We don't think twice about

turning on the tap to take a shower or to hose down the driveway, but

we might think more than a few times if we had to face the decisions that

the Fairburn City Council met with at their October 27 meeting.

Charles Corbin, program manager

for the South Fulton Water and Sewer Authority gave a lengthy presentation

outlining in detail the factors that make up their plan to wean themselves

from the City of Atlanta's water supply and become self sufficient. With

rates set to triple in the city from the average $60 per month to $172

per month, the time to find a solution was at hand.

Part of the authority's

proposal entailed purchasing Palmetto's 138 acre water treatment plant

and reservoir to be deconstructed after the new facility is in operation

on the Bear Creek site. The assets amount to $1.68 million, which is to

be divided three ways between the authority's three cities. Based

on the amount of water used by each city, Fairburn would receive 28 percent,

Palmetto would receive 18 percent and Union City 54 percent of the proceeds.

Councilman Harvey Melear questioned

the purchase saying, "We're bailing out Palmetto. They're in a bind."

In conjunction with the authority's

plans, an agreement made June 7, 2000 with Fulton County by the City of

Fairburn was extended another year. The original agreement to complete

a 1 million gallon per day sewage treatment plant by March 8, 2005 was

extended to March 8, 2006. The new deadline will give the city more time

to construct its own treatment facility.

Around 9 p.m., the council

took a fifteen minute recess and reconvened to discuss the sale of $40

million in bonds which will fund the project. With sales beginning next

week, the council made several stipulations before agreeing unanimously

to approve the funding of the Bear Creek Reservoir.

It was made clear that the

bond funds were to be used only for water supply purposes and not wastewater

purposes. The Authority would pay Palmetto no more than $2,173,200 for

the purchase of water and wastewater facilities. Palmetto was also required

to receive permits from the Corps of Engineers, the Georgia EPD and the

DOT to relocate Ga. Highway 70.

It was also stated that Fairburn

and Union City would not be liable for any penalties or fines incurred

Mayor Ralph Moore, land agent

for the Authority summed up his view of the proposal saying, "I want

historians to look back and say 'Job well done.'" Moore admitted

that these were "difficult decisions" but was heartfelt in his

desire to "create a trinity that Fulton County and Atlanta cannot

touch."