Council adopts water and sewer fee ordinance to fund $35–$40 million of infrastructure improvements

At its Aug. 27 meeting the Milledgeville City Council approved ordinance O24‑08‑14, which amends charges for water and sewer services, tapping and connection fees, and other related fees and deposits.

City Manager Hank Griffith and staff explained the fee adjustments were developed with Turnipseed Engineering and based on cost estimates tied to planned infrastructure projects. Griffith said the fee increases are intended to support a planned bond issuance in the range of $35 million to $40 million that will fund renovations to the water treatment plant and capital improvements to water delivery infrastructure. The council was told the fee changes will be phased in: initial phase effective Jan. 1, 2025; phase two on July 1, 2025; and phase three on Jan. 1, 2026.

During the ordinance discussion a councilmember asked whether fire suppression systems are metered; staff answered they are not. Following that brief exchange the council moved, seconded and the clerk called the roll; the ordinance passed by recorded vote.

Implementation notes in the meeting said fees will be used specifically for water and sewer infrastructure projects and the bond servicing; the fee structure moves some accounts to meter‑size–based base charges that the city described as a modernization from the current system (which treats all residential accounts the same).