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Bryan County approves multiple water projects, authorizes $10M loan application and several contracts
Summary
Bryan County commissioners authorized a $10 million Georgia Drinking Water Loan application for a northern booster pump, approved a $5.5 million GEFA resilience loan application (50% forgiveness anticipated), and awarded major contracts for a 30-inch transmission main and a booster pump station totaling roughly $17.7 million; a $76,800 wetland‑mitigation payment was also authorized.
Bryan County commissioners on Apr. 14 authorized staff to apply for a Georgia Drinking Water Loan of up to $10 million for a northern booster pump station and approved several contract awards and loan applications tied to regional surface-water projects.
The board voted to allow the chairman and county administrator to sign loan documents for a GFL application for the booster pump, which county staff described as a 40‑year loan at 0% interest that would support pressure and flow in the county’s northern service area as part of a partnership with neighboring counties.
Why it matters: The measures are intended to expand supply and reduce reliance on the Floridan aquifer for industrial use, protect existing customers from immediate rate increases and leverage grant or low‑cost financing to fund large infrastructure needs.
County staff said the booster pump application does not obligate the county to borrow the full amount if it is not needed. The board also authorized submission of a GEFA Hurricane Helene Resilience Fund application for the Myerstown well project; staff said the application is anticipated to result in a $5.5 million loan with 50% forgiveness and the remainder financed over 20 years at 0% interest.
The commission approved awarding the North Bryan 30‑inch transmission water main contract to McClendon Enterprises for $7,684,951.84, funded through water and sewer ARPA grant funds. Commissioners later approved awarding the northern booster pump station construction contract to Southern Civil LLC for $9,977,520 and authorized staff to execute contract documents to start the project.
The board also authorized entering a tolling agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to purchase 1.28 wetland mitigation credits at a cost of $76,800; staff said the payment would be made from ARPA water and sewer funds designated for such projects.
Quotes from the meeting capture the financing tone: “This $10 million is 40 years at 0%,” a staff presenter said, and commissioners thanked staff for securing favorable loan terms.
Next steps: The loan applications will be processed by the lending agencies; the projects (transmission main and booster pump station) will proceed under the awarded contracts and staff will return with further procurement and construction details as work progresses.
