County water authority, city at odds

Jackson officials need to decide who will serve site

February 6, 2006
By Todd DeFeo | Athens Banner-Herald

The south Jackson County city of Arcade, which could possibly triple in size thanks to a massive planned development, is looking to go into the water and sewer business.

Only one obstacle stands in the way: The Jackson County water and sewer authority wants the business from the new development.

"We want to maintain our service territory," said Eric Klerk, manager of the county's authority. "The authority is moving forward with trying to negotiate directly with the 4-W Farms people."

The planned development of 4-W Farms by a Gwinnett County developer could bring more than 2,400 new homes to the city of about 2,000 people. The city last year agreed to annex land and rezone the site for residential use.However, the project could hit a roadblock if city and county officials cannot reach an agreement over who will serve the site with water and sewer.

"It has the possibility of slowing us down," said Brand Morgan, managing partner of Lawrenceville-based Brand Properties. "We're optimistic that we'll come to a resolution."

Development plans include 35 acres of retail space in addition to the 2,440 houses. Morgan said previously he would be willing to donate land to Jackson County as a possible site for a future school.

Developers also offered a possible location for Arcade City Hall, but city officials are in the process of expanding the current city hall/police department located off U.S. Highway 129.

Arcade does not currently provide water or sewer service to its residents, but city leaders hope to soon change that.

At the same time, county water officials started changing their planned improvements to provide service in the area of 4-W Farms.

"We've been concentrating on, obviously, the I-85 corridor and west Jackson," Klerk said. "We had no immediate plans in this area for at least seven years."

While Arcade and Jackson County don't see eye to eye, another city is working with the county to figure out who should do what.

Recently, Commerce city officials agreed to provide sewer capacity to the county in exchange for a water main along Wheeler Church Road and rights to the county's service area on Bana Road.

As a part of a proposed agreement, officials from Commerce and the county would work together to design and build a new sewer treatment facility in the Oconee River Basin.