City of Dawson approves water and sewer infrastructure projects.

DAWSON – Dawson’s City Council approved sewer work along 1st Avenue and water repairs along Orndorff Drive during its September council meeting. 

The latter approval came after much deliberation. The water repairs will cost the city about $215,000 from SPLOST funds. The council originally voted no with Councilmembers Melissa Marshall, Iri Pittman, Leon Ferguson and Sondra Walker voting against approving the work on Sept. 11. Councilman John Harris pushed the council to revisit the agenda item and reconsider. 

“These people at any time … the water is busting the pipes,” Harris said. “We’ve got to do something. When pipes bust in the city, we get to it immediately and they fix them. This is a bigger expense, but if you take all the expenses that we do in a day’s time of fixing water, this is peanuts compared to what we do every day.”

Michael Sinquefield, Dawson’s public works director, said a two-inch water line feeds about 14 houses along Orndorff Drive.

“It’s in bad shape,” Sinquefield said. “It’s busted. We’ve covered it up, and it busted five more times.”

The Dawson News reported in July about an Orndorff Drive resident who dealt with consistent leaks on his property and was concerned about potential health problems. Bubba Hall, an Orndorff Drive resident, was prepared to take legal action against the city.

Sinquefield said approval for repairs along this road was much needed. However, he said the water lines underneath the entire city are in need of updates. Sinquefield said Dawson’s steel water lines are rusting in some areas and haven’t seen much renovation since the city’s establishment. He said the entire system needs to be replaced with PVC pipe. The city’s public works department fixes multiple leaks each week. 

Shawn O’Connor-VZ,  the grant specialist for Golden Triangle RC&D, which helps southwest Georgia towns obtain grants for community projects, said he calls Dawson “the city of eternal springs” because there’s water spouting up all over town. 

“It’s (the infrastructure) really crumbling,” he said after attending the September council meeting. “But, there’s not enough money.” 

This need for repairs across the entire city is what caused Marshall, Ferguson, Walker and Pittman to vote against Orndorff Drive repairs initially. 

“If we’re able at this time to spend $215,000 on one subdivision, why can’t we split amongst Orndorff and another area that is in dire need as well,” Marshall said. “I know for a fact there’s more places in town that could use that same thing. How is it fair?”

Dawson Mayor Robert Aaron said the city must recognize Orndorff Drive as its current priority. 

“Right now, the need is in Orndorff,” he said. “If we don’t repair the entire line, we can’t fix it. We can’t patch that entire line. When we repair the water line on one spot, it breaks out in another spot. The situation is at Orndorff, and they pay taxes like everybody else, and they deserve water and services just like everybody else.”

Walker said she struggled with the vote because she wasn’t made aware of the situation at Orndorff until Thursday night. She said she felt that some council members were more privy to information than others. 

After the council went back and approved the water repairs along Orndorff Drive, Ferguson addressed Harris. 

“You’ve got to fight for everybody like you came in here and fought tonight,” Ferguson said. 

Dawson isn’t alone in its infrastructure needs. Outdated and failing water and sewer lines are a problem across southwest Georgia. Because most of these communities are rural with a small tax base, they must rely on grant funding to complete large scale infrastructure projects. 

The Dawson News reported about Parrott, GA, in Terrell County receiving a $1 million grant to improve its citywide water system, including upgrading iron pipes to larger, plastic pipes and creating more fire hydrant attachments. 

Fort Gaines Mayor Kenneth Sumpter called his city’s infrastructure needs “all inclusive.” The city is relying on Community Development Block Grants, American Rescue Plan act funds and Georgia Environmental Finance loans to address water, sewer and storm drainage projects. He said these systems were outdated, and the city was working to update them before they failed. 

Despite financial aid, he said it’s still a challenge for small cities in southwest Georgia to match money required by some of these grants. 

Still, Sumpter said these infrastructure improvements are needed if southwest Georgia communities ever want to see growth.

“This infrastructure development and bringing in broadband high speed internet, there’s an attempt to be attractive to industry, and the kind of industry that brings career building employment, and so we do our best to on our side, to make ourselves look good,” Sumpter said. 

The City of Dawson will host a Town Hall meeting, Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at the Main Street Theater, located at 152 N. Main Street. Residents are urged to attend as the city will address multiple issues, including infrastructure concerns and spending.