By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

PDM Corporation has been chosen to build Fayette County's new water tank on Ga. Highway 92 at Lee's Mill Road for $1.7 million.

Construction can begin as soon as contracts are signed, and will take about a year, according to county water director Tony Parrott.

County commissioners recently decided to build the 2.5-million-gallon tank next to an old 500,000-gallon tank. The old tank will be removed once the new one is in place and working properly.

Plans for the tank ignited a fire storm of controversy in 1998. David Williams, whose house is next to the current water tank, argued that the land involved in plans for a planned two-million-gallon tank next to it belonged to him, not the county. About 200 neighbors joined Williams in protesting the idea of two tanks at one location, saying it would give the area the appearance of an industrial park.

The courts settled the land ownership question in favor of the county, but commissioners put the tank on a back burner and studied alternative locations in the face of still-fierce neighborhood opposition.

Following a study, engineering consultants advised the county that the Lee's Mill location is the best one to fill the county's needs for water pressure to serve the growing northern part of the county.

Commissioners decided to build a larger tank so the old one can be removed.

Water officials say the tank is needed to provide enough water pressure and to store treated water to serve the area, and to serve needs in the city of Fayetteville in case the city's supply falls short of demand.