By Jana Cone/reporter
TIFTON — Water can be a deep subject for the Tift County Board of Commissioners. It is usually when the word “water” is mentioned that tempers flare and discussions gets heated — and it proved to be no different at Tuesday night’s commission workshop meeting.
The word “water” appears to be a trigger word for Commissioner Donnie Hester who has asked the board on numerous occasions to address the water-rate inequity issue between the city and county. In the past he has complained about being left out of “the water meetings,” and he refused to vote to approve the purchase of a fixed base water meter system last June, partially because the water meter system was costing $3.7 million and he had asked for $800,000 to address the water rate inequity issue.
At Tuesday night’s workshop meeting, the word “water” appeared in two places on the agenda for the commissioners’ discussion:
• Tifton-Tift County Fixed Base Water Meter System Proposal
• Amendment to Code of Ordinances Relative to Water/Wastewater Extensions
Last week the Tifton City Council voted unanimously to halt the purchase of the water meter system from Delta Municipal Supply Company Inc. because the company had withdrawn its original offer of a 10-year warranty arrangement on the system. The county plans to follow suit and the commissioners had placed it on the agenda so they could also vote to halt the purchase.
Tifton City Councilman Dave Hetzel was at the county meeting Tuesday night to answer any questions from the commissioners.
Commissioner Buck Rigdon called the performance bond component or warranty “a key feature” and said once it was removed from the proposal he recommended that the board not proceed with the new water meter system. He said the city had already voted on the issue and taken that position.
“We need to look at other options,” Rigdon said.
Commissioner Robert Setters said the agreement without the warranty “is not as advertised by the vendor.” He said, “We need to let the contract go without signing it, let it ride and restudy it.”
Commissioner Donnie Hester said, “We all voted to do it except me.”
Hester then referred to a press release presented at the city council meeting and said that the release stated the county had voted to cancel the fixed base water meter system, and asked when they had voted. Commissioner Grady Thompson and Setters explained to Hester that it was on the agenda to be voted on at next week’s meeting — and had not as yet been voted on by the county.
“The contract was different than what we thought, and we decided to let it die,” Setters explained.
Still feeling that he had been left out of part of the process, Hester asked Commissioner Sherry Miley if she knew about the water meter contract, and she said that she did not.
Hester said the commissioners now had to say he was right.
“No! You were not right!” Commissioner Buck Rigdon said emphatically. “The company could not produce the performance bond.”
“You’re still going to have to say that Commissioner Hester was right,” Hester persisted.
“No, you were not right!” Rigdon persisted.
After some haggling with Hester, the item was placed on the Consent Agenda for next week’s meeting.
The other “water” issue dealt with an amendment to a joint city/county ordinance “to include the governing authority where appropriate among the property owners paying for extensions of water and wastewater services. This allows for a refund of citizen monies used to extend county/city main water/sewer lines as long as the extension and the subsequent use by another entity falls within the allotted time period.”
County Attorney Tony Rowell agreed the ordinance was “not an easy read.”
Commissioner Frankie Mathis felt the ordinance suffered from “mixed up language” and needed to be fixed.
“We’ll lose another lawsuit,” Mathis said, “cause it’s not clear.”
County Manager Jim Carter agreed to have the ordinance re-written in clearer language and have it ready for Monday’s meeting.
Commissioner Sherry Miley asked some questions, trying to clarify exactly what the ordinance meant.
Carter tried to explain, and Mathis said, “It’s clear as mud.”
Hester then asked, “Will the folks in the county be charged the same as the folks in the city?” His question was obviously a reference to the water rate inequity issue in which some county residents are paying a higher water rate than city residents.
When Rigdon tried to respond to Hester’s question, Hester said, “I want a legal answer to that question,” and he looked at Rowell.
Carter stepped in and said, “Yes, Commissioner Hester, it is equal for all citizens in this community.”
After some chuckles from the commissioners and having made his point, Hester dropped the subject.
To contact reporter Jana Cone, call 382-4321, ext. 208.
