Study would be “a wide open” examination

The West Union mayor and a councilwoman showed interest last night to include their town in a study for a “wide open” look at the operations of the Joint Regional Sewer Authority.  Chris Eleazer, JRSA executive director, assured the mayor and council that if West Union endorsed an application to finance the study, there would be no direct cost to their town.  The JRSA is currently entertaining the idea of applying for federal monies to pay for the study whose target would be the idea of regionalizing the business of sewer across the authority’s assigned territory.  Eleazer predicted the company chosen would be asked to conduct a “wide open” study—even the idea that                                                                         it might better serve the public if the separate JRSA political entity would re-affiliate with Oconee County’s general government, which was the first originator of piped sewer in the county.  The study project has surfaced at a time of great strife within the municipal membership of the JRSA as the largest bill payer, the city of Seneca, has threatened a lawsuit aimed at winning greater say within the JRSA’s board of commissioners.  Councilwoman Dixie Meeks made clear West Union’s interest in the study is governance and she queried Eleazer about who or what could eventually become sewer provider across the county.  Meeks’ question and Eleazer’s response are being aired today on 101.7/WGOG NEWS.