SUMMERDALE - At the June town council meeting, Summerdale council approved Fabre Engineering & Surveying to move forward on designing a proposal for a water system master plan. The proposal is expected to be completed at the end of June for town council to discuss further during the July workshop and council.

“One thing we discussed when we met with [Fabre representatives] was helping us to establish a long-term master plan for our water system, and also rates and incremental increases,” said Mayor David Wilson. “Our water rates haven’t increased now since 2016, so five years, and the way it was before was we had a four or five year incremental increase in our water cost to help offset the production and the manpower for the water and the upkeep of the system.”

Frank Fabre, president of Fabre Engineering & Surveying, explained to create water system master plans he and his team project a municipality’s or county’s growth rate based off growth rates from 20 years. The projected incremental increases are developed based on growth rate projections, cost of interest, and what infrastructure will be needed as well as when it will be needed.

“First we give you a scope of what we want to do, and then if you like the scope we give you a man hour estimate of cost of fees,” Fabre said. “The proposal doesn’t cost a dime to get, we’ll give you a project and a cost, and then if you’d like to talk, then we’ll enter into an agreement.”

Wilson said with the growth happening in and around Summerdale, he believes they have reached the point where a water system master plan is needed.

Along with the development of the water system master plan, Wilson hopes to discuss a potential regional detention pond with Fabre in the future. Wilson is looking to enter into a joint venture with the county to develop the large detention pond to help with drainage in Summerdale.

“We’re so flat, there’s nowhere for our water to go,” he said. “It’s a crucial aspect of the development of any of these areas where storm water management is an issue.”

Fabre Engineering & Surveying has developed multiple regional detention ponds in and around the area. Wilson hopes to open the door to enter into a joint project with Baldwin County for a detention pond at a later date.