A plan proposing that the City of Lincolnton accept sewage from the Blackjack Community was adopted at the regular meeting of the mayor and council held Monday, April 10.

Some form of the proposal has been batted back and forth between the city and Lincoln County for months.

In essence, the county is asking that the city allocate 45,000 gallons per day (gpd) in wastewater treatment capacity for approximately 140 potential customers in the Blackjack Community. In order to get the sewage from Blackjack to the city's wastewater treatment plant on Old Petersburg Road, the county will have to install about eight miles of sewer lines, using a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and a $2.5 million grant/loan from USDA-Rural Development (RD).

According to the draft agreement approved by the city, it will accept 45,000 gallons of sewage per day from the Blackjack Community; however, the 20-year agreement does not constitute a guarantee by the city that it will provide sewage treatment capacity over 45,000 gpd.

Concerning compensation for the city, it will charge an infrastructure or impact fee of $1.20 per 1,000 gallons of sewage discharged to the city. In addition, there will be a treatment charge of $1.27 per 1,000 gallons. This fee will be adjusted annually in accordance with the Construction Cost Index or the actual per gallon construction cost experienced by the city.

Copies of the proposed plan will be forwarded to County Commission Chairman Walker Norman; Roby Seymour, water director for the county; and Britt Hammond, county attorney.

In other business, the council: Was reminded by Mayor Dwaine Biggerstaff that "Peachy Clean Day" is set for Saturday, April 15. Volunteers are to meet in the parking lot at the Lincoln County Courthouse at 8:30 a.m. to receive their assignments.

Heard the Water Department Report given by Superintendent Stanley Parton who indicated with the advent of spring, total water production increased during the month of March. Production climbed from 9.5 mg (million gallons) in February to 11.3 mg in March.

Referring to the city's newly-renovated water treatment plant, the superintendent said, "We have been approved to use the new plant to produce our old withdrawal rate of 630,000 gallons per day in a time frame of about eight hours. We are still waiting on our 2 mgd permit to be issued."

In his remarks, Councilman Dwain Moss said, "I'm concerned about the permit. It seems like we should have had it a long time ago."

"The same thing is going on in Columbia County," stated Mayor Biggerstaff. "The EPD is reluctant to commit the water. In my opinion, it's simply a case of obstruction - the EPD is trying to restrict our withdrawal permit as much as it can. They will send a checklist; we do everything on the checklist; and then they send us another checklist. If we don't get the permit soon, we're going to take the problem to Atlanta."

Voted to table any action that could possibly be taken concerning three city businesses which were recently cited by the Georgia Department of Revenue for selling alcohol to minors. The city was advised by counsel to wait until the state finished adjudicating the cases.

Voted to refer the speeding problem on Elam Avenue to the Police Committee. During the meeting, Police Chief Jim Justice was asked to look into the cost of speed bumps and to meet with the Georgia Department of Transportation to determine whether the street can be added to the city's radar permit.

Heard the mayor read thank-you notes from various individuals in the community including the students from LCES who were awarded prizes by the city for their entries in the science and engineering fair.

Advised Wayne Epps, Sr. to meet with the zoning administrator concerning his plans for property on Lumber Street.

The next regular meeting of the mayor and council will be held Monday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.