Senoia took

another step Monday night toward opening its water plant.

The City Council

approved a two-year $116,000 contract to J and T Environmental Services

to run the city's plant.

City Administrator

Leonard Thompson said the two-year term will give the city enough time

to find and train water operators and eventually run the plant.

J and T is

owned by Rick Jeffries, who is also on the city's Planning Commission.

The company

was the low bidder with Newnan Utilities submitting a bid of $125,000.

Currently,

the city is purchasing all its water from Coweta County, but city officials

have emphasized the water plant is necessary to provide for future growth.

The city will

still continue to purchase some water from the county after its plant

is up and running.

The water plant

has been dormant since the late '90s when tropical storm Alberto blew

through town and ripped through the dam at Hutchinson's Lake, which is

the city's primary water service.