Forsyth County commissioners have agreed on a binding proposal to buy raw and treated water from the City of Cumming.
The offer marks the first time in extended negotiations that the four county commissioners involved in the process have agreed on a single document to present to the city. Commissioner Pete Amos, whose district includes the city and who operates a water distribution business, has recused himself from the talks.
"I feel the offer is a pretty good and fair deal," Commission Chairman Jim Boff said Wednesday. "I personally would've liked to have seen some changes, but I can live with it at this point."
With no other immediate options for water, Forsyth hopes to renegotiate terms with Cumming before its current water contract expires May 26. Cumming is one of only four jurisdictions with rights to draw water from Lake Lanier.
Earlier this month, three county commissioners sent separate proposals to the city, but they were rejected. Mayor Ford Gravitt said the city would not consider any offers that were not binding and he urged the county to come up with a single offer for consideration.
Gravitt has also said the city would charge the county dramatically higher rates if a deal is not signed by the end of May.
Tuesday's proposal would extend the current treated water contract for five years with an option for an additional five-year term.
It would commit the county to buying 800 million gallons per year of treated water from the city for $2.25 per thousand gallons. That total is down from the current 1.6 billion gallons the county must purchase under the current contract and it could save customers about $3 million a year.
The separate proposal for raw water calls for a 50-year contract, keeping the price at its current rate of about 10 cents per thousand gallons. It also includes a condition that the county pay $11.4 million for 65 percent ownership of the city's intake structure at Lake Lanier. Earlier this year, the city sent the county a bill for that same amount to pay for upgrades at the intake facility. The bill represented 64 percent of the cost for the upgrade, but it said nothing about ceding a share of ownership.
"I'm glad we could come together as a board and address this very important issue," Commissioner Brian Tam said. "I am cautiously optimistic that this proposal or a close variation of this proposal can move forward."
The proposal now goes before the Cumming City Council.
The county will hold a public hearing on the proposal at its meeting May 3.
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