During a recent government meeting, County Manager Mister Brown presented a comprehensive report detailing the performance of various departments for the second quarter of 2024. The report highlighted significant achievements in infrastructure, public works, and water resources.

In the infrastructure sector, the county collected a total of $409,345.56 over the months of April, May, and June. Public works reported the completion of 1,477 work orders, with a monthly breakdown of 570 in April, 494 in May, and 413 in June. Additionally, the cleanup crew successfully collected 1,463 bags of garbage, amounting to 27.3 tons of waste disposed of at the landfill.

The county's solid waste management also reported the sale of 4,520 hang tags as of June 9. A routine compliance inspection at the Lower River Road landfill resulted in a perfect score of 100, indicating adherence to operational standards.

In a notable achievement, the Newton County Water Resources Department was recognized for having the best tasting drinking water in Georgia at an annual conference in Savannah, attended by over 22,200 participants. This accolade was acknowledged by the meeting attendees, who expressed their gratitude to Mister Brown and his team.

However, concerns were raised regarding the presence of PFAS chemicals in the county's drinking water. Mister Henderson inquired about the current status of PFAS levels, prompting Mister Brown to clarify that the majority of the county's water supply, 99.8%, comes from the Cornish Creek facility, which has been operating on a limited basis since PFAS levels were detected in the city pond reservoir. He assured that quarterly testing has shown PFAS levels below the updated EPA maximum contaminant levels.

The meeting concluded with a request for further updates on PFAS levels in the water supply, emphasizing the importance of transparency and public health safety as the county continues to monitor water quality.