Athens City Council met in committees Monday to discuss a customer agreement between Athens and the Le-Ax Water Filtration Plant.
Service Safety Director Andy Stone said that about 30 years ago, when the city of Athens annexed the Ridges, several customers along Dairy Lane were being provided water by Le-Ax.
Stone said there is a law stating if a city annexes an area that is served by a rural water district, the rural water district has the right to keep those customers unless they reach an agreement with the city, ensuring the city cannot take away their customer base without compensation.
Stone said since the city annexed the Ridges, Council has passed an ordinance which requires water and sewer service to be provided by the city.
Stone said his office is looking to buy eight customers from Le-Ax outright and is looking for the city to approve an appropriation of $178,000 to Le-Ax and to approve an agreement with Le-Ax to release all of the current and future customers on Dairy Lane.
