DeKalb County advances sewer upgrades and utility equipment purchases

DeKalb County advances sewer upgrades and utility equipment purchasesThe Board of Commissioners greenlit a series of wastewater investments, including a public-private financing agreement for sewer upgrades and the procurement of specialized maintenance vehicles to address collection system needs.

The board approved a $682,000 agreement with Westbury Family LP for the construction and financing of sewer upgrades in Districts 5 and 7.

Commissioners authorized a septic-to-sewer extension on Forrest Road requiring 300 linear feet of new infrastructure to replace failing residential septic systems.

The Department of Watershed Management will receive a new $412,880 Vac-Con sewer vacuum truck for unclogging manholes and residential lines.

Over $750,000 in heavy construction equipment, including wheel loaders and excavators, was approved for utility maintenance and excavation projects.

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved a package of wastewater infrastructure and utility equipment investments during its April 14, 2026, meeting, aiming to bolster the Department of Watershed Management's collection system maintenance and expansion efforts. Among the key approvals was a $682,000 agreement with Westbury Family LP for the construction and financing of sewer upgrades spanning Commission Districts 5 and 7. The board also unanimously approved a septic-to-sewer petition for residents along Forrest Road in Pine Lake. According to Reginald Wells of Watershed Management, the project will require a 300-linear-foot extension to connect properties with failing septic systems to the county's public sewer network, as the current systems cannot be repaired or reinstalled. To support ongoing maintenance, the board authorized several capital equipment purchases for the utility. This includes a $412,880 contract with Vac-Con, Inc. for a new sewer vacuum and hydro-excavation truck equipped with a hot shot jetting machine, which will be deployed to clear clogged sewer manholes and residential lines throughout the county. Additionally, the utility secured approval for $757,539 in heavy construction equipment through cooperative agreements. The procurement includes two Komatsu rubber tire wheel loaders valued at $489,396 for debris clearing, and three Kubota compact excavators and track loaders totaling $268,143 for worksite excavation and maintenance. In a separate utility-related administrative move, the board opted to defer action on a proposed DeKalb County Water Customer Bill of Rights until the first meeting in May.