The Peachtree

City Water and Sewer Authority has officially opposed an effort from an

environmental group to have the city fund an independent assessment of

documents to determine the water quality of Line Creek.

Now, the matter

is back in the hands of the City Council, which is expected to discuss

it Thursday night.

Last month,

the Line Creek Association asked the city council to fund that assessment

before WASA is allowed to expand the amount of sewage it can treat and

release into Line Creek. At the time, council agreed to look into the

matter and City Manager Jim Basinger was assigned to meet with LCA member

Dennis Chase to discuss the group's concerns.

But now, City

Attorney Rick Lindsey has recommended that the city not engage in the

independent review. In a letter to council, Lindsey said the city's involvement

in the review could be viewed "as a direct insult to its integrity

and independence."

The council's

only involvement with the authority is appointing its members, Lindsey

wrote in his opinion.

WASA Chairman

John Gronner, in his letter to council, wrote that there "is a risk

involved in challenging EPD's [the state Environmental Protection Division]

protocol and procedures, which is what you are basically doing."

In other business,

council is expected to consider possibly refunding part of the $180 qualifying

fee that 14 residents paid to qualify for the recently filled council

seat that had been vacated by Robert Brooks. Brooks' successor, Steve

Rapson, is also scheduled to be sworn in at the meeting.

Also, council

will hear a report on golf cart safety recommendations from Fire Chief

Stony Lohr.