Forsyth County

Neighbors ordered to pay thousands for sewer fee

By Carl Willis
By Carl Willis

CUMMING, Ga. — A surprise bill for has one metro area community up in arms because city leaders say neighbors have to pay thousands to cover upgraded sewer services.

Channel 2’s Carl Willis found out that the homeowners only had a two-month notice to pay up.

"We knew there were things rumbling, but we didn't know it was imminent," homeowner Carolyn Betts said.

Residents in the Habersham neighborhoods in Cumming are facing a $6,250 connection fee just to keep their sewer service.

"I got a little teary-eyed. I'm not a crier, but it was a little much. The first thought I had was where am I going to come up with this money in two months' time?" homeowner Camille Farnsworth told Willis.

The city of Cumming recently took control of a private water treatment facility that it is now in the process of condemning after a fire in April. They say it's years past its lifespan.

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"Why is it all of a sudden an emergency? 'We need the money in two months.' Why didn't they plan for this?” Farnsworth said.

'I’m surprised they kept it in the dark this long. How long has it been in disrepair?" homeowner Gary McClure told Willis.

Neighbors got the notice in the mail telling them they'd have to pay thousands of dollars in just 60 days for a system they have already been paying into for years.

"They've been paying into a system, they've been connected to a system that over the past few years they should have a reasonable expectation that system was being maintained properly," Forsyth County Commissioner Laura Semanson told Willis.

In a statement, a city representative wrote: "The mayor and city council of Cumming understand that this is a very large sum of money and are very compassionate to the fact that paying this sum may present a hardship for some people."

They're offering a payment plan over 62 1/2 months and a reduction to $5,000 if the fee is paid in full by the end of July.

"We feel that this is an underhanded stunt," Betts said.

Cox Media Group

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