BALDWIN, Ga. — The Baldwin City Council approved a new solid waste collection contract, advanced several major water and wastewater infrastructure projects and tabled a proposed ethics ordinance during a lengthy meeting Tuesday that also included extensive discussion of city operations and governance.
Council unanimously approved entering into a new solid waste agreement with Waste Away, canceling the city’s existing contract with FCS. City Manager Tiera Morrison said Waste Away matched the city’s current rate while expanding services.
“Waste Away provides the lowest cost per cart at $14, compared to the $14 that FCS is currently charging,” Morrison said. “They will also provide large-item and limb pickup at no additional cost.”
According to Morrison, bulk item and limb collection will be conducted on the first Friday of each month.
Ethics ordinance tabled
Council also tabled a proposed ethics ordinance which came prior to public comment from former Baldwin councilwoman Alice Venter, who was a leading opponent of the Red Apple Corridor annexation in Cornelia during public hearings held back in December.
Venter signed up to speak during Tuesday’s meeting, which included first readings related to the Cook Construction annexation. However, when she addressed the council, she did not comment on the annexation issue, instead focusing exclusively on the ethics ordinance — which had already been tabled before public comment began.
“I want to begin by saying something important. Ethics matter, transparency matters, public trust matters,” Venter said.
Venter criticized the draft ordinance as overly broad, arguing it risked regulating speech and political disagreement rather than focusing on conflicts of interest, personal gain or misuse of office.
“Good ethics laws focus on clear conflicts of interest, personal gain and misuse of office,” she said. “Bad ethics laws regulate speech, dissent and political disagreement.”
She raised concerns about language referencing “appearance” and “public confidence,” as well as provisions governing social media and communications by elected officials, warning they could have a chilling effect on public discourse.
“When the same body that debates policy also receives complaints, decides guilt and determines punishment, ethics enforcement becomes political enforcement,” Venter said.
Council took no action on the ordinance following public comment.
Water and wastewater update
City Engineer Fletcher Holliday delivered a detailed report on Baldwin’s water and wastewater treatment facilities, expanding on information previously provided to council in December.
Holliday said the city’s water treatment plant, which has a capacity of 4 million gallons per day and a 3 million-gallon-per-day withdrawal permit from the Chattahoochee River, treated more than 900 million gallons of water in 2025, with average daily use just under 2.5 million gallons.
While average usage has remained steady, Holliday said peak daily demand has increased, rising from about 3.3 million gallons per day in 2024 to nearly 3.6 million gallons per day in 2025.
The city’s wastewater treatment facility processed approximately 143 million gallons in 2025, with an average daily flow of about 391,000 gallons, well below its permitted capacity of 800,000 gallons per day. Holliday said reduced rainfall contributed to lower flows compared to 2024.
Holliday outlined ongoing and future capital projects, including rehabilitation of water plant filters, replacement of an inoperable raw water pump, upgrades to wastewater aerators and clarifiers, and construction of a new solids handling building to replace an outdated belt press system.
He said both facilities are currently operating in compliance with state permits.
WWTF rebid approved
Council approved, without objection, authorization to rebid the wastewater treatment facility solids handling building project.
Holliday said the original bid, issued in mid-2024, exceeded available funding and was rejected by the previous council. Since then, the city has secured additional funding, including grant assistance, bringing the total project cost to approximately $2.5 million.
“The project is now funded, so we have to rebid it,” Holliday said. “This action allows us to put it back out to bid and return with a recommendation.”
Charter amendment advances
Council also approved the first reading of a proposed charter amendment intended to give the city greater flexibility in setting its meeting schedule.
City Attorney Bubba Samuels said the amendment would eliminate the need to revise the city charter each time council changes meeting dates or frequency, while still requiring at least one meeting per month and compliance with the Georgia Open Meetings Act.
Samuels said council has discussed returning to a two-meetings-per-month structure, typically consisting of a work session and a regular council meeting. A second reading and final approval will be required before the amendment takes effect.
