GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commission Chairman Gary Gibbs was confident Wednesday after a two and a half hour meeting that everyone present was willing to change sewer delivery strategy to draw more commerce, industry and business.
All cities with wastewater delivery in Hall County were invited to send representatives.
"All six cities and the county have agreed that we will have staff members come together and start looking at creating sewer solutions," said Gibbs.
Gibbs said the county and the cities, including Buford and Braselton with annexation into Hall County, needed to unite to develop sewer to produce revenue for future growth.
Braselton City Manager Jennifer Scott said in her city's annexed part of Hall County, Braselton could support waste water service expansion.
"We currently have some commercial entities that are in Braselton in Hall County," Scott said. "We have undeveloped land which is already zoned for commercial."
Scott said Braselton has excess sewer capacity that could support more growth in the county.
Commission Chairman Gibbs said it will take sewer revenue to support a 375,000 population in Hall County by the year 2020.
Representatives from Oakwood, Flowery Branch, Lula, Gainesville, Clermont, Buford and Braselton heard the call for unity, but the Lanier Technology and Wastewater Authority was noticably absent.
Oakwood city councilman Sam Evans said the Authority is an agency not a city and will be represented by Oakwood and Flowery Branch.
Both cities benefit from the Authority.
"The only thing is, they are not part of the government," Evans said. "The fact that they are providing sewer in the southern end of the county, their point of view has to be given to the public."
Gainesville City Manager Bryan Shuler and former Gainesville Mayor Mrytle Figueras said the Authority should be allowed at the table.
Thursday
September 4th, 2025
3:07PM
