Friday, December 26, 2003
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Friday, December 26, 2003 |
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Lee supports sewer funding request ATLANTA State Sen. Dan Lee (R-LaGrange) said he will support Gov. Sonny Perdue’s request for funding in the upcoming legislative session to allow the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority to loan the City of Atlanta $500 million over a ten-year period to repair their failing sewer system. Lee is Perdue’s administration floor leader in the Senate. “Atlanta needs help to fund these sewer repairs and it is important for our capital city and the rest of the state that we give them the assistance they need,” Lee said. “Atlanta’s sewer problems affect the entire state’s our water supply. This program certainly will benefit the residents and businesses located within Atlanta, but it also will benefit the people of West Georgia who rely on the Chattahoochee River for their drinking water. “This is not a give-away program,” he continued. “It is a low-interest loan program, and while we are not letting the City of Atlanta off the hook for not making these necessary repairs a decade ago, we are helping our neighbors out and in this season of giving, I think we are doing the right thing.” Atlanta has been ordered by the federal government to repair its sewer system which is polluting the Chattahoochee River and affecting the water supply to all of Georgia. The cost of fixing the sewer system is estimated at $3 billion. GEFA, which makes loans to local governments for water and sewer programs, will now be able to loan cities and counties up to $50 million each year instead of $33 million. Lee represents the 29th Senate District which includes all or parts of Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Harris, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Jones, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, and Troup counties. He may be reached at 404-651-7738 or by e-mail at danlee@bellsouth.net.
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