Bulloch County commissioners approve amended sewer agreement with Bryan County

Bulloch County commissioners recently approved an amended water and sewer service agreement with Bryan County. This agreement extends Bulloch County's deadline to purchase 250,000 gallons per day of sewer capacity from Bryan County's wastewater reclamation facility to approximately February 2027 and separates the capacity purchase from the cost of constructing the sewer conveyance system. County Manager Chris Eldridge stated that this separation would allow Bulloch County to secure approximately $4 million in federal Environmental Protection Agency funding without upfront local investment, supporting commercial development along the I-16 corridor by enabling public sewer service for retail businesses, hotels, and other developments.

In a separate but significant discussion, Dr. Frank Davis addressed the commissioners during public comments, urging them to delay a final decision on permanently banning data centers in unincorporated Bulloch County. The proposed prohibition is currently undergoing the county's zoning amendment process and was scheduled for review by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Dr. Davis argued that postponing the ban until the current moratorium expires on December 31 would allow commissioners more time to evaluate the economic benefits, such as tax revenue, against concerns like electricity demand and water consumption. He highlighted modern closed-loop cooling systems for water efficiency and Georgia Power requirements designed to prevent existing customers from bearing the cost of new data center infrastructure. The commissioners did not take immediate action or respond to Dr. Davis's request, with the Planning and Zoning Commission slated to review the proposed ordinance and make a recommendation before it returns to the Board of Commissioners for a final decision.