An agreement between the Dawson County Board of Commissioners and Etowah Water and Sewer Authority could bring more fire hydrants to the underserved areas of the county.

The commission is expected to vote on the proposed intergovernmental agreement during tomorrow's 6 p.m. meeting.

"As the authority replaces and extends water mains to improve or provide domestic water service, the county will provide for fire protection by paying a fixed cost per fire hydrant to be installed, which includes a proportionate amount to upsize the water main for fire flow requirements," said Brooke Anderson, authority general manager.

"This partnership will allow both entities to work together to provide the highest possible service to the citizens."

Officials with Dawson County Emergency Services would determine where the hydrants would be installed.

"We feel good about the offer that we made, the improvements that we felt we could do, the funding that would be available to do this initial project," said Chief Lanier Swafford, director of emergency services. "Through the years ... Etowah has done a great job helping us out, adding hydrants as they could."

The proposed agreement shows the cost of hydrants at $5,000 each.

If approved, the agreement would be for 20 years and would initially be funded from the county's special purpose local option sales tax in 2016 at the cost of $115,000.

Beginning in 2017, the funds would be budgeted accordingly.

"The authority believes it is our responsibility for the provision of water and it is the county's responsibly to put out fires," Anderson said. "The essence of the agreement is to allow the authority to move forward with the installation and sizing of infrastructure to support our customers, to support growth and to support fire protection.

"We believe we have reached a good agreement in terms of a fair agreement that represents both sides."