Incorporation process stalls expansion of Cashiers sewage plant

By Rose Hooper

Developers anxious to proceed with projects in the Cashiers area have already waited two years during a moratorium that prevented any new hookups. Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority's plans to expand the Cashiers facility were initially stalled when a $1 million low bid came in well over anticipated ­ and available ­ funding.

One hurdle was eliminated when state officials granted the expansion permit for an addition 100,000 gallons a day in May.

Then TWSA Executive Director Jerry King secured a list of developers who agreed to pay impact fees totaling $950,000, thus eliminating the second hurdle.

So why wait now? And why are Cashiers residents, who have been eager to press forward, suddenly happy to wait?

The answer, as was discussed at TWSA's meeting Tuesday (Dec. 17), involves the potential incorporation of Cashiers. If Cashiers incorporates, the whole ball game changes, said Paige Bernstein, a player in the incorporation process.

A petition to incorporate Cashiers was submitted to the state's Legislative Commission on Municipal Incorporations Nov. 4.

"We could have a referendum as early as 60 days or as late as 120 days after the Legislature grants us the right," Bernstein said.

The next regular session of the General Assembly is scheduled to begin Jan. 29, 2003.

"Our representatives ­ Bob Carpenter and Phil Haire ­ back our efforts," Bernstein told the TWSA board.

"We have to consider if we put $1 million into the expansion, there is the possibility of the town taking over our system," said Mickey Luker, TWSA board chairman.

As one of the requirements of incorporation, Cashiers must offer four services. Residents are proposing police protection, fire protection, solid waste collection and zoning. Water and sewer services have not been included on the initial list.

With zoning on the service list, TWSA board members discussed the possibility that as a town Cashiers could enact a moratorium on building expansions. Developers who signed commitments to pay TWSA impact fees could be prevented from building their projects.

"The expansion will take us six to nine months anyway, and because of the weather we probably couldn't get started until March," said King. "I think we should wait to see if the incorporation passes or fails."

Keith Ward, one of two county representatives on the TWSA board, said county Commission Chair Stacy Buchanan had recommended to him that the expansion be delayed until after the incorporation process.

Luker, the other county representative, added that Commissioner Eddie Madden of Cashiers had made that same recommendation to him.

"In my opinion, the majority of developers would appreciate the delay," William McKee of Cashiers told the board Tuesday.

King said he would notify the contractor of the delay.

In other business Tuesday, by a vote of 4-3 (Luker, Ward and Ronnie DeHart voting "no") the board agreed to employ King on a part-time contract basis following his Dec. 31 retirement. King will be employed as an independent contractor "as needed" for a maximum of three days per week at a rate of $45 an hour.

Meanwhile the board, which has received approximately 20 applications for King's replacement, is continuing its search for a new director.

Back to Archive: 12/19/02.