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Homeowners liable for stormwater?

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

The Fayette County Commission may soon make homeowners’ associations mandatory for all new subdivisions in the county.

That’s one of the options the county’s leaders are considering to comply with tough new storm-water management requirements established by the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District.

Phil Mallon, who works in the county’s engineering department, briefed the board on the preferred option.

He suggested that all inspection and maintenance of any storm-water collection areas, such as detention ponds, be placed with the subdivision’s homeowners’ association. The county would monitor the group’s compliance with the ordinance and if the group failed to maintain standards, each homeowner would be assessed for the county’s work on their next tax bill.

“Who’s mandating this? I don’t like it. Our other option is a storm-water utility,” said Commissioner Herb Frady.

Mallon did say that a storm-water utility, like the ones implemented in Fayetteville and Peachtree City, is an option, but said he believes it would cause an increase in the county’s staff.

“We’d rather not create more government,” said Commissioner Linda Wells.

Commissioner Greg Dunn also advocated putting the responsibility on homeowners associations. He said some counties, such as Gwinnett, have imposed a storm-water utility fee on all the residents, but said Gwinnett’s development is far more dense than Fayette’s.

The Planning Commission last week passed Mallon’s request for putting the burden on the homeowners’ association. It will come before the County Commission for a final vote May 26.