Jul. 28--Athens City Council President Ronnie Marks said at Monday's council meeting that the city is going to have to go back and study all budgets and appropriations in light of the announced closing of Pilgrim's Pride poultry processing plant.

"We were hit hard last week," said Marks. "We're going to have to meet and discuss what we're going to do with this budget."

With the closure of Pilgrim's Pride, the Electric Department is losing $1.2 million per year or 1.3 percent of its budget.

Utilities General Manager Gary Scroggins said electricity is minimal compared to the loss of water and wastewater fees. "If we don't sell electricity we don't buy it," he said.

The Water Department will lose 12.3 percent of its budget, or a little more than half a million. Wastewater will lose $1 million in revenue and the Gas Department will lose $1.3 million for a total loss to the city of $4 million.

"We have asked department heads to have budgets prepared by Aug. 21," said Marks. "We will try to get most of the discussions over by Labor Day. The most critical things are the Water and Wastewater budgets. We have to hit this thing head on. If John (Water/Wastewater Manager John Stockton) can be ready by then, we'll schedule the others after."

The city is in the process of building a $24 million wastewater plant. The old plant is worn out and the city is under court order to bring treatment into compliance with environmental standards, according to Stockton.

Another wide-ranging project that is predicted to take up to 10 years to complete is installing city sewers in at five subdivisions. The council held a series of five public meetings to inform residents of what is required of each household. If the city brings sewers into a neighborhood, each resident would be charged an impact fee of $2,400 and $20 per month thereafter.

The council is asking interested residents to show their earnest intentions by putting down $500 up front.

"We are going to send a letter out to each and tell them it is critical that they sign a financial commitment by August 28," said Marks. "We need to know if it is economically feasible to do any of the projects. If there is not a high percentage of people, it would be difficult for us to go ahead.