MEIGS- In 2023, citizens in the small community of Meigs reported struggling to get running water after a collapsed water main. The problem was only exacerbated as pressure was placed on other pipes, causing them to collapse. It quickly became apparent the entire system needed to be redone, but the citizens of Meigs could not do it on their own. 

With the help of new city manager Rhonda Brown, Meigs has now secured two loans totaling $8.1 million for water and wastewater infrastructure. 

On January 27, 2025, Meigs was awarded a $5,383,100 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan and a $2,668,900 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors. 

The $5,383,100 CWSRF loan will finance the upgrade of the water pollution control plant. The project’s goal is to improve the reliability and efficiency of the plant and ensure compliance with water quality standards. The $2,668,900 SWSRF loan will finance the construction of a new, elevated water storage tank and install a water main. The new, elevated storage tank will provide capacity at a higher elevation to provide additional water pressure with a goal of improving water quality and system reliability. 

Securing the loans was no easy task, as Brown admitted the former city manager dropped the ball on the grant. 

“This should have happened two years ago,” she said. “I had to get with the council and we had to start from scratch.” 

Brown met with the city engineer again, going step-by-step to ensure all the information necessary was provided to the GEFA board of directors, in hopes of getting a loan. 

“Our city needed this,” Brown said. “We needed these funds, and we needed water infrastructure. I had to do the procurement process, but everything we needed to do to get these funds, we did it.” 

The funds do require Meigs to pay back the 30-year loan on a reduced interest rate, but Brown is working on a plan to make sure taxpayers’ money is spent wisely, and the rates don’t spike dramatically. 

The CWSRF loan specifies that Meigs will pay 2.48% on the 30-year loan, which qualifies for a reduced interest rate. In total, the city will be eligible for principal forgiveness of up to $4,000,000. 

Similarly, the DWSRF loan specifies the city will pay 2.48% on its 30-year loan, which also qualifies for a reduced interest rate and is eligible for principal forgiveness of up to $2,402,010. 

Brown explained the City is still signing some of the documents required to begin the process. However once it is finished, they will then begin engineering the long-awaited water main improvements. 

“We are trying to get this project on the way as soon as possible,” she said. 

In order to get the project up and moving, Brown and her team have had to validate some of the city’s clientele and have come across some challenges. 

“We have found that these are clients who are using water, but aren’t getting a bill, so we are working to ensure the records are right,” she said. 

These records are vital at a time when new infrastructure is being built, because the water rates may temporarily rise to help pay back the principal interest. 

“The purpose for the rate increase is the GEFA loan we are getting,” Brown said. “There will be a forgiveness, so the rate increase is only for the unforgiven portion of the GEFA loan.” 

Brown has also discussed using SPLOST funds to help pay for the unforgiven portion of the loan but wants residents to be aware that money from the increased rates will be used in tandem with the SPLOST funds. 

“There’s a strong possibility, if we increase the rates, it’ll only be for a short amount of time because we will have the SPLOST funds as well to help pay back that loan,” Brown assured. 

There is no firm rate yet, as Brown has asked for a rate analysis to help create a fair cost for all involved inside and outside the city limits. 

“I’m looking out for our citizens,” she said. “We want to keep these rates as low as possible. Please know any increase will be very temporary. As soon as our debt is paid back, they will go back down.” 

In the meantime, Brown advised citizens to seek out organizations to help elderly and those on fixed income with water rate billing.