AMWA

AMWA Asks For Photos of Lake Athens

Press release

The Athens Municipal Water Authority is seeking quality, high-resolution photographs of beautiful Lake Athens for use on their public website. Realizing the wealth of local talent that exists in and around Athens, we would like to offer you the opportunity to expose your photographic work to a worldwide audience.

Selected photos will be featured on www.athenstxwater.org either as a Feature Gallery Image on the website home page, or as a smaller Hot Spot image on the site, and, with the photographer’s permission, would be stored in a public gallery of photos within the site. No financial compensation is to be provided. Each photographer will receive photo credit on the site. Continue reading “AMWA Asks For Photos of Lake Athens”

Athens City Council OKs Rate Study on 3-2 Vote

By Michael V. Hannigan

Monday night, the Athens City Council voted 3-2 to have NewGen Strategies & Solutions conduct a water and wastewater rate study.

Officials said the city tries to conduct a rate study every five years and the new study will be the fifth since 1991. The last rate study was completed six years ago in 2008.

Council members Joe Whatley and Charles Elliott voted against the rate study.

Whatley was the most vocal opponent, saying the council should delay the study one year because of changes brought by the new contract with the Athens Municipal Water Authority (AMWA). The new contract shifts the burden of paying for maintenance and repairs at the water plant to the city. Continue reading “Athens City Council OKs Rate Study on 3-2 Vote”

New Negotiations for City and AMWA

There’s a small piece of news that could end up meaning big results in the controversy between the City of Athens and the Athens Municipal Water Authority (AMWA).

After coming out of executive session last night, the Athens City Council authorized two council members to meet with two members of the AMWA board to start working on a solution.

The council did not name specific council members in case there had to be changes for schedule reasons.

In December 2013, AMWA filed a lawsuit against the city alleging the City is in breach of contract over who should pay for the operation and maintenance of Lake Athens, the dam, and the water treatment and transportation facilities. That lawsuit is still in the courts.

The controversy escalated until the May election became a referendum on the subject with the existence of AMWA on the line. In that election, AMWA not only won the right to continue, but also two former AMWA board members were elected to the City Council.

The details regarding the meetings between AMWA and the City have not been made public.