I missed the meeting this morning to write about Steve Earle and the Disco Biscuits, and I’m bummed, because it sounds like some pretty good back and forth went down between the different sides of the “should we allow private sewers” debate.
My understanding of what happened (and I haven’t gotten anyone from the COG on the phone yet):
The Special Issues Wastewater Committee approved a recommendation to prohibit private ownership of wastewater facilities, excluding industrial sites. So they can exist and be built by developers, but an agreement has to be there to turn over ownership and operation to a public utility or municipality. An amendment to exclude Awendaw, who have proposed a $28 million dollar private plant to serve the town, was voted down 8-6. Private contractors could work out a deal with a municipality to co-manage, but the plan would leave the public agency responsible if a private company goes out of business.
If the COG approves the recommendation, it’s good news for environmentalists and anti-sprawl folks, bad for developers in places like Awendaw.
