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Residents cite EPD violations as council approves Fulton County sewer IGA and a developer agreement
Summary
After public commentators cited an Environmental Protection Division notice and consent order about Serendi infrastructure, council approved a 15-year IGA with Fulton County for wastewater services (item 25-026) and a separate Serembi/Serendi agreement (25-027) that passed 4–1.
Mitchell Wolf, a Chattahoochee Hills resident and rural landowner, told the council the Georgia Environmental Protection Division issued a notice of violation and a consent order to the Serendby/Serendi Town Association covering drinking-water exceedances from 2018–2024 and said the EPD imposed $9,304 in penalties.
"The EPD also issued a consent order with penalties totaling $9,304," Wolf said, urging the council not to approve two sewer-related agreements until the city had more information. His remarks framed public concern about whether Serendi’s wastewater and pumping infrastructure are compliant and ready for further development.
City staff described two related agreements: a standard intergovernmental agreement (IGA) negotiated with Fulton County that establishes responsibilities between the county and the city for sewer service, and a separate agreement that mirrors the IGA but governs the developer (Serendi) as the billing party. City Manager (speaker 8) and other staff emphasized the technical division of responsibilities: the developer installs and maintains on-site piping, the city handles permitting and billing facilitation, and Fulton County operates from the lift station to the treatment facility.
Council discussed term length and financial mechanics. A councilmember asked whether the financial or operational burden would fall on Chattahoochee Hills taxpayers; the city manager replied directly that it would not. The council then moved and adopted the IGA with Fulton County (25-026) and, in a separate vote, adopted the Serembi/Serendi agreement (25-027) by a 4–1 margin.
The council’s approvals do not resolve the public’s outstanding technical questions about on-the-ground compliance at Serendi that residents raised during public comment. Wolf and others asked the council to pause construction or agreement implementation until the city had clearer documentation about testing, pumping station readiness and EPD oversight. Staff noted EPD has oversight authority and that the agreements set roles for payments and permitting.
Next steps: the city will proceed under the adopted agreements; residents asked for additional reviews and information on testing and compliance timelines.
