Walhalla still evaluating water options

A Walhalla leader says the reason that a recent meeting by the city council in nearby Westminster went behind closed doors was to take up whether that city would consider supplying potable water to Walhalla. Mayor Pro-tem Tjay Bagwell describes reaching out to Westminster as part of Walhalla’s due diligence in deciding the best way to secure his city’s future supply of drinking water. Bagwell says Walhalla is also entertaining proposal in which Seneca would become the supplier. But he admits that it looks like, for cost reasons, the Walhalla City Council will stick with its idea to go to an intake on Cane Creek/Lake Keowee and build a new treatment plant. And that’s in spite of a scenario in which it appears that Walhalla won’t qualify for outside grants to help deflect a treatment plant project cost that is liable to range between $16 and $18 million. “Those grants are mostly for cities and towns that are in absolute distress and Scott (Scott Parris, utilities director) has done a very good job, cutting costs, keeping the budget balanced, keeping Walhalla’s head above water, if you will, for a long time,…Bagwell said. 96.3/WGOG NEWS has learned that before a decision Walhalla anticipates a formal proposal from Seneca that’ll contain firmer cost estimates.