Repairs to Johnson Lake Dam Almost Complete

A positive update was given on the repairs done to the Johnson Lake Dam in Summit Chase during the Snellville City Council meeting Monday (Oct. 14).

During the City Manager's report, Butch Sanders stepped down from the dais to surprise the crowd with pulling out a large piece of old pipe that had been removed from under the road leading to the lake.

"If you'd like a souvenir from Johnson Lake Dam," said the city manager as he pulled the pipe into view. "I brought it for anyone who wants to claim it. I actually tried cutting it up into several pieces [to] hand those out, but it's actually in better shape than you think." 

Much of the area surrounding the lake had become an eyesore since it was drained in Dec. 2011, with issues ranging from giant rats attacking small dogs to even a child getting stuck up to his neck in mud. After nearly a year of discussion, the council and mayor voted at the Aug. 12th meeting to spend $34,800 to repair the road pipe at Timberline Trace in order to restore the lake. The Summit Chase homeowners association is spending $7,000 for the repairs, too.

At Monday's meeting, Sanders explained that the contractor repairing the pipe has "made great progress in making repairs." 

"We are probably a week away of good weather from being done pulling our syphon out of the lake and letting the lake fill up to normal pool," said Sanders, with applause following. 

Sanders explained that the pipe supplied by the city under the road is in the liner pipe and is protected as far as the roadway is concerned. There is a screen that will go over the discharge pipe to keep the debris out, and a gate valve and a wheel is on the other side. 

"It looks beautiful to me," he said.