Committee approves $35,000 for water line to serve J E Sarton Road; county contingent on Manchester water department agreement

The Coffee County Budget & Finance Committee voted Sept. 25 to allocate $35,000 from the county’s rural infrastructure fund to install a 4‑inch water main on J E Sarton Road to connect residences to Manchester City water, provided Manchester’s water department agrees to the plan.

The county chair, speaking for the committee, said the larger 6‑inch line originally discussed would have cost roughly $70,000 but that a 4‑inch installation lowers the immediate county share to about $35,000 for pipe materials. Staff emphasized the allocation would come from the rural fund and not the general fund. The project is intended to bring pressurized, treated water to residents whose wells and springs have gone dry; presenters said roughly five households on the road currently lack usable potable water and are relying on creek water.

Committee members made the allocation conditional on Manchester City Water completing the interconnection and stepping back into the project; the county noted the city had recently lost its water department director. The motion passed on a voice vote with the committee chair instructing the sponsor to continue coordination with Manchester and to report back at the October meeting.

Why it matters: The investment addresses immediate public‑health and household‑service failures for a small set of rural residents and uses rural infrastructure funds rather than the county’s general fund. The committee framed the measure as time‑sensitive because wells in the area have dried and household appliances and water heaters are being damaged by untreated creek water.