Sewer committee adjourns to closed-door meet

A committee of the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority is recommending that the full board call for mediation to resolve the threat of legal action by member city Seneca.  Walhalla’s Scott Parris made that announcement this morning, in the aftermath of a closed-session yesterday by the JRSA’s finance and administration. What to do about the lawsuit threat as well as how future projects are paid for highlighted yesterday afternoon’s committee meeting.  Westminster’s Kevin Bronson, referring to last week’s Seneca attorney letter threatening lawsuit, got approval to change the agenda to allow for private discussion.  And headed behind closed doors were the committee members—Westminster’s Bronson, Seneca’s Sharon Hennes, and Walhalla’s Scott Parris, the committee chairman.  They were to be joined by two of their attorneys. During the open part of the meeting Bronson was the first to broach the issue of the potential that Seneca might go to court unless its fellow JRSA municipal members approve re-alignment of the board makeup to better reflect the investment that Seneca, as the largest user, has in the three-city system.  Earlier the committee received a presentation from financial advisers on how the authority might finance 10 capital improvement projects whose costs could range between $24 and $44 million.  Hanging over the heads of the commissioners is a DHEC consent order that requires action.