In August 2026, the council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city to borrow up to $5,000,000 from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to finance Phase II of the water plant upgrade.
IssueLavoniaapproved
Lavonia council approves borrowing up to $5 million for water plant Phase II
The city is moving ahead with a multi-phase overhaul of its water treatment plant, backed by state loans, after earlier discussing a joint water plant with Franklin County and the Hart County Water Authority.
Latest
August 3, 2026: GEFA Phase II resolution to borrow up to $5,000,000 for water plant upgrade
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At a glance
What this means now
The story
In November 2025, Lavonia's mayor addressed a potential Memorandum of Understanding among the City of Lavonia, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, and the Hart County Water Authority concerning construction of a large-scale water treatment plant.
SourcesMinutes
By April 2026, the council was discussing taste and odor issues in Lavonia's own water system, which sometimes creates an earthy smell, and visited an Anderson County water treatment facility to look at potential solutions.
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In May 2026, the council discussed a water plant capacity upgrade planned in phases, with Phase 1 and Phase 2 each described as $5 million projects carrying about $4 million in loan forgiveness built into each.
SourcesMinutes
Bids for Phase 1 were set to open June 16, and by July the city had selected Sol Construction, LLC, a contractor with an established prior working relationship with the city, to complete Phase 1 of the water plant improvements.
In August 2026, the council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city to borrow up to $5,000,000 from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to finance Phase II of the water plant upgrade.
SourcesMinutes
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.
Appeared on agendaproposedGEFA Phase II update
GEFA – Phase II update
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GEFA Phase II update
GEFA – Phase II update
Supporting record
AgendaAgendaGEFA – Phase II updateApprovedconfirmedGEFA Phase II resolution to borrow up to $5,000,000 for water plant upgrade
Mayor Umbehant presented a resolution authorizing the City of Lavonia to borrow up to
$5,000,000 from Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to finance Phase II of
the water plant upgrade.
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GEFA Phase II resolution to borrow up to $5,000,000 for water plant upgrade
Mayor Umbehant presented a resolution authorizing the City of Lavonia to borrow up to $5,000,000 from Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to finance Phase II of the water plant upgrade.
DiscusseddiscussedWater Treatment Plant Phase 1 bid award to Sol Construction, LLC
The City has selected Sol Construction,
LLC, which has an established prior working relationship with the city, to complete Phase
1 of the water treatment plant improvements.
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Water Treatment Plant Phase 1 bid award to Sol Construction, LLC
The City has selected Sol Construction, LLC, which has an established prior working relationship with the city, to complete Phase 1 of the water treatment plant improvements.
DiscusseddiscussedWater Treatment Plant Phase 1 project bidding
will be opened on June 16 at 10:00 AM.
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Water Treatment Plant Phase 1 project bidding
will be opened on June 16 at 10:00 AM.
DiscusseddiscussedWater plant capacity upgrade project, Phases 1-3
Phase 1 and Phase 2 are each $5 million projects with approximately $4 million in loan
forgiveness built into each
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Water plant capacity upgrade project, Phases 1-3
Phase 1 and Phase 2 are each $5 million projects with approximately $4 million in loan forgiveness built into each
DiscusseddiscussedWater taste/odor issue in Lavonia's water system; council visit to Anderson County water treatment facility for potential solutions
to address
taste and odor issues
in Lavonia's water system that sometimes creates an earthy smell.
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Water taste/odor issue in Lavonia's water system; council visit to Anderson County water treatment facility for potential solutions
to address taste and odor issues in Lavonia's water system that sometimes creates an earthy smell.
DiscusseddiscussedMayor's remarks on potential Memorandum of Understanding among City of Lavonia, Franklin County, and Hart County Water Authority for a large-scale water treatment plant
I want to address the potential Memorandum of Understanding between the City Lavonia,
the Franklin Co. BOC, and the Hart County Water Authority concerning the building of a
large-scale water treatment plant.
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Mayor's remarks on potential Memorandum of Understanding among City of Lavonia, Franklin County, and Hart County Water Authority for a large-scale water treatment plant
I want to address the potential Memorandum of Understanding between the City Lavonia, the Franklin Co. BOC, and the Hart County Water Authority concerning the building of a large-scale water treatment plant.
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