Refinancing

Fayette County's current debt for its water system could save $1.6 million,

freeing up funds for several important projects.

The county's

Water Committee wants the Board of Commissioners to consider financing

three new projects: construction of a pump station at a new two-million-gallon

water tank on Ellis Road ($1 million), a water line to tie that tank to

the new one on Ga. Highway 92 north ($1.8 million), and construction of

a new distribution shop on Dividend Drive ($800,000).

These projects

total $3.6 million. The county has approximately $19 million left to pay

off the current debt, with payments ceasing in 2020, according to County

Attorney Bill McNally.

"We have

a small window of opportunity to do this in," McNally told the Water

Committee, which unanimously approved recommending the three projects

to the county commission.

The pump station

and water lines will help provide "better flow" according to

water system director Tony Parrott. The system will allow water to be

pumped to the Hwy. 92 tank rather than having to use gravity to distribute

the water, he added.

Both those

projects are on the county's long-range project list for completion, Parrott

noted.

The water tank

on Ellis Road, which won't be complete for two years, will cost $2 million,

but the county has already earmarked funds for that, Parrott said.

The county

commission will consider the matter today at its regular workshop meeting.

In other business,

the Water Committee approved a recommendation to add fencing to the south

Fayette water plant for security purposes. The estimated cost for that

project is $60,103.

The committee

also approved a recommendation to seek bids for painting and service work

to the Crabapple water tank in Peachtree City.