OXFORD, Ga. – At its last meeting of the summer Monday night the Oxford City Council voted 5-1 to approve the framework for the expansion of the city’s sewer line to 42 houses along Emory Street. Council Member Jim Windham cast the dissenting vote.

Expansion of the sewer system had been a hot button issue in Oxford since council members voted unanimously May 1 to require owners of the 42 affected properties to connect to the system within 120 days of its completion and pay a $3,600 tap fee to do it. That meeting was followed by a May 17 work session when homeowners came out in force to voice their opposition to the plan. A similar work session was held Aug. 21.

The plan as approved will require the council to change the city’s ordinance that requires owners of properties situated within 100 feet of rights-of-way containing sewer lines to connect to the line within 120 days.

According to Assistant City Manager Matt Pepper, the ordinance change will now require that the residence be located within 100 feet of the sewer line. Additionally, under the ordinance change, homeowners will not be required to connect to the sewer system until their septic system fails and requires a permit from the Newton County Health Department to replace or repair.

The Sept. 18 vote followed a 6 p.m. work session when the plans being considered were presented to the public. Under the new plan, the fee to hook up to the system is still $3,600, but homeowners who connect before Dec. 31, 2023 will receive a credit of $1,800.

Homeowners who granted the city an easement to cross their property for the sewer installation will receive an additional credit of $1,800.

According to the new plan, homeowners will be responsible for the plumbing costs of closing their septic tanks and connecting to the sewer.