the time to consult school board officials on possibly getting involved

in the process.

"I think there's an interest

from some of the school board members and from [school superintendent]

John DeCotis about getting out of the sewer business," said Councilman

Ronnie Cannon.

Currently, the board runs a

treatment facility on Jenkins Road that serves the three schools in the

area.

Tapping on to Tyrone's capacity

at the Fairburn plant would cost the system about $250,000, but Tyrone

leaders said that money would be recouped shortly from not having to pay

any of the maintenance and operations on a sewer plant.

It would also enable the school

system to close the plant on Jenkins Road, which has come under fire in

the past because parents did not like having their children go to school

so near a sewage treatment facility.

Under the agreement, Fairburn

will provide Tyrone wastewater treatment capacity 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 Tyrone town limits.

In order to induce Fairburn

to build the plant, Tyrone agrees to pay the city for $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 gravity or pressure 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 treatment plant, it will notify Tyrone and Tyrone will

have the option of purchasing more capacity.