The Newton County Board of Education formally agreed Tuesday to settle its dispute with the Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority over the payment of sewer tap fees at the new Newton High School, being built off Crowell Road.
The water authority had approved and signed the agreement at its Sept. 19 meeting.

The agreement states that the water and sewerage authority charged the school board water and sewer connection fees in order to extend lines to the new school. The board protested the fees in October 2011, but the authority held firm to their belief that the fees were "rightfully and lawfully charged."

"Rather than expend tax payer and rate payer resource on litigation, the parties desire to settle all claims, matters, controversies and disputes between them regarding the fees assessed by the authority related to the project... Neither party admits anything and maintains that its respective positions were and are true, valid and founded in applicable law."

The settlement states that the Authority agrees to pay the school board a lump sum credit of $36,000, and the school board agrees to release the Authority for all claims and demands related to this particular issue.