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Demorest to buy 300 water meters; manager authorized to notify Tallulah Falls of wholesale rate change
Summary
The council approved purchase of 300 water meters for $70,500 and authorized the city manager to send a wholesale‑rate adjustment letter to Tallulah Falls after a rate increase from Toccoa; the water sales account balance of $265,000 was noted.
The Demorest City Council voted Sept. 4 to purchase 300 water meters from Consolidated Pipe and authorized the City Manager to notify Tallulah Falls of a wholesale‑rate increase.
City Manager Mark Musselwhite told council that Consolidated Pipe proposed two invoices: $35,545 for 150 meters and $70,500 for the full stock of 300 meters. Musselwhite said there was $265,000 in the city’s water sales account and recommended purchasing the full stock. Council approved the purchase of 300 meters unanimously (4–0).
Separately, Mayor Jerry Harkness said that in July Toccoa increased the city’s wholesale cost for water and asked council to authorize sending a rate‑adjustment letter to Tallulah Falls. Councilman Andrew Ferguson moved to authorize the City Manager to send the rate‑adjustment letter; the motion passed unanimously (4–0).
Why it matters: buying meters now locks in current stock pricing and helps the city replace aging equipment, while authorizing a rate‑adjustment letter passes increased wholesale costs upstream to the customer municipality.
Next steps: staff will complete the meter purchase and send the rate‑adjustment notice to Tallulah Falls; council did not set a new retail rate at this meeting.
