The Haralson County Water Authority this week accepted a bid of $1,711,844 dollars for the approximately 745- acres of property it owned on Old Ridgeway Road in unincorporated Haralson County.
The land was initially purchased in September of 2008 for more than $4.1M, and was once the site of a proposed 23-hundred acre reservoir that was hoped to combat water shortages in west Georgia and spur growth on the western fringe of metro Atlanta.
That project was reportedly stalled after an endangered species of mussels was discovered in the tributaries on the property. Recent testing suggests they are still there.
Haralson County Water Authority Finance Director Leamon Stephens said he believes the board of directors decided to sell the property at this time after determining the dam and reservoir project would never be feasible on that land.
The one bid accepted—of the three sent in– was made by MCG Investments Georgia LLC— and presented by Managing Member Jim Griffith, who currently owns additional property nearby.
The bid included some terms and conditions, and MCG could close on the property before June 30th.
Stephens says once completed, funds from the sale will be used to reduce long term debt of the authority.
