Bearing the burden of new development costs

Across the meeting table yesterday, the board of the Joint Regional Sewer Authority talked about who should bear the burden of sewer required for new Oconee County development – residential, commercial, and industrial.  And judging what the commissioners had to say it appears they’ll support increased impact fees from developers, in place of higher rates for the retail customers of the county system.  Chairman Brian Ramey, however, assigned the task of a recommendation to the JRSA board finance committee.  The board yesterday took up a memorandum from outside consultants.  Much of the discussion centered on whether the JRSA should expand the capacity of its 7.8 million gallon a day treatment or build a new plant, perhaps, in the southern end of the county.  There, it’s believed, the county’s economic development recruiter is pursuing a large project for the empty Golden Corner Commerce Park.