Holding firm to a high sewer impact fee

A committee of the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority recommends no change in the impact fee increase to go into effect January 1.  A higher rate of $15 dollars per gallon to be paid by new commercial and industrial customers caused the sewer commissioners to pause, following concerns raised by Jamie Gilbert of the Oconee Economic Alliance, the county’s official economic development recruiter.  Yesterday, however, the JRSA’s finance and administration committee received legal advice from its outside attorney.  Lawrence Flynn tried to relieve anxious thoughts among the commissioners when he said that, by no means, Oconee JRSA is not his only sewer client to raise questions of concern.  He imparted the following advice in the form of question:  “Are you in the utility business or are you in the economic development business?”  Committee members, however, were reminded by Seneca member Scott Moulder that support of economic development is in the wording of the JRSA’s vision statement.  Besides holding firm on a $15 dollar impact fee starting in January, the committee approved a second Moulder recommendation.  This one seeks full board approval of hiring a consultant to determine what changes and tweaks can be made to the JRSA’s aging treatment plant before it exhausts enough capacity that would require plant expansion or the construction of a second treatment plant.