We firmly believe some public responsibilities are best handled efficiently and ecnomically by private business.

But they must be responsible businesses that do not parlay the evils of regulated monopolies as Blue Granite – forermly known as Carolina Water – has done to the Saluda River and 2,200 Oak Grove customers.

But this renegade, out-of-state-owned company’s sorry history of service in Lexington County may be nearer an end.

Last week a Lexington County jury set what it considered a fair price for the Town of Lexington to pay – $7.25 million – for a former Carolina Water treatment plant that leaked raw sewage into the Saluda River for decades. Fortunately no one that we know of died from this contamination, but many may have been sickened by it.

Town officials were willing to pay up to $5.4 million for the plant, but Blue Granite wanted them to pay $12.8 million.

The jury gave each only some of what they asked for, and $7.25 million may be fair.

Now that the town owns the property, it will close the lagoon and build a pump station, Mayor Steve MacDougall said.

The town also has taken over the 2,200 Oak Grove customers. That seems to be a good deal as that means $2.1 million a year in sewer service revenue.

Dave Wilson of McAlister Communications, representing Blue Granite, argues that figure is closer to $3 million since the town raised rates 20%.

Wilson said Blue Granite also wants the town to pay $2 million in attorneys, experts and related trial preparation fees for the 2-week trial.

MacDougall said the town has already spent millions of dollars making necessary upgrades so the system meets standards.

Within 28 days of taking over the treatment plant, the town stopped the sewage leaks.

The town did well by taking on a private company motivated only by its own greed.

Now all of us can hope that state, county and local officials can find legal means to send Blue Granite packing.

– Jerry Bellune

Lexington took over sewer services from a company motivated only by greed.