Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

Pre-Council Briefing

Minutes

October 30, 2007





Present: Mayor Jim Wetherington and Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Turner Pugh.

Councilors Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr.,

Charles McDaniel, and Evelyn Woodson were present. Also present were City

Manager Isaiah Hugley, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Clerk of Council Tiny

Washington and Recording Secretary Tameka Colbert.



Absent: Councilor Gary Allen.



Guests: Executive Vice President of Columbus Water Works Bob Tant



Location: Council Chambers Conference Room, on the Plaza level of the

Government Center.



Meeting began at 8:20 a.m.



Columbus State Water Plan/Ban:

City Manager Hugley informed the Council that the Columbus Water Works would be

coming forth to share issues concerning the water ban.



Mr. Bob Tant advised the Council that the state water plan is currently under

development, and the EPD is proposing thousands of changes to the plan. He

advised the Council that the Columbus Water Works contributed numerous comments

and opinions to the EPD concerning the water plan. Mr. Tant said it is

anticipated that the plan would require a large number of lengthy and expensive

studies, and said the whole state water plan would require a significant

funding of $10,000,000 a year for the next 3-5 years.



Mr. Tant pointed out several major topics that the current plan does not

address:

How planning is to be done in areas where a major part of our water shed is in

another state

Issues involving federal government control of water resources

Navigation, hydropower or flood control



Councilor Anthony asked Mr. Tant if he could comment on the aquifer system vs.

river system and the issue of septic tanks and the water getting back in the

aquifer system vs. the river. Mr. Tant said he does not have a full

understanding of the relationship between aquifers and surface waters, but can

say that the Water Works objects to usage of septic tanks in the metro area

because it is a cheap development tool. He explained that septic tanks are

consumptive users, meaning the water goes back into the ground and not returned

to the river.



Mayor Pro Tem Pugh asked Mr. Tant what impact does the current water plan have

on new development as it relates to watering trees and grass. Mr. Tant said the

plan does not address development, which is one of the problems. He said the

State does not believe they have a voice in where someone builds.



Councilor McDaniel said he feels as if the Water Board should be requesting the

ordinance and said he is not going to vote for the ordinance.



Councilor Anthony then asked Mr. Tant to explain to persons why watering lawns

would be problematic? Mr. Tant explained that watering lawns is a consumptive

use; water does not go back into the river system, therefore it is banned

because it is deemed to have significant impact on total water usage within the

community.



Note: Councilor Mimi Woodson arrived at 8:28 a.m. Councilor Henderson arrived

at 8:36 a.m. Councilor Hunter arrived at 8:44 a.m.



Councilor Davis asked Mr. Tant had the Columbus Water Works come across any

violators. Mr. Tant said yes, there are people that did not know there was a

total watering ban. He said there is a continual education process that goes

on but there are violators, fortunately there have not been many. Mr. Tant

said in the month of October there were 61 complaints out of 65,000 accounts.

He said Columbus Water Works has a process where they warn customers. He said

eventually if it becomes an issue, their water can be disconnected but the

Columbus Water Works does not issue fines.



Councilor Davis said being under water restrictions, would Columbus Water Works

look at how water is distributed to out lying areas? Mr. Tant said Columbus

does not have a drinking water problem the real problem is wastewater

simulation, which takes a lot more water coming down the river.



Mayor Pro Tem said as it relates to the proposed ordinance, is there any kind

of permitting being done or considered for those individuals who have new homes

and need to water their grass. Mr. Tant said there are exceptions for freshly

sodden lawns that allow individuals to water their grass until the lawn gets

established but there are no special permits.



In conclusion Mr. Tant read from his prepared statement titled ?Water Wars and

Drought: A Water Works Perspective?. (A copy was filed here in the office and

attached for the records).



Meeting adjourned at 9:02 A.M.







_____________________

Tameka Colbert

Administrative Specialist II

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