Residents and business owners in DeKalb County are set to weigh in on a proposed water and sewer rate hike during a town hall meeting tonight. The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners (BOC) seeks public input on the potential financial changes that would increase rates by an annual 6% over the next three years. These funds are earmarked for crucial upgrades to the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant, the county’s sole source of fresh drinking water.
FOX 5 Atlanta
reported that the meeting is scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Government Services Center in Decatur.
According to
On Common Ground News
, DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond emphasized the urgency of the investment, stating, “We have a three- to five-year window to make major investments in Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant, or else we risk a catastrophic failure.” Thurmond drew parallels with historical courage, saying, “let’s have the courage of Scott Candler,” referring to the commissioner who established the county’s drinking water system in 1942 despite opposition.
The proposed hikes are expected to raise $107 million to leverage the acquisition of over $200 million in bonds for the treatment plant’s continued maintenance and improvements. The initiative reflects a longer-term vision for the county’s infrastructural resilience and water security. The additional revenue will bolster efforts to meet regulatory compliance and support environmental sustainability—an essential consideration in today’s climate outlook.
Commissioner Robert Patrick assured that all questions and concerns from the residents and business community are taken seriously. “This is an important discussion that affects all of us in DeKalb,” he told
On Common Ground News
. He further mentioned that the PWI Committee will inform the public about the board’s upcoming vote on the rate increase during tonight’s town hall, which will also offer virtual attendance options via Zoom for wider accessibility.
The meeting also presents an opportunity for county officials, including DeKalb County Chief Operating Officer Zachary L. Williams, Chief Financial Officer Dianne McNabb, and Director of Consent Decree and Environmental Compliance Maria Houser, to convey the need and rationale behind the proposed rate adjustments to the public. The importance of this discourse is underscored as the Board of Commissioners gears up to deliberate on the issue at their regular business meeting next Thursday.
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