Plans for water and sewer service at the Effingham Industrial Development Authority’s I-16 project are moving ahead after Effingham County commissioners agreed to a pact with the IDA on Tuesday.

Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement that IDA board members had signed off on last week for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant on the northern tract of the property straddling I-16 near Meldrim.

“Things are moving along,” said IDA Chief Executive Officer John Henry. “I think we got a real fair deal with the county on water and sewer. It’s been a long time coming.”

The IDA will build the wastewater treatment plant and turn it over to the county. The county will reimburse the IDA through impact fees. The wastewater from the plant will be treated to reuse standards, making it clean enough to come into contact with people.

Commissioners also approved a proposal from Saussy Engineering to design the wastewater treatment plant. The estimated cost is $1.7 million.

County engineer Steve Liotta said Saussy calls for the plant to be designed, approved, permitted and built in 570 days.

“Which is pretty ambitious,” he said.

The wastewater treatment plant would have a capacity of 250,000 gallons. The county’s current wastewater plant is a tertiary system, just as the one planned for the IDA’s I-16 project.

Commissioners also OK’d a proposal from Hussey, Gay, Bell and DeYoung to design a well for the I-16 tract. The well, to go on the southern side, would provide 1,500 gallons per minute and the plans include a storage tank. Preliminary estimates put the price tag at $600,000.

The county, the IDA and Springfield are still working on arrangement for Springfield to transfer some of its water capacity to the project. The deal has to go through the state Environmental Protection Division.

“I feel comfortable that if Springfield submits the proper application with the EPD, we’ll get approval of the transfer,” Liotta said.

But much still hinges on the state signing off on the deal.

“If that permit is not given by EPD, this contract is null and void,” 1st District Commissioner Hubert Sapp said of the county’s deal for water and sewer service.

Commissioners also denied the IDA’s request to release the body from property taxes owed on the purchase of the Research Forest Tract. Commissioners agreed not to charge penalties and interest on the bill, which amounts to more than $207,000. The interest and penalties total nearly $32,000.