Council approves wastewater agreements despite residents’ cites EPD violations at Serenbe

Chattahoochee Hills’ City Council approved two wastewater agreements on May 6, voting 4–1 to pass an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Fulton County and a separate wastewater services contract with Serenbe CH Properties, LLC. Councilmember Lightsey cast the lone no vote on both items.

Resident Mitchell Wolff told the council the Georgia Environmental Protection Division had issued notices of violation and a consent order to the Serenbe Town Association for elevated drinking-water contamination levels, totaling 22 violations from 2018–2024 and $9,304 in penalties. "These violations are not merely bureaucratic infractions; they are a clear and damning validation of what many of us in the community have been warning about for months," Wolff said, and urged the council to pause sewer-related approvals until compliance is clarified.

The motion to approve the IGA with Fulton County (Item 25-026) was moved by Councilmember Peek and seconded by Councilmember Lowe; the motion passed 4–1. The subsequent wastewater services agreement with Serenbe CH Properties (Item 25-027) was moved by Councilmember Lowe and seconded by Councilmember Peek and also passed 4–1. According to the meeting minutes, Councilmembers Peek, Schmidt, Foster and Lowe voted yes; Councilmember Lightsey voted no.

Council discussion in the meeting record did not include further written conditions tying the agreements to additional EPD compliance steps; the minutes show approvals without a recorded requirement to suspend action pending EPD responses. Wolff submitted copies of the Jan. 28 and Feb. 3, 2025 Notices of Violation and the EPD consent order into the public record.

Next steps recorded in the minutes are procedural: execution of the approved agreements. The council did not schedule further public hearings on the agreements at the May 6 meeting.