There was conversation of possible monthly assessment fees being added to customers’ water bills discussed during the March 4, City of Hinesville Council meeting. However, the folks facing the possible hikes, that ranged in price from $9.74 per month up to $623.36 per month for a possible 60-month period, were for residents in the City of Flemington.
The Mayor and Council were discussing the adoption of a new intergovernmental agreement for water and sewer extension service between the Cities of Hinesville and Flemington. The new agreement is needed because the Georgia Department of Transportation will be widening a portion of Highway 84 at McLarry’s curve that will require the relocation of water and sewer service lines. These relocation fees were not included in the original cost of the project.
Hinesville and Flemington have previously entered into an agreement related to
water and sewer systems operated within Flemington.
According to the proposed agreement, “As the owner operator of the water and sewer distribution system the City of Hinesville shall administer the project and be compensated for administration and construction costs through a special assessment on the water bills of the Flemington water customers and the City of Flemington may subsidize the cost to the customers.”
City of Hinesville Financial Officer Kimberly Ryon presented a possible breakdown of the assessments. She said the total cost to relocate the water and sewer lines amounts to $420,000.00 and that the City of Hinesville would contribute $22,500.00 to cover the fees associated with the 10 customers who reside in the Hinesville City limits. By doing so these 10 customers will not be charged with assessment fees.
However, in the City of Flemington, under the proposed assessment fee collection presented at the meeting, Ryon said there are 411 Flemington customers with ¾” meters that would be assessed a monthly fee of $9.74. The fees go up from there depending on the size of the customers’ meters.
There are also two meters that will be affected that are in unincorporated Liberty County that could face assessment fees of $115.84 and $623.36 per month respectively for the 60-month period.
Flemington Mayor Paul Hawkins said the Flemington City Council plans to meet Tuesday to discuss the matter.
Mayor Hawkins said they learned about the relocation fees and have been discussing the issue with Howard and City engineers for the past year. Hawkins said the City of Flemington is small and funding is tight. He noted that, should they need to issue the assessments as scheduled, there is new growth coming into the City of Flemington that could help offset or reduce the assessments in the future and prior to the 60-month planned period.
The City of Hinesville Mayor and Council voted to approve the agreement.
More on this story and the rest of the City Council meeting to follow.
