Barnesville wins $750,000 CDBG for water and sewer work; council moves to refinance 2011 bonds

The City of Barnesville said it will use a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to make water and sewer improvements in a defined low-to-moderate-income target area that stretches from Mill Street to Washington Street and across Jackson and Jenkins to First Street.

City Manager David K. Rose briefed the council that the award, announced Oct. 16, 2019, will fund pipeline replacements and related engineering, construction management and administration. Keeley Garrett of Allen-Smith Consulting, the city's grant administrator, told the council the total project budget is $849,735.50, including engineering and administrative fees, and that the project will not displace residents. She said 61 of the 64 beneficiaries in the target area, or about 95 percent, qualify as low- to moderate-income.

Why it matters: The city has cited persistent low pressure and aging lines in parts of the system and expects the work to improve household water pressure and fire protection while installing additional hydrants. City staff have previously told residents the work will also correct mismatched pipe sizes in older sections of the system.

The council also approved a separate financial step affecting the same system: Resolution R2019-0008 authorizing the refunding of outstanding City of Barnesville Water and Sewer Revenue and Improvement Series 2011 bonds. Mayor Peter L. Banks said refinancing the 2011 bonds is expected to produce substantial debt-service savings; city materials presented to the council cited expected savings of about $3,950,000.00 over the life of the new financing.

Councilmember Cecil D. McDaniel, Sr., and others emphasized the link between the grant-funded capital work and broader utility stewardship, noting recent recognition for plant operators. In June the Georgia Association of Water Professionals presented the city’s operators with awards for permit compliance and continued excellence; the city’s water plant had earned a multi-year compliance Platinum recognition.

The council approved a separate $70,500 expenditure to upgrade a trident sand filter at the Water Works Trident Plant earlier in August, and staff noted workforce changes at plant operations while thanking outgoing operator Brandon Lewis for seven years of service.

What’s next: Allen-Smith Consulting indicated surveying would begin within weeks of the November public hearing and construction was expected to start by late June (project schedule subject to permitting and contractor procurement). The bond refunding requires standard closing steps with underwriters and bond counsel before new debt is issued.

The council unanimously approved the CDBG submittal and later completed the administrative steps to adopt CDBG-related planning documents the city will use to implement the project.