Council approves Watershed items including Cobb County IGA update and $61.3 million trunk sewer contract

The Atlanta City Council approved several Department of Watershed Management measures on motions recorded 6–0, including an updated intergovernmental agreement with Cobb County to continue wastewater-treatment assistance, a $17.5 million amendment to the FY2025 water and wastewater renewal fund, and a $61,328,859 contract for the North of Utah Trunk Sewer Replacement 1A.

Why it matters: the actions authorize funding and contracts for major wastewater infrastructure and formalize an existing intergovernmental relationship that began in 1972. The items affect capital planning, operating costs and service arrangements in parts of the city near Cobb County.

Jonathan Williams, deputy commissioner of finance for the Office of Watershed, told council the Cobb County arrangement dates to 1972 and must be updated because the law has changed since the original agreement. “The reason for this legislation is to continue an agreement that was started back in 1972,” Williams said. He said Cobb County has proposed a rate increase and a “3 and a half percent escalator year over year.”

Williams described the update as a continuation of a long-standing arrangement and said the substance of service — Cobb County assisting with excess wastewater capacity — remains the same. He said the county reviewed rates and proposed the escalation formula to reflect inflation.

Council members asked for follow-up details on geography and cost. Williams said staff would provide a geographic breakdown of the areas served under the arrangement. On the question of current monthly payments to Cobb County, the transcript records two different figures during council discussion: Williams characterized the monthly payment as “about $20,000 a month,” while a council member later referenced a monthly figure of $220,000 in the discussion; the council requested staff to reconcile and provide the precise financial breakdown.

The council approved the Cobb County intergovernmental agreement amendment by a recorded vote of 6 yays and 0 nays. The council also approved an ordinance authorizing the chief financial officer to amend the FY2025 water and wastewater renewal and extension fund budget by $17,500,000 and a procurement waiver to exercise an option with Datamax Incorporated for bill printing services in an amount not to exceed $750,000 (retroactive term 01/27/2025–01/26/2026).

Separately, the council amended and approved a construction contract award for the North of Utah Trunk Sewer Replacement 1A to Ruby Collins Benchmark Joint Venture for an amount not to exceed $61,328,859; the award includes a 24-month notice-to-proceed window. Councilmember Dustin Hill sponsored the Cobb IGA resolution, and Watershed staff indicated Cobb County had provided the IGA document and appropriate approvals on their side for attachment to the legislation.

Next steps: Watershed staff committed to supply the council with a copy of the Cobb County IGA, a geographic map of the serviced areas, and a reconciled schedule of current and projected payments under the proposed escalator formula. The trunk sewer contract will proceed under the terms approved by council.