County town goal: joint utility system

In separate Council meetings, the Town of Winnsboro and Fairfield County Council have formally decided to throw in together to create a Joint Utility System for the town and county.

At the County’s March 27 meeting, Council gave Administrator Jason Taylor the go ahead to begin negotiations with the Town on a proposed joint cointract, but no contract has yet been signed.

County Council voted to engage Columbia law firm Pope-Flynn to facilitate the negotiations, and Winnsboro Town Council voted to do the same at their April 5 meeting.

Pope-Flynn will represent both the Town and County in talks to explore the possibility of a combined utility system, Winnsboro Mayor Roger Gaddy told The Voice following last week’s meeting.

“Whether it’s water and sewer or just water,” Gaddy said following the meeting, “both the Town and County will have to put some money into the project.”

“For Fairfield County to move forward, we’re going to have to address our public infrastructure needs and deficiencies,” County Council Chairman Billy Smith told the Voice this week. “And with The Town of Winnsboro as our greatest capacity provider and the County with the most resources, that means working together,” Smith said.

“Fortunately, everyone seems to understand this need and to be willing to work together now, so we’ve got a great opportunity in front of us. Right now, we’re in the early stages of figuring out how to best work together, how to formalize that relationship and what all to involve. This could be a great thing for our County, but it will take a lot of work,

and we want to be sure we get it right.

Asked how soon concrete plans could begin to be put in place between the County and Town, Smith said he didn’t know.

“That depends on what all is involved after negotions are completed and a contract is finalized. Unfortunately, I don’t have a measure on how long that will take,” Smith said.

 

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