[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6193800,"mediaKeyId","3865279-232d886ccaeb689b2987f4dde1a6c235","parentId",3865279,"title","Authority reports higher water sales, launch of lead-service map and updates on Highway 16 break; ARPA funds affect accounting","audioSeconds",284,"startMs",838000,"endMs",1122000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3865279-232d886ccaeb689b2987f4dde1a6c235&start=838&end=1122","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3865279-232d886ccaeb689b2987f4dde1a6c235/thumbnail_838000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6193800/Spalding-County/Georgia/Authority-reports-higher-water-sales-launch-of-lead-service-map-and-updates-on-Highway-16-break-ARPA-funds-affect-accounting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193800-b537614752bd6c99014914ebd187e824/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123686&Signature=alyTCxqZzsSJGw84dJLNocRYWswg6JC3sak6PiuCFbth4tn421Skp4OYbeVEMZJkBmC9AbhH6k6ZM2LlB-gzpeEz6Gmbj~IQQja99WVa95uHMLZ-waKkOgt6-ovWw-TyOYokeSiP880PGUUX3YT7dBTHmtIxt4rrnOwp~~Nylj1md47-nmiA56KDK0tXad-jYnjY13YfbaRTxiNDnc3jaayCavokNWv1-d9su1POwKWw9IOt7UQnep7ezpNt7ZoMdBb5mDCJIXjZslBzLMDXRhLAy-2XoIvsO4i~G4b8J0-6nuBLtHItUQYzFGFb-ek9GyqyedNKtlDVAv9uQbYHKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-19T01:34:25Z","article","The Spalding County Water and Sewage Facility Authority received its general manager\u000027s report on June 18 covering operations, finances, permitting and infrastructure incidents.

Key operational metrics: General Manager Johnson told the board that water sales year to date (through February in the authority\u000027s fiscal reporting) were up about 7.75% while meter sales were down roughly 60–65% year over year, a trend staff said tracks a steep decline in single-family residential building permits in the county. Johnson said the authority's field team has reduced the number of service-line materials listed as \"unknown\" from over 8,000 last year to about 6,500 as of June 16.

Lead and copper compliance and public map: Johnson said the authority received a draft MPDS permit from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division on June 10 and that it has posted the permit for a 30-day public comment period. On lead and copper rule compliance, staff said the authority's GIS team created a public-facing application that will be linked to the authority\u000027s website and go live July 1; the app will show customers the service-line material status for their address and whether the entry was verified by field inspection or inferred from records.

Hydrant maintenance and projects: The board heard that hydrant maintenance is behind the six-month schedule but, given required workdays remaining in the calendar year, staff expects to complete maintenance before year-end. Johnson said the remaining hydrant maintenance requires about 75 workdays and there are 133 working days left in the calendar year.

Highway 16 water-main break: Board members discussed a water-main failure on Highway 16 east of Malloy near the county line. Staff described an approximately 8-foot split in an 8-inch cast-iron main installed in the mid-1970s that undermined part of an eastbound travel lane. Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) representatives told staff that to meet GDOT repair standards a section of roadway would be cut out, backfilled with gravel and capped with concrete; staff said the road itself did not collapse. The repair involved replacing less than 100 feet of pipe; staff said the repair likely used ductile or PVC pipe. Several board members said they expected to push back if the county tried to pass repair costs to the authority; staff noted the break is within the authority\u000027s service area and said cost allocation may involve the county and the city of Griffin under existing operation and maintenance agreements.

Finances and ARPA accounting: Finance discussion noted total cash of $17,180,659.70 as of May and an operating-account balance just over $5,000,000 for July-to-May reporting that includes an ARPA cash transfer. Staff explained ARPA funds were moved into cash accounts and so did not show as operating revenue, which made earlier statements about spending versus revenue appear misleading until accounting entries were reconciled. The board asked about the city of Griffin\u000027s reimbursements for services; staff said Griffin payments were about 45 days behind.

Board action: The authority accepted the general manager\u000027s report by unanimous vote.

Ending: Staff said permits and billing policies for sewer capacity and utility fees remain in development and will be brought to the board in coming meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Spalding County Water Authority Regular Scheduled Meeting June 18, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.","oneSentenceSummary","At its June 18 meeting the Spalding County Water and Sewage Facility Authority reported higher water sales, a live public service-line map slated for July 1, and discussed an 8-inch water-main break on Highway 16 that undermined part of a travel lane.","taxTitle","Spalding County, Georgia","taxId",28543,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6193805,"Authority adopts separate open-records and meeting software contracts, citing records-retention needs",251,1756000,2007000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3865279-232d886ccaeb689b2987f4dde1a6c235&start=1756&end=2007","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3865279-232d886ccaeb689b2987f4dde1a6c235/thumbnail_1756000.jpg","/articles/6193805/Spalding-County/Georgia/Authority-adopts-separate-open-records-and-meeting-software-contracts-citing-records-retention-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193805-f6cff006088be1e172fa5966f733bd0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123686&Signature=SETV0M5Otwdv-aQsvYV66yKZJQL~i-RKj-9k~flzKqSNCbASC129~F0SBlR5jLp8LVu2CxSyeXGEOvUUyMQiHH7dRpkacoUg5ONSFeMWOQLREkNhZm3vHR2dYIEkqT6K2Pw9VXRvkuFLc1m22xOuf433bQU3UtbqV~SuaLodCdZSoAWHoQYOdbACTLu7vYPvyyRR5xstnJFVuUpPbnhuTxDN1hXFtn32LukS0Kg51TFz40zdweToLH-ENxMy~P4sYGuNabIrZnFGMZffSyazwiizHk30SLM2tETnf3F~rsjwR~rNy0yXCoWtlUVFw53Jm2FQtYqtmRqZAmjWG6qAgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spalding County Water and Sewage Facility Authority voted on June 18 to separate its open-records and meeting-management services from Spalding County by approving a master services agreement for records and email with the vendor referenced as Just For You and a Granicus subscription for agenda and minutes management.

The board approved the master services agreement, then approved Addendum 1 for implementation services with a quoted amount of $5,841 to begin July 1. The authority also approved a Granicus subscription and a Granicus quote of $14,979.20 for services starting July 1; staff said ongoing annual costs were budgeted for fiscal year 2026.

Why it matters: Authority staff said bringing open-records requests, email and meeting management onto authority-controlled accounts will separate the authority\u000027s records flow from the county\u000027s systems and make the authority the direct custodian for its own records requests. Joseph (authority staff) said open-records requests currently route through Spalding County and the change will let requests come directly to the authority.

Records-retention and paper copies: In response to board questions, County Manager Steve Ledbetter confirmed the county currently pays for Granicus and JustFOIA under a county model and that the county retains paper copies where required by the Georgia archives retention schedule. Staff said paper minutes and original minutes books will continue to be created and stored at the county\u000027s records-retention facility; the authority\u000027s staff clerk will maintain the paper minute books and other required paper records.

Cost and budget: Staff said the implementation fee for Just For You is a one-time approximately $5,000 charge and the recurring Granicus cost was quoted at roughly $10,000–$11,000 per year; both line items were placed in the FY 2026 budget, staff said. Ledbetter told the board the county will not reduce its costs simply because the authority acquires its own subscriptions.

Board action: Motions to approve the master services agreement, the addendum and the Granicus subscription carried unanimously.

Ending: The board discussed appointing a designated open-records clerk from authority staff to handle incoming requests under the new arrangement and asked staff to return with implementation details.","The Spalding County Water and Sewage Facility Authority voted June 18 to bring open-records handling and meeting-management services under its own accounts, approving a master services agreement and implementation addendum with a vendor called Just For You and a separate Granicus subscription and quote.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6193810,"Spalding County Water Authority directs start of condemnation process for 1.4-acre easement",41,3955000,3996000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3865279-232d886ccaeb689b2987f4dde1a6c235&start=3955&end=3996","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3865279-232d886ccaeb689b2987f4dde1a6c235/thumbnail_3955000.jpg","/articles/6193810/Spalding-County/Georgia/Spalding-County-Water-Authority-directs-start-of-condemnation-process-for-14-acre-easement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193810-98db35d497439b90eed646b3130dd88b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123686&Signature=YabDuk0WKQkjxcrSeE0bD3YReM-q8sHfS-v9QK7~MlBchwYeiGfWYxJYAS26aaNpNB5bjgqXCugnNxnmEv8OTZ1qH1BgikXvh5tJcIbphRLbvrmUqUiZ4ZyQKPndKyr2fO937PX9lj8z1zGi~iNHPeofDdJ8-4MQhF5FMBd5aNPbIiczLoA8JmfUc9Vk281mbODJYzBK-AQ2TiOn69LFNUVJTWELvh8ZNyr04Xe-hDjWSs7mc2Wxu2pkY9JeAIJpSakJVbzEsonDliElsnWY4S4hDAphnq-eDiDQZx-XPGPeW4ityJuRfqjxIpEsfMahNGVnogM6S5-5D6ZOJkm1Jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","After returning from executive session on June 18, the Spalding County Water and Sewage Facility Authority voted unanimously to direct the authority to begin condemnation proceedings to acquire a 1.4-acre easement identified as a partial parcel (21701032).

The item followed an executive-session discussion described in the meeting minutes as concerning acquisition and disposition of real estate. The motion directing the authority to begin condemnation was made and seconded in open session; the board recorded a unanimous vote.

What was specified and what was not: The board action and parcel identifier (partial 21701032) were disclosed in open session. The meeting record does not provide the property owner\u000027s name, an appraisal amount, a proposed acquisition price or the specific rights being sought beyond the description \"easement totaling 1.4 acres.\" Those details were not provided on the record at the meeting.

Next steps: Authority staff will proceed with the condemnation process as directed by the board; the meeting record did not state a timeline or further steps to notify affected parties.

Ending: The board adjourned following the condemnation motion and related procedural items.","After an executive session, the authority voted unanimously on June 18 to direct staff to begin the condemnation process for a 1.4-acre easement identified as partial parcel 21701032.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6193815,"Spalding County water authority approves $19.46 million guaranteed maximum price for wastewater project",171,1551000,1722000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3865279-232d886ccaeb689b2987f4dde1a6c235&start=1551&end=1722","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3865279-232d886ccaeb689b2987f4dde1a6c235/thumbnail_1551000.jpg","/articles/6193815/Spalding-County/Georgia/Spalding-County-water-authority-approves-1946-million-guaranteed-maximum-price-for-wastewater-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193815-4efb30a687d0af0451a85832644c4909/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123686&Signature=Z8meLNwLieYNJzmczN8CN98XrXWv3vCLppZ~X0iXleGCqaeG8sjp7ExQJASTYaZf~hBVFNxa9Pvu1UtBew8sBH0KHGPINW1tqal2Nc20PW8kJyHOszdItoryj~STjjk~9yLgPMeNTRm1S8n855bPIPCQQ1Wad6aawGvF5ZSoMaY1KqbEIeEWF895o5-yW0LwhOUYYA1kT-VExqX8YLwtxOhWhure8JfmI3G07zPrV6D4p1R16Cl3oBWwLU-T5O7EGlw2W~YEgAqUUg8UeL~5AZPf6oHqH7TtLPvKy-FlyaxaVC0g5z-BjElGSCHe0q2TeHIrkEPMZuCgMqFL43JH5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spalding County Water and Sewage Facility Authority unanimously approved design contract amendment 002 on June 18, setting a guaranteed maximum price of $19,458,235 for Phase 2B of the county wastewater project.

Phase 2B will cover the outfall, an influence pump station and the complete wastewater treatment plant, authority staff said. The amendment amount presented to the board was $17,462,741; with other inclusions the total GMP is $19,458,235. The board approved the amendment by voice vote; the motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: The amendment moves the project from design and permitting into guaranteed-price construction planning for major components of the new wastewater system. Authority officials said most property needed for the project has been acquired.

Scope and features: At the meeting General Manager Johnson said the amendment covers the outfall, the pump station and the plant and listed the construction components included in the GMP: insurance and bonds, general conditions, industrial pretreatment, clearing, grading and stormwater, asphalt paving, site concrete, an administration building with interior finishes, electrical and security systems, backup generators and automatic transfer switches, a complete treatment plant, solids dewatering, chemical storage and feed systems, a groundwater well and a separate nonpotable water system, gravity and force mains and an effluent outfall. The amendment also includes system testing, startup and owner training.

Tax-savings purchase and contract accounting: Staff noted the GMP includes roughly $2,200,000 in materials and work that the authority is self-funding to capture a sales-tax savings (a staff member described keeping a “swap log” to track those items and possibly reconcile them at closeout). The amendment as approved does not include contingencies for additional unforeseen costs, staff said.

Board discussion and vote: Board members asked where the amendment fit in the overall phased work; staff confirmed this is Phase 2B following earlier 60% and 100% design phases and permitting work performed under prior amendments. A motion to approve amendment 002 carried unanimously.

What remains: Staff said permits for related sewer work are pending or in public comment (see separate items in the manager\u000027s report). Property acquisition was described as complete except for one remaining parcel. No schedule or final construction start date was provided at the public meeting.

Ending: The board did not attach special conditions to the approval; staff will continue procurement and preconstruction activities under the amended contract and maintain the described swap log for self-funded purchases.","The Spalding County Water and Sewage Facility Authority on June 18 approved a design contract amendment (002) that sets a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $19,458,235 for Phase 2B of the sewer project, covering the outfall, pump station and treatment plant construction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Authority reports higher water sales, launch of lead-service map and updates on Highway 16 break; ARPA funds affect accounting

Authority adopts separate open-records and meeting software contracts, citing records-retention needs

Spalding County Water Authority directs start of condemnation process for 1.4-acre easement

Spalding County water authority approves $19.46 million guaranteed maximum price for wastewater project