Flowery Branch OKs sewer agreement with Hall Co.

FLOWERY BRANCH - After a slightly heated discussion, the Flowery Branch City Council signed off Wednesday morning on an agreement that would allow Hall County to provide sewer service to the Sterling on the Lake subdivision.

The agreement would assign the portion of Flowery Branch's sewer district that is in Sterling on the Lake to Hall County, and would give Flowery Branch the portion of the sewer district that is south of the city, heading down toward the Buford district, Councilman Craig Lutz said.

"On a whole, it's a good agreement," Lutz said. "The problem we have is, is that when you look at the rates that Hall County is proposing for that area, it is more than double any of the rates around that area."

Lutz said Flowery Branch sewer customers currently pay about $36 a month for 6,000 gallons of capacity. Though it hasn't been approved yet, he said Hall County is proposing rates that could be as high as $85 per month when administrative fees are added in.

"By signing away this intergovernmental agreement, unfortunately we've taken away any leverage we have to have any say in what the rates may be," Lutz said. "It's disappointing that we couldn't wait a little while, that we felt like we had to rush through this."

Councilwoman Mary Jones said the council wouldn't have any control over the rates.

"I'm not going to vote to push it (the agreement) back," she said. "I'm going to vote to move it forward."

After discussing the agreement in a work session Wednesday morning, Lutz moved that the council table the agreement until the SPLOST 6 vote is held in March. The council voted 3-2 to deny the motion. Lutz then moved to table signing the agreement until Hall County signs it. The vote was again 3-2 to deny the motion, with Lutz and Fetterman in the minority.

Finally, Jones moved to sign off on the agreement, which was approved 3-2, with Lutz and Fetterman opposed. Council members Allen Bryans and Pat Zalewski also voted to sign the agreement.

Before holding the vote, Fetterman said that on the surface the agreement appears to be a "win-win" for Hall County and Flowery Branch, but that if it's approved the citizens will "lose a lot, and lose financially."

"I am certain this will hurt Flowery Branch more than it will help," he said.