Council approves dredging grant for Wexford Club pond, citing stormwater benefits

Mayor Kurt Wilson and the City of Roswell’s committee on July 15 approved a dredging-assistance application from Wexford Club Incorporated to remove sediment from a neighborhood pond, with staff recommending reimbursement of up to half of eligible dredging costs.

Brian Watson, public works director, told the committee the city’s dredging assistance policy (Article 24.6 of the Code of Ordinances) shares dredging costs “up to 50% or $500,000 whichever is less” and that reimbursement is paid only after project completion and inspection.

Watson said the Wexford Mill Pond application meets the policy thresholds: a drainage area of roughly 173 acres (the policy threshold is 100 acres) and the volume criteria. The application seeks removal of about 3,000 cubic yards of sediment — roughly 300 truckloads one way, or 600 truck trips round-trip — and staff calculated $218,000 of eligible dredging costs, which would yield a $109,000 reimbursement if approved.

Nut graf: Committee members framed the award as a stormwater-management action rather than an aesthetic subsidy for a homeowners association. Watson said the project “improves water quality to an unnamed tributary to Hog Waller Creek,” a waterway listed on the state’s Section 303(d) list for impairment due to hardness and E. coli, and staff recommended paying the award from the city’s erosion and sediment control fund.

Council discussion and staff clarifications Mayor Kurt Wilson praised the proposal and staff work, noting this is the first application under the ordinance since 2016 and stressing it is “clearly a stormwater strategy to serve the needs of the greater city and the stormwater, strategy for the city.” He and other councilmembers emphasized that staff evaluate whether a pond has a stormwater-management role rather than being solely an HOA amenity.

Councilmember Alan Sells said stormwater capacity can be tied to economic development and called the program another way to manage that infrastructure. Watson agreed the primary evaluation is stormwater benefit but acknowledged broader economic value where systems function as designed.

Councilmember Gee Lee Hills and others highlighted the potential roadway impacts of hauling dredged material off-site and praised a transportation bond requirement Watson said the department added to ensure project proponents cover road repair costs rather than city taxpayers.

Formal action The committee moved to approve the staff recommendation for the Wexford Club dredging-assistance application (motion by Councilmember Alan Sells; second by Councilmember Sarah Beeson). The motion passed unanimously. The approval authorizes reimbursement as described by staff, with funds identified from the erosion and sediment control fund; reimbursement will occur only after project completion and city verification.

What the approval does and does not do The committee approval authorizes the reimbursement framework for dredging operations only. Watson noted the program reimburses the removal and transport of dredged material and does not cover engineering work, landscaping, embankment repairs or dam work. The applicant also must obtain and comply with a land disturbance permit (LDP) from Community Development; Watson said Wexford’s LDP was issued in late June and that Environmental Public Works received the application in early May.

Next steps and timing Staff will proceed with the reimbursement process after project completion, inspection and submission of required documentation. The committee did not set additional conditions beyond those in the ordinance and the department’s permit and bonding requirements.