The Herald’s editor observed: “[T]he truth is that past officials allowed this problem to reach critical mass by simply ignoring it over the advice of officials who warned the day was coming when the sewer system would become a massive burden”. 18 A reporter, presumably concerned that the city commission would shirk its responsibility, wrote:

For the past 66 years, 19 mayors and numerous city managers and commissioners have been kicking this sewer ‘can’ down the road. Today the impact of potential fines for environmental damage increases its financial impact beyond the cost of replacement and repair. History shows the cost of a solution will not get cheaper. The money necessary for appropriate action can only be generated by the same solutions previous can-kickers faced: user fees, grants, matching funds, and loans. 19

Any prospect for delaying construction dissolved when the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), in October 2020, issued an administrative order requiring the city to accomplish 85% treatment of the remaining combined sewer flow by June 30, 2025. The city, should it fail to meet the deadline, will be subject to fines or citations from the EPD, as well as lawsuits, which could be filed by that agency and/or other interested parties. 20 The city could be fined up to $50,000 a day for as long as it is in violation of that directive. 21

The commission followed staff’s recommendation to have an independent engineer evaluate Constantine’s report to determine whether there might be some opportunity for savings. The engineer recommended that the city not expand the treatment plant in Phase I, not construct a new combined sewer overflow facility, and that the capacity of existing ditches, canals and holding ponds be expanded. With these modifications, Phase I was expected to cost $135 million. 22

There was $5.4 million available from previous SPLOSTs.

The commission aggressively pursued grants from the state and federal government. The city received $3.8 million from the Community Development Block Grant Mitigation program, a $4 million Water Resources Development Act grant, which requires a local match of $1.3 million, and $12.2 million in CARES Act funding, which was distributed through the Georgia State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. 23

Committing ¾ ($15.3 million) of the $20.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds received by the city to the Combined Sewer Separation (CSS) project was difficult and controversial. 24 Explaining the decision when interviewed for Georgia Trend’s annual survey of Albany and Dougherty County, Bo said: It’s very disappointing because this ARPA money is maybe a once in a generation or once in a lifetime opportunity that funds were allocated directly to local governments. We are accessing what funds we can from the federal and state government, and we appreciate all the help we can get. 25

The city must generate the balance of the $135 million price tag. The commission, during the most recent SPLOST negotiations, sought the county’s participation, emphasizing 82% of the county’s residents live within the city and would be directly impacted by rate increases. The city offered to retain the (inequitable) 64/36 split if the county would agree to designate the first $20 million collected to the CSS project, with the understanding that the city would allocate an additional $10 million from its share. 26 The county eventually agreed to contribute $3.5 million to the CSS project. 27

The city has allocated $21 million from SPLOST VIII to the CSS project. The Finance Department anticipates $23 million will be collected in various fees and rates paid by customers, and the city recently secured a $25 million Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA). 28 Citizens have been inconvenienced as yards have been damaged and roads have been bulldozed and destroyed. 29 This temporary disruption in residents’ daily lives will rectify a situation that should have been addressed decades ago and will benefit future generations.

Ardurra’s 30 project manager recently informed the commission construction is on schedule to meet the deadline for achieving 85% separation of the stormwater and sewage systems by June 30, 2025. 31

The city has received praise for the progress achieved, especially in the wake of a pandemic and encumbered by escalating construction costs. From one article explaining why Albany was not included in the Georgia Water Coalition’s annual list of the state’s top offenders:

This is due to the significant progress being made by the city of Albany in rectifying the issues caused by old infrastructure in need of upgrade and replacement. Lift station failures have been drastically decreased by the installation of new pumps and warning systems, as well as backup systems. The Combined Sewer Overflow system remains a constant contributor of pollution to the Flint River, but the city of Albany and EPD have settled on a new permit (supported by Flint Riverkeeper) that will require significant improvements in the amount of untreated or partially treated wastewater reaching the river via the CSO system. Due to the substantial progress by the city of Albany in correcting sewer infrastructure, this item did not need to be listed in the 2021 Dirty Dozen Report. 32

Gordon Rodgers recently stated, “We are exceptionally pleased that the city of Albany is forging ahead and relatively well-funded to get untreated sewage separated from stormwater in its jurisdiction”. Rodgers added, “The fact that the city, Georgia EPD, downstream citizens, and Flint Riverkeeper were able to avoid litigation, and simply move forward with the work is gratifying. The governor, Congressman Bishop, the mayor, and many experts working behind the scenes deserve mountains of credit.” 33