Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Settlement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Statham City Council approves settlement with Old Mill Properties over unpaid tap fees
Summary
Statham City Council approved a settlement with Old Mill Properties LLC resolving unpaid city water and tap fees for an apartment complex, after a staff briefing that the developer had paid county sewer capacity fees but not the city's tap fee or water meter charges; the deal establishes a payment plan and ends the city's outstanding claims.
Statham City Council on Nov. 18 approved a settlement agreement with Old Mill Properties LLC to resolve unpaid charges tied to an apartment complex’s water and sewer connections.
Jody, a city staff member, told the council that earlier in 2024 a review of sewer capacity purchases revealed the developer had pre-purchased county sewer capacity from Barrow County but had not paid the city’s separate tap fee. Jody also said city records showed no payment for a large master water meter associated with the complex. “It’s about a six-month payment plan,” Jody said, adding the developer would pay a significant portion of what the city believes is owed and the remaining amount would be forgiven as part of the settlement.
A council member moved to approve the settlement agreement with Old Mill Properties LLC; another member seconded the motion and the council approved it by show of hands. The council did not record a roll-call vote or a numerical tally in the public proceedings.
City staff described the two-part fee structure involved: a county capacity fee paid to Barrow County and a separate city tap fee; the settlement addresses the unpaid city tap fee and the unpaid meter charge, while the county capacity payment was already in place. According to the staff explanation, sewer had a written agreement with the developer regarding county capacity while there was no comparable city agreement on the meter or city tap fee.
Council then moved to an executive session to meet with the city attorney to discuss potential litigation related to matters exempt from the Open Meetings Act; the mayor later reported that no votes were taken during that closed session and that an affidavit/resolution documenting the session would be included in the minutes.
The settlement ends the city’s active claim on the tap-fee and meter charges by establishing the negotiated payment plan; the council did not provide additional financial totals or the exact payment schedule during the public meeting. The council approved the settlement and proceeded with the rest of its agenda.
