Questions remain about wastewater-plant financing as Pilgrim's Pride filing raises uncertainty

Residents and council members pressed city staff for specifics about how Franklin Springs will pay to prepare and build a municipal wastewater treatment plant, and a public commenter raised questions about an EPD filing that names Pilgrim's Pride.

A council member opened the budget discussion by asking, "Now, how much is in the budget to get ready to build? Not the land that we already bought, not the construction cost, but the stuff in between, engineering, turn of scene, city engineer, uh maybe some financial advisors, or whatever else we have going on, tests, permits" (Resident (wastewater question)). City staff replied that engineering fees to date have been paid from existing allocations but that the current budget does not show a separate line item for pre-construction work and that final costs and specific appropriations will be determined when detailed proposals arrive.

The question of construction funding remained unresolved in the meeting. A council member asked whether the budget contains any construction money; staff said "This one's not in the budget for construction regarding this except" and confirmed there was no construction line item reflected in the current budget document.

During public comment, Mr. Madison questioned the city's permitting filings with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). He said that, "according to what city Franklin is telling the state of Georgia EPD, is that we need a wastewater treatment plant, big one, because Pilgrim's Pride is coming to town and the anti-Degradation report has Pilgrims Pride in it by name with their logo," and asked why the filing still names the company if it has said it is not coming. City staff said the EPD filing currently includes Pilgrim's Pride but did not provide a meeting update that changed that statement.

Why it matters: the size and timing of any treatment-plant project affect capital needs, potential bonding or grant strategies, and the city's timeline for related infrastructure and economic-development decisions.

Details and next steps: staff said engineering fees so far have been paid from existing slots but did not give a precise pre-construction budget figure. The council did not adopt any new appropriation during the meeting; staff offered to provide outstanding loan balances and updated financial specifics on request. The transcript did not record an updated EPD filing or a formal statement from Pilgrim's Pride during the meeting.

Sources: Questions and statements during the council meeting from Resident (wastewater question) and Mr. Madison; staff budget responses.