Published: September 07, 2008 08:41 am      

Floyd County, Georgetown near deal on sewer plant

The town of Georgetown and Floyd County are close to finalizing a deal to solve a saga over a wastewater treatment plant without a judge’s ruling.

Earlier this week, Floyd Circuit Judge Terrence Cody agreed to delay his decision on whether the county’s plan commission had the authority to deny Georgetown the right to build a sewage-treatment plant on land known as the O’Brien property just outside its town limits.

Attorneys for each side made the request with hopes an agreement will soon be reached. The deal could mean the county would give Georgetown financial backing so the plant would be located at another location, said county attorney Rick Fox.

The county’s master plan does not acknowledge the O’Brien property as a place for a wastewater facility to be located, though Georgetown officials have insisted it would be the right move.

Details are still being ironed out and Fox said the measure could hinge on cooperation from the New Albany Sewer Board, which currently holds a sewage contract with Georgetown.

If Georgetown is not off the New Albany system by February, customers in the town stand to pay massive sewage rate increases due to penalties built into the contract.

“It’s going to come down to presenting the proposed agreement to all the proper bodies and getting their approvals, and getting (New Albany) to hopefully provide some relief to allow the project to go forward,” Fox said. “(New Albany) is the key to this.”

Officials from the county and Georgetown will ask to be placed on the sewer board’s docket in the near future, Fox said, to again approach the body for an extension.

Previous attempts to secure relief were fruitless. Sewer board members said they wanted a plan with firm dates presented before they would consider an extension.

The government bodies Fox said need approval include the Floyd County Commissioners and Council, and the Georgetown Town Council.

Town Council President Billy Stewart said the deal is not yet done, and the agreement will depend on the county’s willingness to help financially.

“If our plant needs to be located elsewhere, then those costs associated with moving it should not be bore upon Georgetown,” Stewart said. “That’s where you have to find compromise.”

Stewart and Fox said the sides are cooperating in the interest of Georgetown and county residents.

“I think it’s fantastic,” Fox said. “It’s something I’ve been working for because I think it’s so important for Floyd County to have the proper infrastructure for 100, 200 years down the road, and this does it.”

Stewart estimates a solution could be brought forward for approval within 30 days by Cody and the appropriate bodies. He said there have been at least four versions of the agreement sent back for various reasons.

Fox said “lawyer language” is the majority of what needs to be finalized. As for the O’Brien property, Stewart said it will still be annexed into Georgetown even if it will not be used for a wastewater facility.