And DAVE HAMRICK

[email protected]

The town of Tyrone expects

to soon be in the sewer business.

But not if Fayette County officials

have anything to say about it.

Town officials signed off Thursday

night on an agreement with the city of Fairburn that allows Tyrone to

purchase Fairburn's excess capacity at its new wastewater treatment plant.

Fayette County commissioners

have frequently threatened to file legal action to stop the agreement

as discussions between Tyrone and Fairburn have progressed, and commission

Chairman Greg Dunn said this week that hasn't changed.

"We have told them we

are going to take some action if they went forward, and we will,"

said Dunn, but he declined to give any details of what that "action"

might entail.

County leaders oppose the plan,

saying the availability of sewerage in the area could spark high-density

development that's not in keeping with local policies.

But Tyrone Town manager Barry

Amos said that won't happen. The town's contract is for 250,000 gallons

of capacity, which will be used for the John Wieland housing development

under construction on Ga. Highway 74 and a commercial development being

built by Phil Seay.

Those two developments will

use all the capacity, Amos said, so there is no threat the town could

use the sewer system to build houses on smaller lots.

Under the agreement, until

the plant is built, Tyrone will be using Fulton County's excess capacity,

where Fairburn currently ships its wastewater.

Councilman Ray Bogenschutz

said the deal is unique.

"The town will be getting

a wastewater treatment system at no cost to the taxpayers," he said.

John Wieland Homes is providing

the funds for connecting the lines from Fulton County to Tyrone and will

dedicate the lines to the town.

The deal is the culmination

of years of negotiations and officials said they were glad they could

finally seal the deal.

"This is a win-win situation

for the town," said Councilman Paul Letourneau.

Between Flat Rock and hard

place

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