Later in April, the board said it would not vote to rescind the intergovernmental agreement and would wait for more information. In early May, commissioners discussed cost estimates for expanding the Franklin Springs wastewater treatment plant, citing a range of $20-24 million that officials said would keep rising.
IssueFranklin Countyunder consideration
Franklin County board passes Broad River resolution, keeps wastewater agreement with Franklin Springs in place
Residents have complained about odor and pollution risk from a rendering plant in Franklin Springs tied to a county wastewater agreement, and the board's response so far is a river-protection resolution rather than canceling the agreement.
Latest
May 5, 2025: Franklin Springs wastewater treatment plant expansion cost estimates and IGA
What happens next
No next step has been documented.
At a glance
What this means now
The story
A resident raised concern to the Franklin County Board of Commissioners in February 2025 about a rendering plant operating in Franklin Springs.
The following week, commissioners discussed a wastewater treatment agreement with the City of Franklin Springs; one commissioner said the board had been given no information on a rendering plant.
In late March, the board discussed a proposed resolution to protect the Broad River from impacts of the rendering plant and wastewater plant. The chair said she had spoken with Madison County, which wanted to join the resolution.
On April 7, the board approved the Broad River resolution by a 5-0 vote. At the same meeting, a resident urged commissioners to stop the rendering plant, hire outside legal counsel, and cancel the county's intergovernmental agreement with Franklin Springs over the wastewater plant.
Later in April, the board said it would not vote to rescind the intergovernmental agreement and would wait for more information. In early May, commissioners discussed cost estimates for expanding the Franklin Springs wastewater treatment plant, citing a range of $20-24 million that officials said would keep rising.
What happened
How this issue got here
Open any step for its supporting record. A proposal remains labeled as proposed until later evidence establishes an outcome.
DiscusseddiscussedFranklin Springs wastewater treatment plant expansion cost estimates and IGA
somewhere between $20-$24
million, but that number will increase every year
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Franklin Springs wastewater treatment plant expansion cost estimates and IGA
somewhere between $20-$24 million, but that number will increase every year
Appeared on agendaproposedIntergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with City of Franklin Springs
IGA – City of Franklin Springs
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Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with City of Franklin Springs
IGA – City of Franklin Springs
DiscusseddiscussedIntergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with City of Franklin Springs on wastewater treatment
We will not be taking a vote
to rescind the IGA we will wait for more information.
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Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with City of Franklin Springs on wastewater treatment
We will not be taking a vote to rescind the IGA we will wait for more information.
ApprovedconfirmedResolution regarding the Broad River (Franklin Springs wastewater treatment plant intergovernmental agreement)
Chair Long Read the Resolution and asked for a motion to approve, deny, and/or
table.
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Resolution regarding the Broad River (Franklin Springs wastewater treatment plant intergovernmental agreement)
Chair Long Read the Resolution and asked for a motion to approve, deny, and/or table.
Appeared on agendaproposedResolution concerning the river
b. Resolution - River
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Resolution concerning the river
b. Resolution - River
DiscusseddiscussedPublic comment on proposed Franklin Springs wastewater treatment plant and intergovernmental agreement (IGA)
Andrew Crump — Stop Rendering plant in Franklin Springs. IGA with Franklin Springs
Section 16. Seek outside legal counsel and cancel this contract.
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Public comment on proposed Franklin Springs wastewater treatment plant and intergovernmental agreement (IGA)
Andrew Crump — Stop Rendering plant in Franklin Springs. IGA with Franklin Springs Section 16. Seek outside legal counsel and cancel this contract.
DiscusseddiscussedProposed resolution to protect the Broad River from rendering plant/wastewater plant impacts
Chair Long spoke on Resolution and stated she had spoken with Todd Higdon in
Madison County and they want to be a part of the Resolution.
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Proposed resolution to protect the Broad River from rendering plant/wastewater plant impacts
Chair Long spoke on Resolution and stated she had spoken with Todd Higdon in Madison County and they want to be a part of the Resolution.
Appeared on agendaproposedResolution regarding the river
Resolution - River
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Resolution regarding the river
Resolution - River
DiscusseddiscussedRendering plant / wastewater treatment agreement with City of Franklin Springs
We have not been given any information on a
rendering plant.
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Rendering plant / wastewater treatment agreement with City of Franklin Springs
We have not been given any information on a rendering plant.
DiscusseddiscussedCitizen concern about rendering plant in Franklin Springs
Tyler Owenby-Martin, GA: Rendering plant in Franklin Springs
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Citizen concern about rendering plant in Franklin Springs
Tyler Owenby-Martin, GA: Rendering plant in Franklin Springs
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