Friday, March 26, 2004
|
Friday, March 26, 2004 |
| Water rates rising for Fairburn residents By LINDSAY BIANCHI The City of Fairburn has been acting like a sponge for the last three months absorbing the extra cost of water services in town. The 45 percent increase that the city of Atlanta has put on communities outside the metro area has made it necessary to increase the charges to Fairburn customers by the same percent. “We’re paying for Atlanta’s sewer system,” said City Administrator Jim Williams. Customers will be notified on their April 1 bill that the new rates will go into effect May 1. The first 2,000 gallons of water will rise from $15 to $21.75. The rate for each further 1,000 gallons will increase from $2.73 to $3.96. The typical residential bill for 8000 gallons per month will increase from $31.38 to $45.51, an increase of $14.13 per month. “I think it needs to be noted that the city is not making a dime off of this,” Councilman Glenn Higgins added. The crunch that is being felt in Atlanta due to unkempt sewage practices is sending shock waves beyond the circle of 285. “I don’t think we have much of a choice.” Councilman Doug Crawford admitted. Monday’s City Council meeting also saw the approval of a $9.9 million bid for the completion of a sewage treatment plant to be constructed on Bohannon Road. Winter Construction Company in Atlanta beat out three other bidders who were all well over the $10 million mark. Design engineers on the project, Keck and Wood recommended the low bid after checking references for the company. The South Fulton Regional Water and Sewer Authority, created to meet the future challenges of South Fulton’s most basic needs, is striving to keep ahead of the growth curve now cutting through Union City, Palmetto and Fairburn. Their plans to rely on water sources other than Atlanta’s appear to just in time, considering Monday’s rate hike.
| ||