The chairman of the Jackson County Water and Sewerage Authority says there’s a 60-70 percent likelihood Jackson County will sue over the Bear Creek Reservoir.
That call will be made by the county commissioners, pointed out Hunter Bicknell.
“We’re awaiting a response to the letter they took a vote on last Wednesday,” said Bicknell. “That is a response to the letter we sent requesting that they recalculate the yield.”
Just how much water is available determines how much water each of the four county partners can use each day. Based on an estimate of 58 million gallons of water per day, Athens-Clark would get 25.5 million gallons per day (mgd) and Jackson County 14.25 mgd.
Jackson County has data suggesting that the regional reservoir can produce only 24 mgd — less than half the yield previously assumed. If those numbers are accurate, Athens-Clarke would find its share cut to 10.5 mgd. With a demand of up to 18 mgd daily, it means Athens-Clarke is using water daily that belongs to Jackson County, and Jackson County expects to be paid for that water.
The regional authority voted last Wednesday to instruct its attorney to respond.
“Basically, we’re thinking we’ll receive a response that will not be acceptable,” said Bicknell. “We’ll get together with the commissioners and decide our next course of action.”
What would that be?
“In all likelihood, whatever it takes to force them to recalculate,” said Bicknell.
Jackson County also asked that the regional authority hire a third party acceptable to it and Jackson County to conduct yet another analysis of the yield. The group voted to deny that request.
“We’ve got Gurnsey & Company,” said Bicknell. “JJ&G (the authority’s engineering firm) has their numbers. We just requested a third party to come in and look at what JJ&G has and what we have. They just would not agree to that.”
Board of Commissioners Chairman Pat Bell was out of the office Tuesday. It was not known whether the basin authority’s letter had arrived.
Jackson County is represented by Mike Bowers.
The yield is not as critical to Jackson County as to Athens-Clarke. Jackson is using less than 2 mgd, so even with the lower yield estimate, it has more than 4 mgd in reserves. The issue is that Jackson County wants to be paid when Athens-Clarke is using Jackson County water.
