County jumps at opportunity to get out of sewer business

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
The Morgan County Commission has agreed in principle to allow the Northeast Morgan County Water Authority to take over the operation of a two-year-old sanitary sewer system in Sherbrook Estates in the Lacey's Spring community.
Bobby Taylor, manager of the NEMCWA, told commissioners at their April 18 meeting that residents of Lacey's Spring prefer to have their sewer and water systems operated under the same public authority.
"We plan to spend $150,000 to $200,000 to upgrade the water system there," he said "and they have some concerns about the new sewer system that need to be addressed.
We want you to know where we're at and if it's okay with you for us to check into the sewer system's needs and the estimated costs associated with them before we go any further. We also have failed to locate the drawings used in the construction of the system and would like your assistance in this matter as well as determining if any or all of the original warranties are still in effect."
Commission Attorney Bill Shinn said the title to the property has to be conveyed to the county in order for it to qualify for the federal g rant that was used to rebuild the sewer system. However, he indicated that the commission had the authority to turn the system over to another public authority.
Commissioner Jeff Clark suggested as a first step that Taylor contact Pugh,Wright &Associates for the engineering drawings of the system.
"I'm sure you'll want to take a good look at the system before you decide whether or not you want to take it over," he pointed out.
"I'll probably not see any profit in a venture like this in my lifetime," Taylor said. "But there are 154 families out there who are struggling to keep their sewer system in compliance with state and federal regulations."
The commission acted on other maters as follows: