Supreme Court Settles South Carolina Sewer Debate

The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that Oconee County must abide by a 1976 voter-approved referendum that limits funding for sewers, as well as limiting the users’ fees, federal and state grants, and bonds payable from revenues produced from the operation of a wastewater plant.

In 2004, Susie Cornelius, a resident of Mountain Rest, S.C., pointed out that the county’s master plan for infrastructure development along Interstate 85 was to be paid for using property tax dollars. The plan violated the 1976 referendum, and thus the case was sent to the Supreme Court.

The ruling found in favor of Cornelius, who is running for the South Carolina House District 1 seat. The court also ordered the county to pay up to $9,450 of Cornelius’ legal fees.

The Supreme Court pointed out that the referendum does not prevent the county from contracting with other public or private entities to provide sewer services. According to Anderson Independent MailOconee County has $609,000 in the budget to go to the cities that are to be the main users of any wastewater treatment plant. The money can be given to operate sewer plants, providing that the county does not become directly involved.

Source: Anderson Indpendent Mail