CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — City officials spent much of Tuesday’s work session discussing infrastructure needs and grant activity, including a proposed generator purchase to support the city’s wastewater system.
The meeting, held April 7 at City Hall, comes ahead of the council’s regular April 13 meeting and follows a shift toward holding work sessions the week prior to regular meetings.
Generator discussion highlights infrastructure concerns
The first item on the agenda focused on the potential purchase of a portable generator for the city’s water and wastewater operations.
Joe Deputy, a project manager with ESG, said the city needs a multi-phase generator capable of handling different voltages across multiple sites, with a minimum capacity of 60 kilowatts to meet demands at its largest lift stations.
Deputy said portability would allow crews to deploy the generator where needed, but warned that certain locations — particularly low-lying areas — could become inaccessible during severe weather events.
He pointed to increased demand at the Clarkesville Elementary lift station following development at Sutton Terrace, noting a rise in grease and wastewater flow tied to apartment use.
“If we have a power outage because of a flood issue and that yard is flooded down there, there’s no way you get a generator down in that hole,” Deputy said.
To address the need, Deputy said the city is considering used generators from rental companies such as Sunbelt and United Rentals, estimating costs between $25,000 and $30,000. He said those units are typically well-maintained and offer a more cost-effective alternative to new equipment.
Councilman Blake Rainwater emphasized that a portable generator alone would not solve the problem without additional infrastructure.
“We do need a portable generator, but we’ve got to be able to have the money at the same time to get all these locations with transfer switches,” Rainwater said, estimating the added cost at around $8,000.
Rainwater and Deputy both stressed the importance of installing automatic transfer switches and, in some cases, permanent generators at key sites to ensure uninterrupted service during outages.
Deputy said updated quotes are needed before the council can move forward, adding he hopes to bring revised pricing back for consideration at the council’s regular meeting.
No new update on 555 Monroe Street property
The council also had an update scheduled on the 555 Monroe Street property — the site tied to the city’s proposed hotel and fire station project — but no discussion took place.
Mayor Franklin Brown said there was no new information to share and indicated the topic would be addressed in an upcoming executive session related to real estate.
Grants update includes wins, losses and pending applications
Under new business, Grants Manager Sara Burke provided an update on several recent applications and awards.
Burke said the city was not selected for two recent funding opportunities, including a Levitt Foundation music festival grant and a $25,000 fireworks grant intended to support fire department equipment.
However, the city did receive approval on documentation for a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council grant for the police department. Burke said Police Chief Danny Clouatre is now working to finalize quotes, potentially for license plate reader technology.
The city also received approximately $12,700 through a separate grant tied to training initiatives.
Clouatre clarified that the funding comes through the Department of Homeland Security and is focused on “target hardening,” or improving security at churches, organizations and other mass gathering locations.
“The whole purpose of the grant was to provide some way to protect,” Clouatre said, noting the funding will support equipment, training and scenario-based preparedness.
Burke said the city is still awaiting a decision on a Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank grant tied to improvements on the downtown square.
She also provided an update on a $2.7 million Department of Natural Resources grant application submitted in partnership with the Soque River Watershed Association. The project ranked 20th out of 29 applications.
“It doesn’t mean our application itself was bad,” Burke said. “It just means it didn’t align precisely with what they were trying to fund.”
Burke said the materials developed for that application — including narratives, photos and maps — can be reused for future grant opportunities.
She also reported submitting an application earlier Tuesday for a Firehouse Subs grant, prioritizing funding for fire department protective equipment due to wear and damage. A second application for a police ATV was not completed after the application portal reached its limit and closed.
The council also received updates on previously awarded funding, including a $20,000 CJCC grant and a pending $1.6 million infrastructure request tied to downtown improvements.
Council members are expected to take up several of the discussed items at their April 13 meeting.
