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November 25, 2009

City votes down facilitator

City and county attorneys now discussing water plan

By Trent Moore The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — The City of Cullman un-tabled and voted down a motion to hire an independent facilitator with the county to discuss the secondary water source issue Monday night.

Instead, the city and county attorneys met Tuesday for the first in a series of meetings to try to find a way for the two entities to work together to create a secondary water source for the area.

The city has proposed a dam on Duck River to create a 640-acre lake and a six-mile pipeline with a 32-million-gallon-per-day capacity. The reservoir would resemble the one at Lake Catoma, currently the county’s sole water source.

The county has proposed constructing a new treatment facility that would pump water from Smith Lake, as well as upgrading the treatment facilities at Lake Catoma. The creation of a regional water board to oversee water distribution is also a part of the county’s proposal.

Currently, the city — through the Cullman Utilities Board — controls and sells all water distributed from Lake Catoma.

Cullman Mayor Max Townson has previously stated the city will move forward with the Duck River Dam project and will not sell the treatment plant at Lake Catoma.

Little was accomplished at the initial meeting, though a dialog is open.

“Nothing is resolved as far as I know, but I felt good about it,” Cullman County Commission Chairman James Graves said. “At least we are all talking. Hopefully, something good will come of it.”

Townson said the attorneys will meet again soon to continue discussions.

“They didn’t sign on the dotted line, but they’re still working on it,” he said. “Their plan has not been permitted, but we’re still negotiating and all lines of communication are open. The lawyers are talking and will hopefully come back with some answers.”

The city had tabled the facilitation plan earlier this month, when they learned the county had yet to apply for a permit to draw water from Smith Lake.

Cullman city council president Garlan Gudger Jr. said by voting down the independent mediator, the discussions were being passed on to the attorneys.

“We have approved plans to not go forward with this and will turn the facilitation over to the attorneys,” he said.

City council member Jenny Folsom said the discussions will look at some issues the county leaders have expressed with the Duck River plan.

“We have since received a letter on seven points the county wanted to discuss, so we’re turning the facilitation over to the city and county attorneys,” she said.

Concerns cited by the county include a lack of control over water rates, a potential limit to water use, a limit to the cost of the project and questions about water quality.



* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.

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