[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6312560,"mediaKeyId","2390695-b20087a11eafe426e07cc335b29c0b01","parentId",2390695,"title","Committee approves $290,817 payment and consent order to resolve RM Clayton compliance violations; council seeks follow-up briefing","audioSeconds",411,"startMs",4583000,"endMs",4994000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390695-b20087a11eafe426e07cc335b29c0b01&start=4583&end=4994","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390695-b20087a11eafe426e07cc335b29c0b01/thumbnail_4583000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6312560/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Committee-approves-290817-payment-and-consent-order-to-resolve-RM-Clayton-compliance-violations-council-seeks-follow-up-briefing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312560-99fce58745ae4c8fef28b27c844beeaa/orig.mp4?Expires=1776690850&Signature=LdxWnEnfHGin~xpifOupN7gbsLM-RwhfdD-Vnx9F-sptqnucrWjc8U5oV~PRRepPqxSkzlC4ha3S0eoBaGUOTelJLMzajm7GKzGPBeNk~BKxKNd-3aWoOkZoTUwH~F5cn-TxCrlgEGMBBejBhpIFY62PC3OwnbN2uR3Vp2Mg3B4ukrF7AHRd4~pkgKC9jLgfDPZMGVn6f20HqSylV4TMh9~Ogi4arwVJutIsNwIbeljShfw9ef94Ub23C-hNdDqzNoqncB0Cdc7U2Spy2gaJaGUbA-MRLKhCU6q~BAd7veAa6CjEPLX~wcd47LRp2-FLCn2z3ylcih7N62JkZs8LUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-25T16:50:11Z","article","The City Utilities Committee on April 11 approved an ordinance authorizing the Department of Watershed Management to execute a consent order with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and to pay $290,817.33 to resolve alleged compliance violations, including failures to sample, laboratory-analysis failures, reporting failures and spills between July 2023 and November 2024.

Council member Hillis questioned the timing and the committee’s receipt of the paperwork. He noted the letter from EPD was dated Jan. 15 and asked why the council had not received the legislation sooner. Hillis requested a more detailed briefing on RM Clayton’s compliance status and the federal lawsuit he said is pending. “So the first question just administratively ... what was the issue?” he asked.

Commissioner Al Wiggins said the letter went through several edits with the Department of Law and internal staff, which delayed delivery to council. He reported the department is “actively working on the issues that were brought to our attention by the EPD” and said repairs are ongoing. Wiggins said the plant is operating under a plan that has addressed the majority of the issues and acknowledged some remaining work related to BNRs (biological nutrient removal) and weather-related impacts to effluent lab results.

Wiggins committed to a follow-up meeting with council members and legal staff for a detailed briefing on components replaced, remaining work and timelines. He said the department will give a “much more detailed update on the components that were replaced, the work that still needs to be done to the plant.”

The committee amended the ordinance to attach the consent order exhibit and approved the amended item by recorded vote (5 yeas, 0 nays). The committee instructed the department to provide additional documentation and a compliance briefing to the committee and to include Department of Law personnel in that briefing.

Ending: The committee approved payment to resolve the state compliance matter and scheduled a follow-up briefing request; staff will return with full documentation and a status update on RM Clayton compliance and ongoing remedial actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","#Atlanta City Council City Utilities Committee meeting: February 25, 2025 #atlpol","oneSentenceSummary","The City Utilities Committee approved a consent order and $290,817.33 payment to the Georgia EPD to resolve compliance violations at the RM Clayton treatment plant.","taxTitle","Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia","taxId",2959,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6312563,"City Utilities Committee votes: ordinances, contracts and grants approved or held",1387,3610000,4997000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390695-b20087a11eafe426e07cc335b29c0b01&start=3610&end=4997","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390695-b20087a11eafe426e07cc335b29c0b01/thumbnail_3610000.jpg","/articles/6312563/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/City-Utilities-Committee-votes-ordinances-contracts-and-grants-approved-or-held","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312563-9e126e0ac5e38244cc6106c308899a63/orig.mp4?Expires=1776690850&Signature=DtRX-oUT~iVU4u~xWn~UM1jkaGKdbn5AmG~RQAVfreLFSHhC8YyLcMz5~mz520CmU3Ej~qp7V44o-3KnvmBLVCGCYP4no0aVEa8wuWQSfFYlPAw1ibMseuEYBo~t3DFj2Y6MtYnlUKB6scnVFmpB7NQfVzJIXBv4mdgzoXta7dfm9TGdhs--GPj~7Ti7K~d6m854yXc460NkLfB~22ja34UmS15GWh4uMkNr-N5pTB6JflmNitzbwWAHdI8dOpahz~aXDDFUz3pBZuk7RWBp97RwKlhSqpmlWw6Ml24afXaQpIs21jV~ohbNAZwpYTlE19dg2y4RtY4uSNHWkAO4Mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Utilities Committee on April 11 considered multiple ordinances, contract amendments, budget actions and grant applications and recorded votes on each item. Most measures were approved by recorded voice vote; a few were held for follow-up or further clarification.

Votes at a glance

- Item 25-O-10112 (Andy Painting Inc. fourth amendment; painting and pressure-washing services): motion moved and seconded; committee vote recorded as favorable, 6 yeas, 0 nays.

- Item 25-O-10113 (Entrenchment Creek WRC decommissioning and South River WRC primary clarifiers replacement; PC Lewis JV change order for unforeseen repairs): motion moved and seconded; committee recorded as favorable and subsequently held for committee follow-up per staff request; recorded vote 6 yeas, 0 nays for the request to hold.

- Item 25-O-1114 (Amendments to special procurement agreements for temporary supplemental labor with First Step Staffing and Center for Employment Opportunities; total additional funding $1,125,000): motion moved and seconded; committee recorded as favorable, 6 yeas, 0 nays.

- Item 25-O-10077 (Trace organic laboratory services; vendor change to Eurofins; authorization to add funds up to $60,000): motion moved and seconded; committee recorded the vote as favorable, 6 yeas, 0 nays.

- Item 25-O-10178 (CFO amend FY2025 water and wastewater renewal and extension fund budget; transfer $4,688,184 to add funds to the water supply tunnel project): the department requested the item be held; motion moved and seconded; committee recorded the hold as 6 yeas, 0 nays.

- Item 25-O-10179 (CFO amend FY2025 water and wastewater renewal and extension fund budget; transfer $8,000,000 to program management services): motion moved and seconded; committee vote recorded favorable, 6 yeas, 0 nays.

- Item 25-O-10180 (Ratify municipal solid waste annual contract with Republic Services/Genesis Testing Services; execute fifth amendment and set disposal rates): motion moved and seconded; committee vote recorded favorable, 6 yeas, 0 nays.

- Item 25-O-1103 (Amend Atlanta City Code to update functions and duties of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience): motion moved and seconded; recorded committee action: 5 yeas, 0 nays, 1 abstention; item was held in committee for additional review.

- Item 25-O-1104 (Authorize application for U.S. EPA Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles grant for ECHO Fleet ATL; $2,376,203): motion moved and seconded; committee vote recorded favorable, 6 yeas, 0 nays.

- Item 25-O-11110 (Authorize execution of consent order with Georgia EPD to resolve compliance violations; payment $290,817.33): motion moved and seconded; committee vote recorded favorable, 5 yeas, 0 nays; item amended to attach the consent order exhibit and approved as amended.

- Item 25-R-3161 (Contract for landscaping and grounds maintenance with Russell Landscape LLC and Mariani Enterprises LLC d/b/a Ed Castro; up to $800,000 for 3 years): motion moved and seconded; committee vote recorded favorable, 5 yeas, 0 nays.

Notes: The committee used standard procedures to open and close votes on multiple items. Where the department requested more time or additional documentation, the committee recorded holds and asked for follow-up materials before final council action on some items.

Ending: Committee staff said legislative packets and contract exhibits will be provided to council and the mayor’s office as required for the next steps in the approval process.","The City Utilities Committee voted on a set of ordinances, contracts and resolutions including contract amendments, budget transfers and grant applications; several items were approved, and some were held in committee as noted below.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6312568,"Watershed management reports high vacancies, stepped-up collections effort and new command center",853,142000,995000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390695-b20087a11eafe426e07cc335b29c0b01&start=142&end=995","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390695-b20087a11eafe426e07cc335b29c0b01/thumbnail_142000.jpg","/articles/6312568/Atlanta/Fulton-County/Georgia/Watershed-management-reports-high-vacancies-stepped-up-collections-effort-and-new-command-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312568-d1be730f861ea472afcd98501ba88a09/orig.mp4?Expires=1776690850&Signature=T8uKKxlEJ1OnXh3JhQoUfJxQpCliFYfDfBrnT7YKpGp~wtcSr6KNMooJITqdKWfZdHejPbn6O2-jNE-~iViwVQb84WJ6uRZQBFJNMSSgSIIC9W6MInUvif7FCnh4KWLWnl5jQ-K9LFSnVerpVE6xyV-s-JzHkszFmYX2d7iOKSF3EBzjKWn7WGMzkfoqMUxZhZKF8yarEoBJvJu08MoUOcfbZ~hapM1Wl6lnubSX2rf6bslMDNWOvGlcRV~wnHUQ5tf1dsAe0ZNy8~y65LUhvgn-tzg6JVD-lpwJCcgDH7UA9BT8Z2s6RXs9raZQAEZZJc7lPELuE4NI5pfyDTrRJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Interim Commissioner Al Wiggins told the City Utilities Committee on April 11 that the Department of Watershed Management’s second-quarter report (covering Oct.–Dec. 2024) showed stable finances but continuing operational pressure from licensed-operator vacancies and recent retirements.

Wiggins said staffing “has improved since approximately June of last year” but that the Office of Water Treatment and Reclamation is carrying what he described as a 72% vacancy rate for positions that require specialized operator licenses. He said the department lost about 31 employees in the period reported, 18 of them by retirement.

The staffing picture was the core of a broader update that covered training, revenue, meter installations, leak detection and field operations. Wiggins credited DWM University, led by Chief Administrative Officer Don Williams, with training 497 employees across compliance, safety and job-specific courses during the quarter. He said year-to-date actual water and sewer receipts totaled about $46,000,000 and that the department expects end-of-year collections to align with projections.

Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Williams told the committee the apparent drop in monthly collections is partially a function of a more aggressive budget baseline: “We took an extremely aggressive approach to the budget this year,” he said, adding that collections themselves are flat compared with the prior year and that the department expects to finish the year slightly above last year’s totals. He said the department is adding staff and technology to collection efforts, including 15 people dedicated to outbound calls, and new online payment-plan tools.

Council members pressed for clearer, more frequent reporting on collections. Council member Hillis asked for monthly charts showing calls made, collections recovered and cutoffs; Hillis said, “I just wanna see some more progress there.” Jonathan Williams and Wiggins agreed to provide more frequent metrics and to track the performance of newly onboarded contractors and staff.

Wiggins described operational metrics: DWM installed about 648 meters in the quarter (a 34% increase), established roughly 4,000 accounts, issued about 523,000 bills, cleaned roughly 3,400 catch basins and repaired about 469 hydrants. He said the department treated about 9,000,000,000 gallons of drinking water and about 16,000,000,000 gallons of treated water during the period reported.

Wiggins highlighted the department’s leak-detection pilot: the program recorded about 1,600 device sessions and identified 50 leaks prioritized for major repairs. He said the leak-detection effort is “on track to save about 68,000,000 gallons” and estimated savings at “a little bit over 460,000 gallons per day.”

Wiggins also announced the department’s new command center is complete and operational. “The command center has been completed. It has been very useful,” he said, describing how it helped coordinate responses to recent storms and how it will be converted to a 24/7 operations center.

Council members asked for more detail on compliance and spills. Wiggins reported 4,400 inspections in the quarter, 2 NPDES violations, and 14 public sanitary sewer overflows that contributed to 42 public sewer spills in the period; he said the department would provide location details and a heat map in the next report. A request to reinstate service-level-agreement (SLA) reporting was granted; Wiggins said SLAs were paused while the department transitioned from paper-based processes to an electronic system and that SLAs will return in the next quarterly report.

On capital work, Wiggins said DWM manages about 94 projects totaling roughly $1,100,000,000, with consent-decree projects a major portion of that portfolio. He told the committee the department is onboarding a new asset-management system to record inspection cycles, condition assessments and related documents.

Council members urged closer scrutiny of hydrant repairs and road restorations after utility cuts. Wiggins said memoranda of understanding with ATL DOT and other internal coordination efforts are in draft and will be submitted for review in the coming quarter.

Several council members raised the department’s readiness for large events in 2026. Wiggins said the department has been preparing with contractors, spare supplies and targeted protection for “critical infrastructure” and expects DWM to be prepared for the World Cup period.

The committee closed the discussion by asking that future quarterly reports include more granular, frequently updated collections metrics, a spill-location heat map, SLA data and a status briefing on the RM Clayton odor-control study and related upgrades.

Ending: Wiggins concluded by thanking staff and naming recent retirees; he offered to return with additional requested detail at the next quarterly update.","Interim Commissioner Al Wiggins told the City Utilities Committee the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) is stabilizing operations while addressing high licensed-operator vacancies, stepped-up collections work, an expanding leak-detection program and a completed command center that will operate year-round.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves $290,817 payment and consent order to resolve RM Clayton compliance violations; council seeks follow-up briefing

City Utilities Committee votes: ordinances, contracts and grants approved or held

Watershed management reports high vacancies, stepped-up collections effort and new command center