November 12th ACC Mayor & Commission Work Session

Hello, this is Cole Hendricks and Liam England from the Policy Analysis Team. This week, the ACC Commission met for a work session, where they heard updates from ACC committees and other groups on various projects throughout the county. Most notable were presentations on the Leisure Services Department’s resident satisfaction study and the future of the Rock Hill Quarry.

Leisure Services Master Plan: Engagement Study Report

For its first in-depth presentation of the work session, Lisa Paradis of the consulting firm BerryDunn presented survey results and analysis on ACC’s Leisure Services Department (parks and recreation) and emphasized how the results will inform the department’s future development. Through a combination of in-person engagement events, online outreach, and surveys and focus groups, BerryDunn gauged how ACC residents felt about the quality and quantity of Leisure Services in the county. 

This process was part of Leisure Services’ “Master Plan,” a broader undertaking by the department to grasp where ACC’s parks and recreation services are lacking and what the department should do to make up for the gaps. The department has been historically successful; in 2023, the Georgia Recreation and Park Association recognized the ACC’s Leisure Services Department as an outstanding recreation agency in the state.

Across the two surveys and multiple public events conducted by BerryDunn, there were some consistent trends in resident sentiment and concerns. East-ACC zip codes (particularly 30601 and 30605) reported greater satisfaction with overall services than some West-ACC ones (particularly 30622). Additionally, most residents felt that multi-use paths and nature trails were the most important of Leisure Services’ amenities, and reported these as high-priority services. A point of contention was that many respondents felt that Leisure Services needed to do more to inform people about facilities and services in their area. Furthermore, 28% of respondents who reported that they did not use Leisure Services’ facilities stated that they did not feel safe doing so. 

BerryDunn also presented a large amount of specific feedback on facilities and services residents felt the department needed to improve, and suggested new additions as well. Residents requested improvements regarding accessibility and American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance as well as suggestions for specific facilities like the Lyndon House Arts Center. The accessibility concerns are unsurprising given that, earlier this year, an Athens parent and UGA professor garnered media attention when she called for ACC’s summer programs to be more inclusive after her daughter was excluded due to her disability.

The presentation concluded with some key takeaways that Leisure Services plans to take into consideration as they undergo the analysis phase of their Master Plan, where the department plans to conduct further internal research into its own services and the services offered in other surrounding counties to see where they might make improvements. Taking care of existing parks and facilities, improving trails, access, and connectivity, continuing  maintenance, and providing additional resources for programs and activities were all listed as areas of improvement.

Some commissioners offered additional insights based on their constituents’ concerns. Commissioner Thornton pointed out that, while residents in the 30601 zip code within her district reported the highest satisfaction with nature and outdoor programs , there are still areas in her district lacking public green spaces to host such programs. Commissioner Houle suggested that, especially in months with shorter days, parks should also be kept open after dark. Houle specifically voiced concerns that constituents, sometimes children, were being detained by law enforcement for staying in the parks after dark.

Ultimately, the commission is likely to play a large role in the final stages of the Leisure Service Department’s plan to revitalize ACC’s parks and recreation services, fielding budget allocations and approving construction proposals that the department puts forward in the future. 

Quarry

The second and final presentation of the afternoon concerned the Rock Hill Quarry. ACC purchased the quarry in 2020 for $23,000,000 with the intent of using it as a water reservoir to  meet the needs of ACC over the next 100 years. It will likely take decades to bring the quarry into operation as a reservoir, and ACC currently leases the quarry to a materials company which operates it.

During droughts,  Athens-Clarke County uses the Bear Creek Reservoir, which it maintains and uses alongside Barrow, Jackson, and Oconee counties. During previous severe droughts in 2007, 2012, and 2016 the counties almost  wholly depleted the reservoir. Because of this, the Bear Creek Reservoir will not be able to support growing water needs as all four counties continue to expand in population and require more water. In the event of a future drought, the quarry reservoir would be able to provide double the amount of water previously available to ACC through the Bear Creek Reservoir. Unlike the Bear Creek reservoir, access to the water will not be shared with other counties.

Steven “Hugh” Ogle, Assistant Director of Public Utilities, presented the preliminary, high-level proposal for bringing the quarry reservoir into operation, which includes constructing miles of pipe to connect the J.G. Beacham Water Treatment Plant to the quarry. Two new pump stations would be constructed at the treatment plant and the quarry, at a cost of at least $50 million each. The combined estimate for the project is $259,624,717, or more than a quarter of a billion dollars. Mayor Girtz noted that there is a precedent for water projects with such a large price tag; around 10 years ago, a project to complete upgrades to the treatment plant and construct three new wastewater treatment plants was financed via a $200+ million, 20-year bond. Mr. Ogle also stated that Public Utilities would pursue any available grants, and if necessary, the project could be financed by a low-interest loan.  

Commissioner Taylor expressed concern that ongoing quarry blasting has negatively impacted her constituents in District 2, as well as other predominantly Black communities, and damaged their homes. She noted that funding this project without providing redress for those affected by quarry blasting would not be well-received by the public. Commission Thorton agreed, emphasizing the need to prevent situations like Pittard Road, where area residents—ignored by the ACC government—relied on years of civic advocacy to secure PFAS testing, which ultimately uncovered previously unknown levels of the deadly "forever chemical" in their water. In response, Ogle informed them that a third-party investigation of the effects of quarry blasting on the community is ongoing and that the findings will be shared with the Commission upon completion. 

Ogle concluded his presentation by explaining that a detailed proposal and cost estimate for the quarry project will be presented to the commission in the next 6 months as part of the Public Utilities Division’s Service Delivery Plan for 2025–2030. While the quarry project has a daunting price tag, the Commission and Public Utilities division will continue to evaluate financing options in order to implement this important effort to safeguard Athens’ water supply.