Tyrone Town Council adopted an amended Community Sewer Ordinance Thursday night followed by a decision to ask Fayette County Water System Director Tony Parrott to meet with council members at an upcoming meeting. The ordinance prohibits the installation of private community sewer systems.

The purpose of the discussion Thursday centered on oral amendments that followed the recent vote to adopt the ordinance, said town attorney Dennis Davenport. The ordinance, modeled on one adopted by Henry County after sewer trouble experienced with a private community sewer system in one of that county’s subdivisions, deals with private community sewage disposal systems used by more than one parcel or tract of land.

The Tyrone ordinance prohibits such systems inside town limits under any circumstances. It cites issues such as the potential lack of ability to respond to problems or repair deficiencies in an adequate time frame.  

Davenport said he spoke with representatives of Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) about the ordinance and was told that the state will defer to the town’s decision on the matter of adopting such an ordinance, adding that EPD’s position is that they do not approve systems if a municipality or county prohibits them.

Davenport also noted that EPD takes no legal stand on the matter since their role is to permit systems. If Tyrone were to be presented with a legal challenge, the issue would go to the attorney general, Davenport said.

During the discussion, Davenport said he believed Fayette County was considering the use of community sewage systems with built-in redundancy in case of failures. When installation of the system is completed it is turned over to the county to operate, he said.

Council members asked that Parrott be contacted to attend an upcoming meeting to address any facets of the issue that might require clarification.

login to post comments