Fayette County board raises wholesale water rate, signs USGS monitoring contract and accepts larger Trilith donation

Fayetteville, Ga. — The Fayette County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 14 approved a package of Water System actions that county staff said are intended to preserve system reliability and better align wholesale costs with operations and capital needs.

Carrie Gibby, Water System Business Operations Manager, told the Board the county used a Raftelis financial model with 2024 data to re-evaluate wholesale rates. Based on that analysis, the Board adopted Resolution 2024-12 and approved increasing the Fayette County Water System wholesale rate from $2.67 to $3.15 per 1,000 gallons, an 18% increase. The Board voted 4-0 to approve the rate change and directed staff to notify the City of Fayetteville and the City of Peachtree City.

Gibby said the recommended rate change reflects two components the model separates: operating costs shared by retail and wholesale customers and capital costs that recover annual depreciation for system assets. "The analysis shows the adjustment is needed to recover costs," Gibby said.

The Board also approved Contract #2503-S, an annual agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey for surface water monitoring in FY2025, at a cost of $263,700. Water System Director Vanessa Tigert said the monitoring supports long-term supply planning and compliance efforts.

Separately, the Board approved an amendment to the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Coweta County Water and Sewerage Authority that removes a fixed numeric rate and replaces it with the term "wholesale rate," allowing future administrative rate adjustments without reauthoring the IGA.

The Board accepted an increased donation from Trilith Development, LLC, for the Trilith Tank Illumination Plan, updating the donation from $1,285,857.29 to a not-to-exceed $1,659,633.00, which includes $49,657.48 for Phase I installation costs. "I did not realize the tank held 400,000 gallons — that's impressive," Chairman Lee Hearn said, adding the illumination will help the tower serve as a local landmark. Commissioner Eric K. Maxwell praised the project as an "amazing project" and noted the complexity of such work.

All votes on these items were unanimous (4-0). Commissioner Charles D. Rousseau was absent.

The rate increase and contract approvals will affect current wholesale customers, including the City of Fayetteville, Coweta County Water and Sewerage Authority and the City of Peachtree City. Notices of the new wholesale rate will be sent to the named municipalities as directed by the Board.