Members of the Liberty County Development Authority agreed Monday to submit a modified permit request to Georgia EPD to begin work on the proposed wastewater treatment plant at Tradeport East industrial park.
“We’re going to request that we be able to phase the plant, with the first [phase] being for 250,000 gallons,” LCDA CEO Ron Tolley said.
Once the final phase is completed, the facility would be able treat up to 3 million gallons per day for the entire service delivery area in the eastern part of the county.
Last month the board voted to seek federal grant money to fund construction of the plant. The requested amount through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was $7.5 million to cover the design, permitting and administrative costs of a facility that would house equipment to handle 250,000 gallons.
Construction of the plant has been a point of contention for some residents in eastern Liberty and neighboring Bryan County. They believe the impact study conducted by EPD did not sufficiently assess the potential impact that possible discharge from the plant could have on adjacent waterways. Authority members have stood by EPD’s assessment, which reported a “de minimis” impact should any excess treated wastewater be discharged into the Laurel View River.
At Monday’s meeting, the board also reviewed a draft of the financial report on its 2009 budget, compiled by Atlanta-based accounting firm Karp, Ronning & Tindol.
Budgeted expenditures were reported at $21,314,578, with actual expenditures reaching $8,473,750. Anticipated revenues for that year were $6,524,404, while actual revenues were $3,482,637. Revenues not received but still expected, and to be recorded on the next budget, are $298,520.
The agency’s total long-term debt outstanding, when combining debt related to governmental activities, capital assets and business-type activities, is $43,683,735.
In other meeting news, board member and state Rep. Al Williams, reported that HB 1476 has passed in the state legislature, allowing LDCA members to vote on items by phone under certain circumstances.
“We’re going to request that we be able to phase the plant, with the first [phase] being for 250,000 gallons,” LCDA CEO Ron Tolley said.
Once the final phase is completed, the facility would be able treat up to 3 million gallons per day for the entire service delivery area in the eastern part of the county.
Last month the board voted to seek federal grant money to fund construction of the plant. The requested amount through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was $7.5 million to cover the design, permitting and administrative costs of a facility that would house equipment to handle 250,000 gallons.
Construction of the plant has been a point of contention for some residents in eastern Liberty and neighboring Bryan County. They believe the impact study conducted by EPD did not sufficiently assess the potential impact that possible discharge from the plant could have on adjacent waterways. Authority members have stood by EPD’s assessment, which reported a “de minimis” impact should any excess treated wastewater be discharged into the Laurel View River.
At Monday’s meeting, the board also reviewed a draft of the financial report on its 2009 budget, compiled by Atlanta-based accounting firm Karp, Ronning & Tindol.
Budgeted expenditures were reported at $21,314,578, with actual expenditures reaching $8,473,750. Anticipated revenues for that year were $6,524,404, while actual revenues were $3,482,637. Revenues not received but still expected, and to be recorded on the next budget, are $298,520.
The agency’s total long-term debt outstanding, when combining debt related to governmental activities, capital assets and business-type activities, is $43,683,735.
In other meeting news, board member and state Rep. Al Williams, reported that HB 1476 has passed in the state legislature, allowing LDCA members to vote on items by phone under certain circumstances.