PTC mayor waffling on buildout population, sewer system growth

The recent op-ed column by Cal Beverly was timely, perceptive and to-the-point.

I asked [Peachtree City] Mayor [Bob] Lenox in a citizen's meeting formally to confirm buildout at 38,000 population and plans for expansion of the sewer system. This response has been 38,000 and the only sewer expansion would be to honor prior commitments to [major developer] PCDC [the former Peachtree City development Corp., now known as Pathway Communities].

There is now hedging on buildout and sewer expansion beyond prior commitments. In fact, we now have a replay of our commander-in-chiefs definition of "is."

In my recent response to EPD on the March 16 consent order, I submitted documentation, given to the city in 1996, pointing out sewer (waste water) treatment capacity was maxed out. Additional capacity problems Starr's Mill, The Chimneys, Westside Village, additional commercial/industrial development impact the present system.

We now hear need for a new facility to replace Line Creek treatment facility at a $6 million cost.

Odor evaluation, ground water assessment, industrial pretreatment requirements are all proper and responsible objectives for [the Peachtree City Water and Sewer Authority]; however, the general manager is driving operations and an objective is to increase the customer base.

This is wrong the WSA is to provide service at a reasonable cost to our citizens first, upgrade the older facilities as needed and provide consistent management in a professional manner not press in all areas to expand the system.

Mayor Lenox, you need to define "is" as to our sewer (waste water) problems rather than pursuing annexation and a new expanded customer base.

The city council members need to (all) be educated as to what is going on with the WSA management.

Jim Ryan
Peachtree City