County officials look into ‘astronomical’ south Dougherty water charges

ALBANY — District 6 Dougherty County Commissioner Anthony Jones asked county staff Monday to look into what Jones said were “astronomical” water bills in the Putney area of south Albany.

Jones brought the matter up at the end of Monday’s commission business meeting.

“It’s a private company — Utilities Inc. — but there are astronomical differences when comparing some residents’ monthly bills to those who get water through the Albany Utility Board,” Jones said. “This one person’s bill that I have has a $98.03 water and sewer bill. Those charges would have been around $40 through the city of Albany.”

County Attorney Spencer Lee talked with Jones after the meeting to see what action, if any, the county might take.

Also at Monday’s meeting, commissioners whose seats are up for re-election and other county officials learned that they will pay lower qualifying fees during this year’s election cycle. County Clerk Jawahn Ware said qualifying fees, which are generally based on the pay for each elected position, are set by the state, but that the state has different ways of computing the qualifying fees.

“The county commissioners, Probate Court judge and a few others will have lower qualifying fees this cycle because of the way the fees were refigured,” Ware said. “In fact, everyone’s cost went down except the coroner’s office, which went up $31.50.”

Ware said the qualifying fee for commissioners dropped from $342.80 to $288 under the new formula.

Commissioners also voted to accept a Georgia Department of Transportation plan to construct a roundabout at the intersection of State Highway 133 (North Jefferson Street) and Lover’s Lane Road to alleviate traffic congestion at the intersection. County Commission Chairman Chris Cohilas said the next step is up to GDOT.

“The way I understand it, GDOT needs our approval before they can move forward with the roundabout plan,” Cohilas said after the meeting. “They gave an excellent presentation about the benefits of the project, and our vote today allows them to move to the next step. I can’t speak on what that is or what their time frame for this project is.”

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board:

— Approved a pre-hazard mitigation plan to satisfy federal requirements in the event of a presidential-declared disaster;

— Signed off on a list of 11 roads that will be partially resurfaced through Fiscal Year 2016 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant and SPLOST VI funds;

— Authorized staff to dispose of salvaged vehicles through a third-party administrator;

— Voted to increase funding for the county-sponsored Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students by $23,380, for a total program budget of $30,880;

— OK’d a resolution authorizing the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission to apply for FY 2016 federal Community HOME Investment Program funds;

— Appointed Assistant County Administrator Michael McCoy as county legislative coordinator to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.