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Bibb County puts Macon Water Authority in charge of stormwater system, gives $14 million for repairs

Bibb commissioners put the Macon Water Authority in charge of their troubled stormwater system and awarded $14 million to fix it.

MACON, Ga. — When the sky opens up in Macon, water often overwhelms the road and causes damage that crews are working to repair days later.

Last week, Mayor Robert Reichert said he was helping pick up bricks on Georgia Avenue after storms washed down the street.

"We had a inch and a half of rain in less than an hour and it completely overwhelmed the stormwater system," Reichert said. 

In Sept. 2018, the federal Environmental Protections Agency cited the county's storm water system for more than 40 violations.

RELATED: Macon's stormwater system cited by Environmental Protection Agency for 40 violations

"There's absolutely no doubt we need stormwater improvements," Reichert said. 

Mayor Reichert sponsored an intergovernmental agreement with the Macon Water Authority, which says the authority would be responsible for running, maintaining, and improving the stormwater system.

Another proposal would transfer nearly $14 million from the county's SPLOST fund to repair the system, making the authority responsible for fixing the violations. 

Commissioner Bert Bivins spoke out against the idea.

"We're just shirking our responsibility and I think the water authority might have been intimidated into going into this" Bivins said. 

The commission members approved the agreement and the fund. Bivins is the only commissioner who opposed. 

The water authority says citizens could see on average a $5 - $7 monthly increase on the water bill to help pay for stormwater repairs in their area.

The contract says the water authority must report the progress of the repairs to the county.

The county has already earmarked nearly $25 million dollars of SPLOST funds for stormwater management.

RELATED: Strong storms bring heavy rains, flooding to Central Georgia

RELATED: Storm washes out bridge at Macon dog park

RELATED: 'It came on pretty heavy:' Severe storms leave Central Georgia counties with damage

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