Flowery Branch City Council holds off new sewer customers

FLOWERY BRANCH - Flowery Branch City Council Wednesday approved a 30-day moratorium on sewer reservations.
Council members said they want to wait for assurance that sewer capacity will be there to meet requests from developers.

City Manager Bill Andrew said they want more information.

"I think the Council just wanted gather more information about our sewer plant expansion and be more comfortable about the flows we have coming in and when we'll have new capacity coming on line," Andrew said. "In affect, to get that new information, we've just held off on any new reservations for 30 days."

Andrew said approval of the system's spray field is critical and its operation by this fall will give the city the capacity to meet continuing commercial development.

"If we have the spray field operational by this fall, we'll have a very comfortable capacity in the plant that will last us for two years, I would say," Andrew said.

Councilman Jim Herold requested the postponement.

"I just want to think about this a little more," Herold said. "We don't even have final approval for the upgrade for our sewer plant, we're still operating basically on the 400,000 gallons per day that we're allowed put into Lake Lanier."

Three sewer reservation applications were put on hold; Council expects to act on them when they meet July 18th.

EXTENDED 'LAST CALL' DELAYED

Allowing a 2:00 a.m. 'last call for alcohol' in Flowery Branch has to wait longer for a City Council decision, possibly their August 1st work session.

City Clerk Melissa McCain said council members and citizens have concerns about extending the time for last mixed drinks past the current midnight deadline.

"People drinking in parking lots, loud music at those establishments, being right across the street from a residential neighborhood," McCain said.

McCain added the extended time could be part of a completely revamped alcohol measure that would consolidate separate ordinances governing caterers,beer and wine and liquor sales and consumption.

CHAMBER WANTS MORE

City Manager Bill Andrew said Council would have to amend its new budget to meet a funding request from the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce.

Economic Development Council Chairman Benny Bagwell asked for an additional $10,000 during his presentation.

"They have $10,000 now, and in terms of the extra $10,000, that's yet to be studied," Andrew said.

Bagwell said the Chamber needs the extra $10,000 from Flowery Branch to support its day-to-day operations.