Johns Creek embarked on a major expansion of its park system this week by voting to purchase 133 acres along the Chattahoochee River.
The City Council voted unanimously after midnight Monday to buy the Cauley Creek wastewater treatment plant and surrounding land for $20.3 million. Johns Creek officials say the property will be used as a park, expanding the city’s existing system by two thirds.
Meanwhile, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday postponed a decision on whether to buy the treatment plant - now apparently from Johns Creek. The plant's private owner has spent months trying to convince Fulton officials to buy and reopen it, though an independent consultant says that would be costly and unnecessary.
The property off Bell Road is adjacent to the Rogers Bridge Trail. It includes nearly 2,000 feet of river access.
Johns Creek currently has four parks totaling about 201 acres. With the addition of the Cauley Creek property, the city would have about 334 acres of parks.
“I’m excited for the City of Johns Creek, for the residents to have secured property that will provide tremendous recreational programming,” City Councilman Bob Gray said after the vote.
The public will have a say in how the Cauley Creek property is developed. Mayor Mike Bodker said it could include baseball diamonds and other large ball fields – possibly even a cricket field to serve the community’s large Indian population.
City officials plan to use reserve funds to cover half the purchase price and to borrow the rest.
The property's fate has been up in the air since the treatment plant closed in 2012. Fulton County used to contract with the plant to treat sewage, which Cauley Creek converted to irrigation water for golf courses and other customers. But after the county opened its own treatment plant in the area, Fulton officials concluded they no longer needed Cauley Creek.
In recent months, Ron Green, CEO of Cauley Creek Water Reclamation, has tried to convince county officials to buy the plant and reopen it. An independent consultant’s report recently confirmed the county doesn’t need the plant to meet north Fulton’s sewage treatment needs for the next 20 years and beyond.
County Manager Dick Anderson has recommended a long-term sewage treatment plan that does not include reopening Cauley Creek. On Wednesday commissioners postponed action on that plan by a vote of 4-3.
County Commissioner Liz Hausmann asked for the two-week delay, saying it would ensure the report is fully vetted. She said she has “grave concerns” that the report does not accurately forecast the demand for sewage treatment in the area and said the decision should not be rushed.
Anderson said the decision already has been delayed for months and asked commissioners to move ahead. He said the facts and his recommendation will not change in two weeks.
Anderson said that, by buying the treatment plant, Johns Creek has become an interested party that wants to sell something to the county. He said city officials will not be happy with the county’s decision, no matter how long it’s delayed.
Commissioner Emma Darnell said a delay could give the appearance that commissioners are putting political concerns ahead of the interests of the county’s water and sewer customers. But a majority of commissioners approved Hausmann’s request for a delay.
Green did not respond to requests for comment.
Bodker said the city does not plan to operate the treatment plant. Under the city’s agreement with Cauley Creek, the company would share in the proceeds if Johns Creek sells the treatment plant in the next five years.
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